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Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

economist.com

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Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#161

Post by drewzero1 »

tthun wrote: post #72

I am not sure how this article got past any editorial checks. First they state prices are too low in the US to make any profit, then on the next paragraph goes on to talk about “yet” Americans getting served less. Finally reverting back complaining Americans are not getting a good deal. author also use gross profit of Walmart, which sells everything from salt to guns, as a measure of profitability for “grocery” store…

Right- I would love to see the numbers compared with something like Kroger, whose main business is groceries. Calling Walmart a grocery store is like calling Target a grocery store-- technically true, since they both sell groceries, but neither of them seems to be especially focused on food.

I certainly don't argue with the idea that our grocery stores suck, though I'm not convinced it's a solely american problem nor that the reasons are those given in the article.

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#163

Post by drewzero1 »

beastman82 wrote: post #33

This is anecdotal data but I think our grocery stores are amazing wonders of the modern age and fulfill every need I could dream of.

Speak for yourself. I find I can never get everything on my list at just one store, so I end up having to shop through multiple stores to try and find what I'm looking for. Even then there are things I can't get at any store in town.

I'll agree with them being wonders of the modern age but they are far from fulfilling my needs.

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#164

Post by tony_cannistra »

justinlloyd wrote: post #117
lapetitejort wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I concur. I can't find anything other than all purpose and wheat flour. No bread flour, or anything more obscure like rye, spelt, etc. Similarly, they sell a single sea salt, alongside tons of trendy mixed salts. Want iodized salt? Go find a big grocery store. I do find tons of snacks and TV dinners, which I enjoy. But if I'm stocking up on essentials, I'd rather go to a big store. And yes, I do find obscure flours a…

On a side note: Purchase a bag of vital wheat gluten, a 2lb/1Kg bag will last a very long time. The difference between AP flour and bread flour is the gluten content. You can bring any regular AP flour up to the highest gluten level that a high gluten bread flour brand like King Arthur will produce. One tablespoon of vital wheat gluten exchanged for one tablespoon of AP flour for every two cups/240 grams/2.4oz of AP…

I also find that adding gluten to rye-heavy doughs makes them rise far more easily (and generally just behave better).

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#165

Post by SoftTalker »

photochemsyn wrote: post #99

Farmer's markets are the way to go for produce if you have farms in your area. Some are overpriced and upscale, some are cheaper than your local chain grocery store. You can also buy grains/beans in bulk at lower prices, often direct from farmer's coops, and have it shipped to your door. Get a pressure cooker for beans, a rice cooker, save on the gas prices as they're electric, and use an induction electric stove. If…

I have never seen a cheap farmers market. Around here they seem to be exclusively for and patronized by wealthy older people, who don't blink at paying $7 for a head of lettuce.

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#166

Post by bsder »

refurb wrote: post #141
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #25

> but they do not have the size that European supermarkets have to resist price increases by suppliers. Walmart bankrupted Vlassic by suckering them into a deal where they were stuck selling pickles at a loss. They are infamous for dictating price to their suppliers.

I always find the Walmart Vlasik story funny. I mean Vlasik could always say no? If they were dumb enough to enter into a deal with Walmart than was worse than no deal at all, that’s on them. My guess is some sales dude thought he could get a good deal with Walmart, couldn’t, took it anyways, then decided to blame Walmart. I mean if I need my house painted and some painter offers a deal where they lose money don’t bl…

> My guess is some sales dude thought he could get a good deal with Walmart, couldn’t, took it anyways, then decided to blame Walmart.

WalMart deals always look good in the short term. The problem is the longer term.

What really happened is that some sales dude got a deal with WalMart, bumped his numbers, got a promotion, cashed his check, and cleared outta dodge. And then over the next few years WalMart squeezed Vlasic to death.

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#167

Post by bsder »

refurb wrote: post #141
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #25

> but they do not have the size that European supermarkets have to resist price increases by suppliers. Walmart bankrupted Vlassic by suckering them into a deal where they were stuck selling pickles at a loss. They are infamous for dictating price to their suppliers.

I always find the Walmart Vlasik story funny. I mean Vlasik could always say no? If they were dumb enough to enter into a deal with Walmart than was worse than no deal at all, that’s on them. My guess is some sales dude thought he could get a good deal with Walmart, couldn’t, took it anyways, then decided to blame Walmart. I mean if I need my house painted and some painter offers a deal where they lose money don’t bl…

> I mean Vlasik could always say no?

Saying no doesn't always work out either. See: Snapper

https://www.fastcompany.com/54763/man-who-said-no-wal-mart

Snapper got bought by Briggs & Stratton and the Georgia plant was closed.

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#169

Post by astrange »

thepasswordis wrote: post #35
jordanmorgan10 wrote: post #4

Unless it's Trader Joes, in which case I leave noticeably happier than I was pre-grocery shopping.

Trader joes is basically just a larger version of the "grocery" aisle at a drug store wrapped up in some nice marketing. Hard pass.

I think of it as the place to get frozen Indian food and salad kits. Do drugstores have those?

Re: Americans are poorly served by their grocery stores

#170

Post by fny »

throwaway892238 wrote: post #160

I guess people have forgotten the world before supermarkets (the replacement for traditional 'grocery stores'). You could not buy a pineapple or a banana or an orange. It was impossible. What made it possible were the literal overthrow of governments by corporations that acted like pirates with a monopoly on a given crop, in combination with technical and logistical revolutions. It's also amazing to see supermarkets…

This true, but it's actually not the proximate cause for higher food prices: excess stimulus and higher energy prices are.

1. Government spent $1T.

2. Fed made it stupidly cheap to borrow money.

3. We have under invested in the oil and gas industry for years, further industry consolidation after the COVID crash has led to high natural gas and diesel prices. We lack the equipment, manpower, and capital to expand.

4. Fertilizer is made using natural gas for feedstock. Diesel is used to transport food.

5. Ethanol is made from sugar cane and corn. It's used as a fuel additive too. This puts further pressure on food prices.

6. Toss in Ukraine/Russia, it gets even worse.

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