man, I could post these pictures all day......
Posted on 02/16/2010 10:01:48 AM PST by Star Traveler
Published by diamondpoet
December 4, 2009
What is Walmart really up to.
Walmart is one of the biggest supermarket chains in the world. As of August 31, 2008, Walmart has as many as 100 food categories:
United States 4,227 total units.
International 3,210 total units
This is a time where families needs to make every penny count, Walmart expansion of it’s Great Value brand is replacing many of the name brands, we have used for so many years.
The new improved Great Value products — which has been appearing on shelves and various sections of the store, is slowly being integrated into Walmart stores across the country, within the past few months – will provide families with affordable and possible high quality groceries. This is some sales jargon that Walmart has come up with, but what is really going on?
Walmart is the company, that is famous for their roll-back slogan, and now it would seem that they are also trying to monopolize the food industry. I am all for savings, but I prefer quality products and good taste. I grew up with many of the brand names and it is what I am accustomed to.
There are a few thing that I could settle for, that is not name brand, but when I was shopping during the Thanksgiving holiday, I was looking for McCormick’s vanilla, this is the only brand that I use to make my pies. I discovered that Walmart had completely removed McCormick’s brand and replaced it with their own brand Great Value. I rely on McCormick’s products to prepare many of my meals.
I tried using substitutes, but there is no comparison to McCormick’s Seasonings. I have never shopped anywhere other than Walmart, because I was comfortable and they basically provided most of my needs.
It would now see that I am being forces to shop somewhere else. Walmart no longer stock all the brand names that I desire. Since Walmart is trying to completely eliminate the middle-man, what type of effect will this have on many of the distributors and will this also have a spiraling effect on the economy as well?
Since so many distributors rely on Walmart’s business, will they not suffer and be forced to downsize? I can’t help but wonder is this really going to benefits the consumers or hurt us even more?
You might be on to something there...'Great Wall'...'Great Value'...hmmm.
As someone who lived in the South for awhile, thank you for the proper pronunciation of Walmart as “Walmart’s.”
I don’t see a story here. Store brands have been around for a very long time. Many of them are as good as the brand names too.
I don't care what they do. I don't shop much @ Wal-Mart anyway. I go to Kroger 99% of the time.
The name brand companies sell their products under license to these large companies...it's good business.....so those Walmart Pinto Beans could or may be Delmonte, Heinz, or Bush.
I haven't bought jarred spices for many years, I prefer the fresh ones available at a few markets and health food store.
I do not remember anyone being forced to shop at WalMart and buy their brands?
No they are not -- and that is precisely the problem for Walmart marketing. They're going to end up driving their former customers to other stores to get the things that Walmart has discontinued.
If Walmart hadn't done that, they wouldn't have people starting to "look elsewhere"...
So, you see... that's precisely the problem for Walmart -- people can go elsewhere and that does not benefit Walmart... :-)
But as far as food goes not unusal for a store to have their own brands.
I am not a wal mart shopper as do not need to buy in bulk and hate "warehouse" size stores. I buy local from farmers, I spend locally when I can outside of my addiction to a Starbucks product I can't get anywhere else or a in frequent visits to Barnes & Noble (do not like Borders) or the local bookstore/coffee shop filled with "Don't Shop at Wal Mart" liberals (yes they had a sign related to such in front of their store a couple summers ago). The same owner runs the library but could not put that sign in front of the public library but could her bookstore. Enough said.
Wal*mart made it easy to order on line and pick up at the store, families with children appreciate the bargains. The grocery store itself is ranked in the 50's in popularity/quality etc with Whole Foods, Hannafords in the top 15.
It's a free country, so shop where you want. If people were not treated fairly and with friendly service, they would not be shopping there and as a result; keeping the stock at an ongoing high (mol).
Nothing new. Many stores or affiliates have their own brands for sale.
That makes me think of Whole Foods... they’ve got some of the absolute greatest tasting stuff there... yum, yum... LOL...
man, I could post these pictures all day......
If people were not treated fairly and with friendly service, they would not be shopping there...
That may not have a thing to do with driving off some Walmart customers... I think it's going to have to do with finding the exact product that you want. At least it seems that way for me in some cases. And, according to the article writer, that way for her, too.
And that's the biggest problem that Walmart will have created for itself, in that they will end up driving some customers to other retail outlets that they may end up losing to those other retail locatoins.
If they hadn't made this kind of move, they may have never caused these people to "go looking" in the first place... :-)
I think I’ve seen that “door-greeter” before at Walmart... LOL...
I go to Safeway to avoid the crowds of Government dependent shoppers.
Walmart matches competitors prices.
(In my area)
Well now they don’t because they don’t carry those brands. So if you bring in an competitor’s ad that says Tyson chicken at a particular price, it won’t be Tyson chicken they substitute for you....or cereal etc. (These are just examples). They now substitute for the GV brand So, bottom line, you will not be getting the same quality in the substitution...
Furthermore, by bothering to shop all the different ads, you help those stores stay in business, and from being put out of business by walmart...
Thereby helping your local economy, and having grocers actually closer in many instances...
It all comes down to choice. Some people choose to buy nothing but brand names. I don’t think that’s wise shopping, but it’s their choice.
We often try store-brand equivalents. Sometimes, there’s little discernable difference between that item and the name-brand, and sometimes one or the other is clearly superior in our opinion. So we go with what we like.
Our local Wal*Mart was recently remodeled to include a full grocery and we have sampled some of the Great Value offerings. In one specific instance, we found one product that we feel is the full equal of a more expensive national brand. In another we found that the GV generic was far superior to the Kroger-brand version of the same item. Neither could be considered ‘as-good-as’ the national brand in this instance, but the GV product was very close.
Some store-brands are indistinguishable when included as an ingredient in a more complex menu offering, some may make a difference.
Again, it comes down to choice, and I’m happy that we have the ability to make that decision for ourselves.
That’s okay. You may think this is as pure as the driven snow. No problem. Well, if folks buy into this, what makes you think that WalMart won’t parcel this out to China like it has it’s other products?
Some things may already be coming from there. And I have to tell you, you’re setting yourself up if you trust that product quality control.
My grocery bill would be 3 times higher if I bought only name brand food.
Our local Giant Eagle carries “Value Time” products which line our pantry and when I shop at Wal-Mart (their fresh deli is cheaper and better selection than Giant Eagle) I buy Great Value pasta, cheese, bread, milk, yogurt...whatever. And I haven’t come down with a bad case of the runs or sudden growth of a new limb...
I buy what’s good for my wallet and many times, brand names are really bad for my wallet. A bag of Lays Chips at Wal-Mart can be 2.99; at Giant Eagle 3.99. Generic brands? 1.50.
I’ll pick that every time.
Nothing new. Many stores or affiliates have their own brands for sale.
That's true... if you stop right there.
But, what Walmart has done is not only include their own store-brand -- but -- they're discontinuing the competing "name-brand".
Now... that's the part that is different from the majority of the retail food stores and chains that I'm aware of. And that's the problem that some shoppers are going to have which will cause them to go to another retail outlet -- and perhaps get those customers to say to themselves, "Man, this store is nice; I think I'll keep shopping here!" ... LOL...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.