First, the good news: a judge shut down the merger (biggest in history) of Kroger and Albertsons. A step in the right direction, so of course Albertsons is suing: they had already counted their profits ahead of the dirty deed. The bad news? Walmart is still in the business of klling smal grocery stores, with the public enabling this. Only community action will stop this!
The irony is WalMart's prices are NOT lower than local supermarkers. Too bad so many people assume that they will be getting a good deal by shopping there.
You are right about that. This is the same irony that is behind the belief that Trump is good for America. Ever wonder when people will wake up and smell the coffee??
I remember quite a while ago, their was a town with a long-time grocer that served just about all the shoppers in town Everyone liked the store, good service Than a Walmart came to town with lower prices. Soon everyone shopped at Walmart The local grocer went out of business. About a year later Walmart left town, for lack of profit. The town was left with nothing! In places where I have lived, ask anyone where to buy anything-Walmart! We shopped several grocery stores, told neighbors about that, but where did they go? Back to Walmart! I now live where Walmart & Target is just about it When I travel, I have noticed you can tell the poverty rate in a town by the grocery store-like Dollar General!
We were a food desert. Oh sure there was an independent grocery store but it had limited selection and sometimes dubious quality meat. One man opened a storefront on the main drag near the only stoplight for 20 miles. His selection was limited but the deli counter was always filled with fresh meats. Soon his business grew and he needed more space so he approached the owner of the grocery store and inquired about purchasing it. The asking price was ridiculously high so our guy acquired land across the road and built a new IGA and drove the other guy out of business by offering good food at reasonable prices. In a few years he had to expand. After 25 years or so he turned the store over to his son who is keeping up the family business.
Last year, Dollar General opened a store about 2 miles away in a little town. The people in that town like being able to walk but I don't think it has affected the IGA very much. And the old grocery store is now a local hardware store -- affiliated with Ace but definitely local. We like it.
Again, we can trace many of our current abuses to St. Reagan. I am proud of our local transit, MARTA, which in the summer months offers fresh produce at many stations which are in these notorious food deserts. But defeating the real culprits (thank you, government, for rejecting the Kroger/Albertson's merger, which would have decreased competition and increased the problem) should be job one when Democrats sweep Congress in 2026. I know, but I can dream.
I live in the sticks. Monopolies are the only places that can last out here. We can’t afford the co ops. And farmers markets only have so much and they are expensive too. Lots of issues. Please don’t forget about us rural folk. Thank you Low Down.
When I was a teen growing up in Brooklyn, I shopped after school for dinner every day: the local grocery, local butcher, local produce store, local bakery. Everything was fresh and nothing was wrapped in plastic!! Healthier, more social, far better for the environment.
Let’s get that grassroots movement moving, then! So much of this is like the weather; everyone talks about it and nobody does anything about it. Seems the time is ripe, considering the impending collapse of the regulatory system, for the general citizenry to rise in defiance of this wrong, and in support of the laws on the books.
I agree that large monopolies have gained economic dominance. During the lockdowns of COVID we saw many small businesses go under while Amazon and Whole Foods, and Walmart became the only game in town. So many had their groceries delivered because they were afraid to brave shopping in person would expose them to COVID. Interesting that Liquor stores and Pot stores never got closed down. I'd like to hear some admission to the effect that these lockdowns also played a big part in closing down many small businesses and enriched the big corporate companies. But thank you for the important perspective.
I’ve lived in two small towns with small grocery stores. Both stores were known for their butcher department. Quality meat, cut to order, was their anchor.
Overturning Citizens United would help eliminate these “charitable givers”. It’s the perfect illustration of quid pro quo.
First, the good news: a judge shut down the merger (biggest in history) of Kroger and Albertsons. A step in the right direction, so of course Albertsons is suing: they had already counted their profits ahead of the dirty deed. The bad news? Walmart is still in the business of klling smal grocery stores, with the public enabling this. Only community action will stop this!
The irony is WalMart's prices are NOT lower than local supermarkers. Too bad so many people assume that they will be getting a good deal by shopping there.
You are right about that. This is the same irony that is behind the belief that Trump is good for America. Ever wonder when people will wake up and smell the coffee??
We have the best government $$$ can buy....hook,line and vote.
I remember quite a while ago, their was a town with a long-time grocer that served just about all the shoppers in town Everyone liked the store, good service Than a Walmart came to town with lower prices. Soon everyone shopped at Walmart The local grocer went out of business. About a year later Walmart left town, for lack of profit. The town was left with nothing! In places where I have lived, ask anyone where to buy anything-Walmart! We shopped several grocery stores, told neighbors about that, but where did they go? Back to Walmart! I now live where Walmart & Target is just about it When I travel, I have noticed you can tell the poverty rate in a town by the grocery store-like Dollar General!
We were a food desert. Oh sure there was an independent grocery store but it had limited selection and sometimes dubious quality meat. One man opened a storefront on the main drag near the only stoplight for 20 miles. His selection was limited but the deli counter was always filled with fresh meats. Soon his business grew and he needed more space so he approached the owner of the grocery store and inquired about purchasing it. The asking price was ridiculously high so our guy acquired land across the road and built a new IGA and drove the other guy out of business by offering good food at reasonable prices. In a few years he had to expand. After 25 years or so he turned the store over to his son who is keeping up the family business.
Last year, Dollar General opened a store about 2 miles away in a little town. The people in that town like being able to walk but I don't think it has affected the IGA very much. And the old grocery store is now a local hardware store -- affiliated with Ace but definitely local. We like it.
I shop almost exclusively at my neighborhood co-op. Local produce, everything I need. And the farmers market nearby supplies the rest.
Again, we can trace many of our current abuses to St. Reagan. I am proud of our local transit, MARTA, which in the summer months offers fresh produce at many stations which are in these notorious food deserts. But defeating the real culprits (thank you, government, for rejecting the Kroger/Albertson's merger, which would have decreased competition and increased the problem) should be job one when Democrats sweep Congress in 2026. I know, but I can dream.
I live in the sticks. Monopolies are the only places that can last out here. We can’t afford the co ops. And farmers markets only have so much and they are expensive too. Lots of issues. Please don’t forget about us rural folk. Thank you Low Down.
When I was a teen growing up in Brooklyn, I shopped after school for dinner every day: the local grocery, local butcher, local produce store, local bakery. Everything was fresh and nothing was wrapped in plastic!! Healthier, more social, far better for the environment.
Let’s get that grassroots movement moving, then! So much of this is like the weather; everyone talks about it and nobody does anything about it. Seems the time is ripe, considering the impending collapse of the regulatory system, for the general citizenry to rise in defiance of this wrong, and in support of the laws on the books.
I agree that large monopolies have gained economic dominance. During the lockdowns of COVID we saw many small businesses go under while Amazon and Whole Foods, and Walmart became the only game in town. So many had their groceries delivered because they were afraid to brave shopping in person would expose them to COVID. Interesting that Liquor stores and Pot stores never got closed down. I'd like to hear some admission to the effect that these lockdowns also played a big part in closing down many small businesses and enriched the big corporate companies. But thank you for the important perspective.
"Citizens United" has to be overturned and violations of campaign financing rules have to be enforced with severe penalties. Otherwise, we are gonzo.
I’ve lived in two small towns with small grocery stores. Both stores were known for their butcher department. Quality meat, cut to order, was their anchor.