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?
There were several comments on the other thread, so please... “go at it again”...:-)
Answer: It will benefit Wal-Mart
If not then they are really not smart business people....
House brand products are more profitable for retailers, even if the retail price is much lower than brand-name equivalent items.
I hope “Great Value” isn’t code for Made in China.
If you look close they have raised prices also...
I have used Walmart quite a bit, too, for grocery shopping, and then go to some other grocery stores to fill in a few odds and ends.
But, I have noticed a big increase in the “white” Walmart brand that they seem to be really pushing hard at their stores. And I don’t necessarily think that all “house brands” are the equivalent of some of the name brands. The quality doesn’t always match up, even if the price is lower. It’s lower for a reason... LOL...
Anyway..., if they start pushing out a lot of other name brands, I think Walmart is going to start to lose a bunch of business in the process... sorry Walmart, but I’ll be looking at other stores, more now... that you’re trying to get rid of other quality products and replace them with no-name-brands (and yeah, “Walmart brand” is a no-name brand... :-) ...).
That is interesting. On the rare occasions I am in Wal-mart, the only grocery items I buy there are brand-name products.
I think Great Value is one of the best generic brands out there. My father worked at a food plant and most of the time the food was the same, they would stop the line and replace the label.
That being said, I do like some brand names (McCormicks is a good example) and don’t want to wade through a football size store for Walmart brand items only. This is a really dumb move on Walmart IMO.
I think it is, wherever they can do it... :-)
Well, more power to them! Where you shop is a choice. Don’t like great value? Don’t shop there.
Cindie
So Walmart is now just the World’s ALDI.
I think this is good news for Kroger. If they carry the brands people want, people will shop there.
Walmart can keep their cheap, unknown brand.
I was once an auditor for a chain retail/grocer and noticed on select bills of lading for pasta (for example), the brand name and store brand were on the same manifest.
To me the quality of their house brand “Great Value” isn’t as good as name brand food .... IMHO ....
Answer: It will benefit Wal-Mart
I'm not convinced of that, although they may be, at corporate headquarters. I think they will go through a painful process, over some years of time and experience and start losing customers to other stores, as customers find the name-brands that they want.
And I have found some name-brands to be the kind I want, too... and I'll be looking at some other stores, too.
If they hadn't done this, then I might not have bothered to start to look elsewhere, and that's the big mistake that Walmart will be making, with consumers.
You are 100% correct, see my post #13.
I would agree, for the most part...
I hate whiners, and that is all this is, whining.
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