sometimes I just can't help myself...hehe
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?
This is getting annoying.
Their ‘Great Value’ garbage is pushing out the brands that my family likes. I have a rule of thumb: Store brands are OK, as long as you don’t have to put it in your mouth.
Soon it will be time to find somewhere else to shop.
You can gripe if you want, but all-in-all, Walmart is an American company focused on making a profit. I see nothing wrong with what they are doing by offering another option, “Great-Value”. If the public doesn’t like the choices at WM, then the market will force a change. It’s the way capitalism works. Always has, always will.
Every producer is trying to cut into every other producer's marketshare by loading up the shelves with dozens of similar products.
I would rather have each producer put its best foot forward, rather than one producer monopolizing the shelves.
Unfortunately many stores are trying to cut costs by having the distributors fill the shelves. This is basically like have the foxes guard the henhouse. You can bet that the distributors are enticed to pack the shelves with various overlapping products of one producer rather than giving each producer a fair piece of shelving real estate.
Also, a bunch of businesses went on a buying spree during the bubble and got in so much debt they had to cancel certain brands. Archer cookies is gone. No more windmill cookies for me because some global bakery conglomerate bought them up and then shuttered their bakeries.
The free market is being twisted around real bad right now. Another reason to get rid of the Fed and let the market set interest rates so we don't have these credit boom/bust cycles allowing the inmates to run the asylum.
So they are getting rid of all brand name food products and going to generic only?
Other grocers could capitalize on the story, if they're smart.
The customer is king.
This will create more room for competitors to Wal Mart. I have noticed the gradual changes on Wal Mart shelves where the number of brands being offered is very small.
The Great Value brand IS just as good on most items I’ve found, but of course not all.
People who love certain brands will gravitate to other stores, so Wal-mart is being very short sighted IMO. They gain from the people who, on the spot, will just buy the other brand, but are not accounting for people who will venture into a Publix, Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, Target or Kroger to get certain brands and then buy some other items.
There is a fine line between being cheaper, but not carrying everything. People like to save money, but they don’t like making 2 or 3 different stops either.
This is the exact thing I would tell people who were so scared of Wal-mart “taking over”...they are a WIDE discounter, but not DEEP. Now they are even getting more shallow, leaving plenty of room for stores that specialize to work around wal-mart.
They can’t ever carry the depth in any one category to satisfy everyone.
I tried the Great Value canned ravioli and can’t tell
it from Chef Boy-Ar-Dee. Sorry, Chef. It’s a half buck cheaper.
How many people really care where you shop?
Not the least bit complicated!
They’re trying to compete with grocery stores like Trader Joes. Most of Trader Joe’s foods are their own brand.
Our HEB food stores here in Texas do the same thing. It is very annoying, but they are pretty much the only store out in the area where I live. I actually go to Walmart when I am in town to stock up by the case on the items HEB has discontinued and replaced with their Hill Country Fare brand, such as the Allen’s Italian Green Beans. If Walmart discontinues them, I don’t know what I will do, my family and friends love those beans.
sometimes I just can't help myself...hehe
In all likelihood, the Great Value products are being made by the brand-name manufacturers.
It can be and may be, but it's not always. And in addition to that, some "name-brands" create different quality levels for their production... their own "name-brand" being the best quality they produce, and then a lower quality for "off-brand production".
So, it will show up on an invoice as from that supposedly "name-brand" manufacturer, but it will be a lower quality.
Again, some may be the same and some may not... and you just have to check it out yourself and see.
And, by the way..., it's good marketing on behalf of those manufacturers to sell off their inferior product (compare to their own name-brand) because then they can "pick and choose" the best raw materials and "sell off" the raw materials that they've rejected for their own product and give those raw materials to the "off-brands"... they do that... :-)
I won’t buy their brand name because of that reason and the fact it doesn’t taste as good. probably all that lead
In fact, I have been finding in the past couple of years that I can get a better deals shopping at my local Kroger stores. And still find many quality name brands on sale there. WalMart cannot compete with them.
Another fact, my local WalMarts have stopped stocking many items and have downsized their displays all over the store, resulting in fewer choices than ever before.
I find other stores are better for me to shop at than WalMart for selections.
LOL, yeah, you sound rational.
I have no problem with Great Value label items. In many cases the taste is just as good as the brand name and the cost is significantly lower. Their GV potato chips are awesome...I dare you to eat just one, LOL. I also buy the butter, orange juice, cereals, pasta, etc. Even their mixed nuts are yummy and my son will only eat the GV cocktail peanuts. My hubby bought Planters b/c they were on sale and my son hated them. I think it’s just a matter of what you are accustomed to.
Well, the saving money part is great, but when quality suffers then my mouth may not like it... 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.