[DrCaleb]

A grocery store about a block away has changed hands several times in the last 3 years. Talking to one of the owners, buying groceries from distributors means buying from one of the major grocery chains, as they own the distributors for their stores. Walmart is the only one that won't sell outside their chain. If you want to sell certain brands, you can only buy from a certain distributor, and if you choose one distributor, the others won't touch you.

None of them sell at wholesale, so the markup for 4l of milk has to be kept to under a dime or customers will spend $1 on gas to go to the box store to save 8 cents. You buy at the same price as if you went to their store like a pleb. They never sold any fresh fruit or veg, didn't run most of their coolers of freezers, never used A/C in summer, or turned on most of their lights. Costs need to be saved somehow, and they had to run about $100k a month in sales to meet costs even at that.

The store closed again last month, and didn't re-open. Workers are there right now stripping the 1970s era IGA fixtures out. I assume the owner doesn't think it's viable for a grocery store. If you grew up in the 1970s, you would recognize the store.

It's the 3rd independent grocery store to fail in my area in the last 2-3 years.

[herbie]

Yeah same ting happened here. A local chain closed stores in 5 or 6 small towns. In 2 of them the band office opened up mainly to provide employment for members.
They associated with SaveOn for their main supplier but can't compete with that chain itself. They also run trucks from Costco and mark up the Kirkland products.

Nevertheless, they often compete well on produce and meat even though the grade of meat is never mentioned.
Got a laugh as the 'bakery' consists of solely reheated frozen shit and the bakery manager didn't even know how to, or is she could make their own icing. Just did not make any cake or donuts until more premade buckets of it showed up.

[DrCaleb]

Its unfortunate that the only wholesalers around here are Sobeys, Loblaws or I think Co-Op.

Sobeys and Loblaws are meh. Co-Op has better meat and produce, but I buy produce at an organic store and found an amazing meat store/deli to get meat when I decide to eat that. I mean seriously, whole smoked chickens for $25!! Pricey, but the leftovers make the best soups and sandwiches.

[Tricks]

I found a butcher that does meat from local farms (including their own) about 45 minutes away, go there every 4 or 5 months and buy 40-50 pounds of meat. It's wonderful.

[herbie]

How soon until beef, chicken and pork are no longer advertised by the pound and listed like cheese, fish and deli goods b the 100 grams?
The steaks I saw at GougeOn would look a better deal at $7.39/100g...