Trader Joes & Whole foods - south of Indy

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Now that Amazon owns Whole Foods, I look for Whole Foods grocery stores to start popping in small and medium size cities all over the United States instead of only the affluent areas of large metros.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by MortonR

I'm in Florida most of the time, and here's my take on Publix:

Yes, they're expensive. However, their stores are clean, well lit, well stocked and staffed. They offer a wide range of choices and have a good house brand and very good produce.

But -

Brand name products I can get elsewhere, such as Walmart, for far less. Publix plays the marketing game very, very well. Sure, you can come in and grab their BOGO stuff, but the minute you buy that box of Cheezits for $4.50 you've blown your savings because the same box of Cheezits is $2.50 at Walmart.

I play their game using their own resources, that is, I use their phone app to search BOGO items that are of interest to me and shop for those and those only. I buy nothing else from the store, so essentially, I'm beating them at their own game. That's not my motivation for doing it - I only buy stuff I need that's a BOGO. I might go there once or twice a month, if that.

RM

I pretty much do the same thing with Publix. I imagine quite a few people do since the store is way overpriced. I would love to have a Trader Joe's near me.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I pretty much do the same thing with Publix. I imagine quite a few people do since the store is way overpriced. I would love to have a Trader Joe's near me.

There's one in South Tampa, the Tampa equivalent of Carmel and the north Meridian corridor area, which I've visited. I wasn't impressed and I wouldn't travel the 40 minutes it would take to go there for the few things that might interest me.

I've shopped at the one on the northside of Indy, too. Once. Again, it wasn't worth the trip for me.

Publix makes it easy now with their app. You can sort the weekly specials for BOGOs. I was just there this afternoon to buy some fresh fish, as they have the best stuff around here, and BOGOs. Ketchup and pretzels were all they had this week that I wanted/needed.

I don't mind paying for high quality groceries, like fresh fish or seafood. The basic necessities that everyone carries I'm going to shop for at the lowest possible price.

RM

[sheerbliss]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

These type stores both contribute to class divide, and hinder access to healthier Food options for Americans. They set up in higher income locations, regions and for many are far and few between locations. Its not surprising many have never had the chance to shop in these stores.

Whole Foods and Trader Joe's aren't stopping anyone from buying organic food from Walmart or any other market--or growing their own.

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I have several neighbours from Indiana that have never been in either. Yet they would like them in their area of Indiana. Same here in Florida. They only set up where there is a higher income. Even though the few times I have been in them down in Orlando 75 miles away. I found better buys than our Rip off monopoly of a grocery store Publix. So it's a Shame both stores don't try a new concept. Try opening locations closer to a more varied clientele.

You mean in poor neighborhoods.

We had a twee little co-op here on the east side of Indianapolis at one of the highest-crime intersections in the city. It was a nonprofit that carried pristine local food. It folded. Even after the show Returning the Favor with Mike Rowe generously revamped and reopened the store, it folded again. Likewise, Tyner Pond in a more middle-class area nearby also went out of business within a few years after it opened. People mostly shop on price around here, and they can (and do) fill their carts with junk food at the local Kroger.

I'd be happy to do more of my shopping at Kroger since it's so close. But they don't carry Simple Truth meats anymore--not even the Kroger on Shadeland. I'm what OSHA calls a canary and can't eat the chickens they lace with carrageenan.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by MortonR

I'm in Florida most of the time, and here's my take on Publix:

Yes, they're expensive. However, their stores are clean, well lit, well stocked and staffed. They offer a wide range of choices and have a good house brand and very good produce.

But -

Brand name products I can get elsewhere, such as Walmart, for far less. Publix plays the marketing game very, very well. Sure, you can come in and grab their BOGO stuff, but the minute you buy that box of Cheezits for $4.50 you've blown your savings because the same box of Cheezits is $2.50 at Walmart.

I play their game using their own resources, that is, I use their phone app to search BOGO items that are of interest to me and shop for those and those only. I buy nothing else from the store, so essentially, I'm beating them at their own game. That's not my motivation for doing it - I only buy stuff I need that's a BOGO. I might go there once or twice a month, if that.

RM

Ya, I never got the Publix love. Their stores are all the things you mentioned (clean, well stocked, etc.), But whenever my wife and I shopped there in TN we ended up spending more... I just never felt like it was worth it. We're not coupon people though. I've been much more impressed by Kroger and Meijers new stores. They're similar to super targets, offering more than just groceries, with a premium feel.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Kluch

Ya, I never got the Publix love. Their stores are all the things you mentioned (clean, well stocked, etc.), But whenever my wife and I shopped there in TN we ended up spending more... I just never felt like it was worth it. We're not coupon people though. I've been much more impressed by Kroger and Meijers new stores. They're similar to super targets, offering more than just groceries, with a premium feel.

I have the same opinion, Meijer's has great coupons much of the time, usually better than Kroger, and they also send me physical coupons in the mail in addition to all the digital coupons. The problem I have with Meijer is that they are very aggressive about discontinuing any lower selling items, and that is aggravating.

[Serious Conversation]

TJ's is great for frozen and prepared foods that I'd have no hope of finding at my local grocery store. There's also plenty of cheap goods in there that are interesting.

They're a limited assorted grocer. I think they would be supported in far more communities than they are in. I don't see any reason why either wouldn't be supported with the continued south side suburban growth.