Text 1243, 185 rader
Skriven 2013-06-16 07:28:00 av DAVE DRUM (1:261/1381)
Ärende: What's in your Trolley???
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So I am reading some of the Reuters "Oddly Enough" items when I notice a
sidebar touting a list of "America's 12 Worst Supermarkets". I noticed, too,
that only one is a left coast based company. The majority being from the right
coast (mostly the NE) and some from the Great American Outback. Any comments in
the list in [ ] are mine and not those of the original article.. Here we go.

By BLAIRE BRIODY, The Fiscal Times

Not all supermarkets are created equal. For many Americans, stopping by a chain
supermarket has become a major chore, involving long lines, rude employees,
unsanitary conditions and poor selection. Consumer Reports recently conducted a
survey of more than 24,000 shoppers to rank the best and worst out of 52
grocery store chains - and the results show just how disappointing customer
experience can be at some megastores. 

12. Stop & Shop: Reader Score: 73

Locations in: NY, NJ, MA, RI, CT, PA

Year Founded: 1914 as Shopmate, 1947 as Stop & Shop

Despite its slogan "Great Food. Low Prices. Friendly Service," Stop & Shop
received only slightly-above average marks when it came to cleanliness, but
mediocre scores on price, the quality of meat and produce, and service, which
is to say, they're not necessarily doing anything wrong, but they're not doing
much right. 

11. Acme: Reader Score: 73

Locations in: PA, NJ, DE, MD

Year Founded: 1891

Acme's shortcoming was on price, which received a less-than-satisfactory
rating, though survey respondents were fairly satisfied with cleanliness, and
neutral on food quality and service. Facing increased competition from other
supermarkets, Acme laid off 900 part-time workers in 2010, and recently ended
their popular "free Thanksgiving turkey" program for loyal customers to cut
costs. 

10. Ralph's: Reader Score: 73

Location: Southern CA

Year Founded: 1873

Ralphs, a subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger and the oldest supermarket
chain in the west, had similar marks as Stop & Shop - mediocre on everything
but cleanliness, which was just above average. Ralphs had a strong presence in
Northern California for years, but closed down all of their remaining northern
locations in 2006. 

9. Pick 'n Save: Reader Score: 73

Location: WI

Year Founded: 1872

Pick 'n Save, operated by Roundy's Supermarkets, fell alongside Ralphs and Stop
& Shop - not terrible, but zero positive ratings except in cleanliness. The
chain has struggled in recent years as more competitors have opened in nearby
areas, and 62 employees at the corporate headquarters in Milwaukee were laid
off in 2010. 

8. Food Lion: Reader Score: 73

Locations in: Mid and South Atlantic regions

Year Founded: 1957

Food Lion was mediocre across the board. Customers weren't even just a little
bit satisfied with cleanliness, service, food quality, or price. Originally
known as Food Town, Food Lion recently announced it would be closing 113
stores, including all Florida locations, and rethinking their marketing
strategy. 

7. Weis Markets: Reader Score: 72

Locations in: PA, NJ, WV, MD and NY

Year Founded:1912

Weis Markets received an overall lower score than Ralphs and Stop & Shop, but
had the similar ratings within the categories. A quick search on Yelp showed
that locations in Lancaster, PA and Odenton, MD had 2.5 stars out of 5, and a
location in Chambersburg, PA had a 1.5 star rating. The main complaints were
customer service. "Ever wonder why it's so easy to park at Weis Markets on
Wayne Avenue?" wrote one reviewer about the Chambersburg location. "Because no
one goes there anymore." 

6. Tops Markets: Reader Score: 72

Locations in: NY and PA

Year Founded: 1962

Tops should probably start brainstorming a new name that includes the word
"bottom" or "middle." In the Consumer Reports survey, it fell in line with the
same rating as Weis, and reviews hover around 3 stars on Yelp. One reviewer on
a Syracuse, NY location reported an odd smell and disorganized shelves, and
another in Niagara Falls said she was frequently overcharged at the register. 

5. Jewel-Osco: Reader Score: 71

Locations in: IL, IA, IN

Year Founded: 1899

Jewel-Osco had mediocre ratings in all categories, except price, which fell
into the "very dissatisfied" category. Reviews on Yelp are mixed, but the
store's parent company, Supervalu Inc., has struggled during the recession,
seeing its stock plummet almost 90 percent from July 2007 to 2012, and laid off
800 workers in February. It recently slashed prices to help drive sales, but
the changes don't seem to be making much of a difference among customers. 

[We cheered when Jewel-Osco sold out in this area to Nieman (County Market/Cub
Foods/Sav-A-Lot) as did the (former) Jewel-Osco employess who I know.]

4. A & P: Reader Score: 70

Locations in: CT, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA

Year Founded: 1859

A&P, once the largest food retailer in the nation, received negative marks on
service and price, a neutral review on food quality and "fairly satisfied" on
cleanliness. But 22 percent of shoppers surveyed said they experienced three or
more problems. The company, which includes supermarkets Food Emporium and
Pathmark, filed for bankruptcy in 2010, but has recently come back as a private
company with a new management team, new supplier and store renovations. 

[A & P used to be big in my area and was a go-to market for price and quality.
MY, how the mighty have fallen]

3. Shaw's: Reader Score: 69

Locations in: ME, MA, NH, RI and VT

Year Founded: 1860

Shaw's received a negative score on price, neutral scores on food quality and
service, a just-above-average score on cleanliness, and 20 percent of shoppers
said they experienced three or more problems. The supermarket shuttered a
number of stores during the recession and eliminated 4 percent of its full-time
workforce, and many stores are undergoing remodels and updates. Many reviewers
on Yelp complained of slow-moving lines, prices, and selection. 

2. Walmart Supercenter: Reader Score: 69

Location: Nationwide

Year Founded:Walmart in 1962/Supercenters in 1988

With currently over 3,000 in the country, Walmart "Supercenters" stock
everything from dairy products to home ware. The super stores received scathing
reviews on service, a poor review on food quality, a mediocre score on
cleanliness and had the highest percentage of shoppers - 32 - who experienced
three or more problems. However, they did get a "highly satisfied" score on
price. Despite customer complaints, the retail giant continues to expand and
open more supercenters across the country. 

[I was hoping for them to "win" this little list as I loathe their business
practices and find their quality of produce/meat/non-canned items to suck the
bitter carrot]

1. Pathmark: Reader Score: 68

Locations in: DE, NJ, NY, PA

Year Founded: 1968 (purchased by A&P in 2007)

And the winner is-Pathmark! Under A&P's umbrella, Pathmark received "highly
dissatisfied" reviews on service, mediocre reviews on food quality and price,
and poor reviews on cleanliness. Among shoppers surveyed, 75 percent had one or
more complaints, and 31 percent experienced three or more problems. One
customer on Yelp who reviewed the Harlem, New York location went so far as to
call Pathmark, "the bane of my existence." Ouch. 

[Their parent company A&P is in at #4 on this list - a double whammy]

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com

... It's a mistake to think you can solve any major problems with just potatoes
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