I don't know what is going on with the stores here. First the much higher
prices on lots of things at Albertsons and now big changes at Central
Market!

I knew something was afoot when I entered the produce department. Gaping
holes everywhere. They did have summer type squashes of all kinds, just
very few of them. Very few bell peppers and most of the green ones were
slightly wrinkled or mushy. I do know to expect this with peppers this time
of year as it isn't really the season for them but Central Market usually
has very good produce! I did manage to find one that wasn't too bad and I
am using it for chili so my expectations don't have to be quite as high as
they would be if I were to be eating it raw.

Got the New York steak that they have on sale. Fine. Then went to check
the price of refried beans. Years ago I used to buy the Western Family
brand there. They are very good. I've just found other beans for less
money elsewhere but... I didn't want to go elsewhere right now so figured
that I might pick up a couple of cans if the price wasn't too high. But
where were the beans?

All of a sudden, more than half of the Mexican food aisle has been taken up
with salsas and various kinds of cooking sauces. I didn't pay a lot of
attention to them as I didn't need salsa and don't usually use cooking
sauces. They had a whole end cap of those Rick Bayless sauces in pouches
and more still on the aisle. Every store seems to carry those. But they
did have odd colored things in jars. I glanced at them and saw that they
had things like walnuts in them. Again, don't need.

The middle of the aisle had a paltry assortment of taco shells and tortilla
warmers. It's as if they are in the middle of a reset but didn't finish it
or something. Lots of gaping holes. Then a sparse assortment of other
sauces and things like menudo to the left. But no beans of any kind! I did
find some El Pato products and bought a small can of their tomato sauce for
my chili. Yeah, yeah, I suppose that is a cooking sauce but much more
general purpose than the other, newer things.

The other end cap now has what seems to be a permanent display of the
packaged seasonings and candies that are Mexican. But around the corner
from there were the Asian foods. Where were the beans? Not with the
regular vegetables.

I finally found them opposite the soup aisle where the chili and other
canned beans were. But it wasn't even a 30" section of refried. And no
Western Family brand! They still have other things of that brand so...
Dunno. Rosarita were $1.69. I have been buying those but from 80 cents to
98 cents so no way would I pay that price. Pricier still were the Beanitos
(yuk), some other kind of organic beans and some boxed, cooked beans. I've
not had good luck in the taste department with boxed beans so... No beans
for me. I do have dry beans so I guess I'll just cook my own if I run out
of canned before I get to Winco.

Oh and the end cap of tortillas seems to be gone! They still have their
brand of freshly cooked in the bakery. And the refrigerated Surito which is
what I bought. Their ad featured the La Tortilla Factory ones and those are
now in the bakery. So just weird. They want us to buy all sorts of Mexican
cooking sauces but are not offering much to go with them?

I checked again on the salad bar to see if they had any Tabouli. The last
two times I looked they had none. This time, half of the salad bar sat
empty and it was dinner time. About 5:00!

Then I decided to pick up some Gouda cheese because Angela now likes it.
And what did they not have? Yep. All they had was some icky looking
(grayish, streaky cast) smoked Gouda and it was $16.99 for a small wedge.
Nope. They didn't even have those little wax wrapped rounds of Edam and
Gouda (brand name escapes me) that most stores carry all the time. I
checked the specialty cheese and the regular cheese section. The specialty
cheese section didn't even have a lot in it and what was there was really
fanned out to make it look full when it really wasn't.

*sigh* I don't like what is going on with my stores! I may wind up going
to Winco sooner than I had intended. I only hope that something similar
isn't going on there. Meanwhile I think I will check out Big Lots this
weekend. I guess the good thing is that I didn't spend much money. But the
bad thing is that I didn't get much food!

On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 19:02:08 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

> *sigh* I don't like what is going on with my stores! I may wind up going
> to Winco sooner than I had intended. I only hope that something similar
> isn't going on there. Meanwhile I think I will check out Big Lots this
> weekend. I guess the good thing is that I didn't spend much money. But the
> bad thing is that I didn't get much food!

This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.

--
A kitchen without a cook is just a room

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 19:02:08 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> *sigh* I don't like what is going on with my stores! I may wind up
>> going
>> to Winco sooner than I had intended. I only hope that something similar
>> isn't going on there. Meanwhile I think I will check out Big Lots this
>> weekend. I guess the good thing is that I didn't spend much money. But
>> the
>> bad thing is that I didn't get much food!
>
> This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
> stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
> today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.

I wasn't aware that grocery stores ever did that. But they seemed to have
plenty of help!

"The Other Guy" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 23:16:46 -0800, "Julie Bove" >
> wrote:
>
>>> This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
>>> stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
>>> today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.
>>
>>I wasn't aware that grocery stores ever did that. But they seemed to have
>>plenty of help!
>
> It's not uncommon for stores to cut staff after the holidays,
> but it's usually less severe in groceries than in other
> retails stores. People HAVE to eat all the time, after all.

I know that other stores might cut staff now but I wouldn't think grocery
stores would. I could see them hiring a few temp. workers like baggers
right around the holidays though. I suspect that this has something more to
do with the rearranging of the store and it kind of looks like it has only
just begun. Luckily I didn't need much because quite a few things appeared
to be either on totally different aisles or different parts of the same
aisle.

One of the Safeway's did at least a partial remodel. All of a sudden the
HBA stuff was on lighted shelves in a different part of the store and it
resembled an actual drugstore. That wasn't a fun shopping trip either. I
just wanted some crackers. And I never did find the kind that I wanted.

On Tue, 6 Jan 2015 03:20:04 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"The Other Guy" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 23:16:46 -0800, "Julie Bove" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>> This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
>>>> stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
>>>> today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.
>>>
>>>I wasn't aware that grocery stores ever did that. But they seemed to have
>>>plenty of help!
>>
>> It's not uncommon for stores to cut staff after the holidays,
>> but it's usually less severe in groceries than in other
>> retails stores. People HAVE to eat all the time, after all.
>
>I know that other stores might cut staff now but I wouldn't think grocery
>stores would. I could see them hiring a few temp. workers like baggers
>right around the holidays though. I suspect that this has something more to
>do with the rearranging of the store and it kind of looks like it has only
>just begun. Luckily I didn't need much because quite a few things appeared
>to be either on totally different aisles or different parts of the same
>aisle.
>
>One of the Safeway's did at least a partial remodel. All of a sudden the
>HBA stuff was on lighted shelves in a different part of the store and it
>resembled an actual drugstore. That wasn't a fun shopping trip either. I
>just wanted some crackers. And I never did find the kind that I wanted.


I was just reading a prospectus from a grocery chain and it said that
62% of its help was part time. And at the local store it is not just
part timers who stock and bag. The store manager is often seen
stocking shelves and if lines start forming at the check out he will
open a line or start bagging at one. And most groceries have set
delivery days from the warehouse. Bread and soft drinks are delivered
by the seller.

At this time of year I do not expect to see much in the way of local
produce. Even much of the produce at the curb market is coming from
Florida but in the Spring and Summer they will buy fruits and
vegetables from local growers.

Did you ask for a map of the store? Or ask a clerk or other employee
where things had been moved? I remember when Safeway in a small
Arizona town remodeled, they had someone stand at the end of the rows
to show you where the products were. All of the stores I shop in have
big signs telling you what is in each aisle.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On 1/6/2015 6:50 AM, The Cook wrote:
> I was just reading a prospectus from a grocery chain and it said that
> 62% of its help was part time.

This trend started back in the 70's. Part timers don't qualify for
health insurance benefits so the company saves a lot of money. Also,
part timers are usually minimum wage jobs.

George L

"The Cook" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 6 Jan 2015 03:20:04 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"The Other Guy" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 23:16:46 -0800, "Julie Bove" >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>> This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
>>>>> stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
>>>>> today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.
>>>>
>>>>I wasn't aware that grocery stores ever did that. But they seemed to
>>>>have
>>>>plenty of help!
>>>
>>> It's not uncommon for stores to cut staff after the holidays,
>>> but it's usually less severe in groceries than in other
>>> retails stores. People HAVE to eat all the time, after all.
>>
>>I know that other stores might cut staff now but I wouldn't think grocery
>>stores would. I could see them hiring a few temp. workers like baggers
>>right around the holidays though. I suspect that this has something more
>>to
>>do with the rearranging of the store and it kind of looks like it has only
>>just begun. Luckily I didn't need much because quite a few things
>>appeared
>>to be either on totally different aisles or different parts of the same
>>aisle.
>>
>>One of the Safeway's did at least a partial remodel. All of a sudden the
>>HBA stuff was on lighted shelves in a different part of the store and it
>>resembled an actual drugstore. That wasn't a fun shopping trip either. I
>>just wanted some crackers. And I never did find the kind that I wanted.
>
>
> I was just reading a prospectus from a grocery chain and it said that
> 62% of its help was part time. And at the local store it is not just
> part timers who stock and bag. The store manager is often seen
> stocking shelves and if lines start forming at the check out he will
> open a line or start bagging at one. And most groceries have set
> delivery days from the warehouse. Bread and soft drinks are delivered
> by the seller.

Yes. Albertsons had a problem, I believe it was last year when they did not
receive their delivery when they should. Actually two problems. One being
lack of food throughout the store. Then two, being overstock, especially on
perishables when both orders arrived at the same time the following week!
This did allow the customers some good bargains though when they had to mark
things down to get rid of them quickly.

Chips are usually brought by the vendor, crackers and cookies may come from
the vendor and things like gum, single candy bars and tobacco may be brought
by jobbers.
>
> At this time of year I do not expect to see much in the way of local
> produce. Even much of the produce at the curb market is coming from
> Florida but in the Spring and Summer they will buy fruits and
> vegetables from local growers.

Yes. My selection is limited right now through my CSA.
>
> Did you ask for a map of the store? Or ask a clerk or other employee
> where things had been moved? I remember when Safeway in a small
> Arizona town remodeled, they had someone stand at the end of the rows
> to show you where the products were. All of the stores I shop in have
> big signs telling you what is in each aisle.
> --

No. Not only did I not have time to do that, but it was clear to me that
they were in the middle of doing something. They do have signs up but they
were not necessarily correct. And one odd thing about that store is that
they don't have a customer service desk like most stores do. It is possible
that they let the stock get low on purpose for the redo.

When the Fred Meyer store here did a remodel, they totally did away with the
shoe department until it was done. Not sure what they did with the shoes!
I had broken a toe and needed a bigger pair of shoes until the swelling went
down. I went in and was astounded not to see many shoes for sale at all.
It was about the time of a change of season so I thought maybe it was just
that. Then the next time I went, no shoes at all! I did ask an employee
and she was the one who told me what they were doing. I could not believe
it. They also made the back to school aisle so narrow that you couldn't get
a shopping cart down it. I think that was only that way for a few days but
still, not a good way to do business.

I worked for K Mart for 17 years and went through many remodels and redos.
There was never a time when an entire department was missing. Things might
have been tough if you came in and wanted an item that had been on one of
the shelves that we were in the process of moving, but when we did that, it
was all hands on deck. Whoever was around all helped to move the aisle at
once and get the product put back up. You'd either have to wait 10-15
minutes if you wanted to browse, or tell them at customer service what item
you wanted and someone would bring it to you.

On 1/6/2015 12:08 AM, sf wrote:
> On Mon, 5 Jan 2015 19:02:08 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> *sigh* I don't like what is going on with my stores! I may wind up going
>> to Winco sooner than I had intended. I only hope that something similar
>> isn't going on there. Meanwhile I think I will check out Big Lots this
>> weekend. I guess the good thing is that I didn't spend much money. But the
>> bad thing is that I didn't get much food!
>
> This is immediately after Christmas. Not sure exactly when grocery
> stores have to cut back on the hired help, but I'm guessing it started
> today. Give them a transition period before you start complaining.
>

Also, the holiday kept a lot of trucks off the road so deliveries may be
late.

--
From somewhere very deep in the heart of Texas