Talk about turning a negative into a positive: a West Coast grocery chain is informing customers that their credit card information may have been compromised. That’s the negative part, of course. The positive part? Its customers are saying “thank you” in response. Not what you might expect. Raley’s announced today that “a portion of its computer network systems may have[Read More…]
To the relief of those unsure about the quality of the produce at Walmart, the big-box chain has announced it’s offering a money-back guarantee. If your fruit is spoiled, or your veggies are wilted, you can trudge back to the store and they’ll give you your money back. Which just raises the question – you mean they didn’t already do[Read More…]
As expected, three Southern supermarket chains will soon have new owners. But now the question is, what are the new owners of Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s going to do with them? They don’t have many answers yet – but it’s precisely what they’re not saying, that could provide the biggest clues about the three chains’ fate. Florida-based Bi-Lo, which also[Read More…]
Planning any road trips this summer? As Memorial Day unofficially kicks off the season today, grocery stores are battling for your business, by making it cheaper to fill up your gas tank. Wouldn’t it be nice if they’d just make it cheaper to fill up your shopping cart? You know, with stuff you can eat? Lots of grocery stores offer[Read More…]
(Be sure to read this update: “Sold! What Will Become of Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s?”). Heads up, southeastern supermarket shoppers: the Belgian-based owners of Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar Food are apparently looking to cut their losses with two smaller grocery chains. Delhaize has reportedly hired an investment bank to help unload the Sweetbay supermarket chain – and they’ll[Read More…]
Mention the name “Cerberus”, and some supermarket shoppers shudder. The private equity firm saddened thousands of shoppers and employees when it shut down or sold two-thirds of the roughly 600 Albertsons locations it acquired in 2006. And customers of several chains acquired by Cerberus earlier this year are wondering whether their stores will suffer the same fate. But could we[Read More…]
This will come as no surprise to those who do the drug stores, but it seems Walgreens has a problem keeping sale items in stock. Go figure! A new report by the union-backed advocacy group Walgreen Strategy Watch alleges that the drug store chain’s out-of-stock problems are just as severe as frustrated shoppers have long complained. The report, titled “Off[Read More…]
We love little pieces of paper when they have a discount printed on them. But when it comes time to pay the post-coupon balance, we’d rather forego the paper and pull out the plastic. That’s according to a new study on how most of us pay at the grocery store. In its annual Grocery Retailing Payments Study, the National Grocers[Read More…]
By now you’ve certainly seen the “Walmart Challenge” commercials that have been running on TV for more than a year now. “Real Moms” stock up at a local grocery store, then are whisked off to Walmart to buy the very same items – invariably for much less. “Bring your last grocery receipt into Walmart and compare the prices,” the ads[Read More…]
(Be sure to read this update: “Sold! What Will Become of Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s?”). If you’re a fan of the Sweetbay supermarket chain in Florida – what’s left of it, that is – better do your shopping there while you still can. Its owners are offering a less-than-rosy outlook for the troubled grocery chain. Sweetbay’s Belgian owners, Delhaize, shut[Read More…]
