General Discussion

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)

138. They have their own brands -- made and packaged to the Grocers specifications

Reply to obamanut2012 (Reply #68)

Sun Jan 20, 2013, 04:11 PM

Jan 2013

Upthread there is praise for Trader Joe's and ALDI. Everything on the shelf at TJ's has their brand on it. They picked it. They design the packaging, the size, the price of each individual product to be part of their limited mix of products and targeted price points.

ALDI is large German grocery that owns Trader Joe's and an ALDI store is similar but much more cost conscious. TJ's and ALDI have only 1200 to 1400 SKUs, a very limited selection compared to your average Safeway which likely shelves more than 50,000 SKUs. ALDI/TJ's is an extreme example of grocers designing and pricing the products they offer but all the major grocery chains have some version of this (eg. Great Value, Central Market).

The consumer has influence also. Bacon is almost always 1 pound. Eggs in dozens. But we also accept pricing which ends in .99 (?)

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Grocers They Think Us Stupid Perhaps [View all] bkkyosemite Jan 2013 OP

And many juice cans are 11.5 oz instead of 12 Still Sensible Jan 2013 #1

How do you know they are needing to maintain market share? bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #73

They think we can't/won't do anything about it. elleng Jan 2013 #2

What about nationalizing the food industry? FrodosPet Jan 2013 #139

MAYBE, under some sort of 'socialism,' elleng Jan 2013 #140

I am a bit confused. ChazII Jan 2013 #157

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! FrodosPet Jan 2013 #170

Thanks for your reply. ChazII Jan 2013 #171

What pisses me off about the smaller sizes is that DJ13 Jan 2013 #3

+++ 1,000,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Jan 2013 #28

I love smart people. n/t littlemissmartypants Jan 2013 #30

If you can document that, Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #53

I'm not sure about juices, but meats are considered at price per ounce Recursion Jan 2013 #56

Yes, but the missing meat is made up for by equivalently nutritious Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #152

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that CPI considers 'expenditure', not 'costs' maggiesfarmer Jan 2013 #57

Here's BLS's description Recursion Jan 2013 #62

good info, thanks. I believe the diaries, reflecting actual expenditures, play a role also, but it maggiesfarmer Jan 2013 #70

yw. One of my friends does that for BLS Recursion Jan 2013 #71

I guess if your handle is 'recursion' you're qualified to call someone wonkish maggiesfarmer Jan 2013 #74

Back in the day. I'm a sysadmin now (nt) Recursion Jan 2013 #75

It's accounted for in CPI-U Recursion Jan 2013 #64

Never thought about that... Bay Boy Jan 2013 #87

Food prices aren't part of the inflation numbers we see, they are left out. bighart Jan 2013 #129

It is very irritating 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #4

i watch the price of every item that goes across ProdigalJunkMail Jan 2013 #40

yes, sadly you gotta watch every item. 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #45

One grocer had no problems exboyfil Jan 2013 #63

I do the same thing 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #66

My wife does the bulk of the grocery shopping exboyfil Jan 2013 #69

I think there's another ounce or two missing from the coffee cans too. nc4bo Jan 2013 #5

It's quickly getting to the point inanna Jan 2013 #6

Coffee use to be sold in pound (16 oz.) bags or cans. southerncrone Jan 2013 #34

Chicory root is often mixed with coffee as a substitute NickB79 Jan 2013 #160

My Gramma used to buy a brand inanna Jan 2013 #161

Was it Chockful O'nuts? southerncrone Jan 2013 #164

Yeah! inanna Jan 2013 #165

Luzianne Coffee? kittykitty Jan 2013 #168

And then there is Subway DollarBillHines Jan 2013 #151

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that Major Nikon Jan 2013 #7

Only in the case where the average is equal to the median. eom yawnmaster Jan 2013 #14

Intelligence has limits where stupidity doesn't Major Nikon Jan 2013 #149

I think the reverse. Intelligence has no limit, but stupidity limits at zero... yawnmaster Jan 2013 #159

But the bulk of the population pscot Jan 2013 #148

But it's not the grocers 2naSalit Jan 2013 #8

You are right that the grocers are not the culprit. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #24

Thanks. Grocers have nothing to do with this. Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #55

Exactly. The grocers had nothing to do 4_TN_TITANS Jan 2013 #154

But if we don't buy, it affects the whole chain...and perhaps bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #78

Affecting the bottom of the chain (the Grocers where consumers affect) will affect the bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #79

To get to the Food Inc's the only way bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #80

Sorry. I was trying to reply to 3 posts and I replied to #8 only :( bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #82

there are production costs and interests built into produce, dairy, and meat bigtree Jan 2013 #86

Unfortunately, one of the very most expensive ways to buy food SheilaT Jan 2013 #9

I started making my own ice cream a couple of years ago. FSogol Jan 2013 #44

They were a treat for my grandchildren who I watch and I do make it occasionally. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #84

I live on a very limited budget, especially my food budget. SheilaT Jan 2013 #127

Exactly ... I buy so few packaged foods, I haven't really noticed it frazzled Jan 2013 #158

I have a grocery spreadsheet where mrsadm Jan 2013 #10

Much more so in the last few months not years. It really shows in the last bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #81

Many, many years customerserviceguy Jan 2013 #130

Are they really gouging? Incitatus Jan 2013 #11

It's not the grocery stores, it's the food manufacturers. Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #12

good point. too many people eager to jump on the stakeholder they see, not think it through maggiesfarmer Jan 2013 #51

Consumers cannot get to the top they have to affect the bottom to affect the top. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #83

Did anyone mention... onyourleft Jan 2013 #13

That happened about fifteen years ago. 2naSalit Jan 2013 #27

Mouseprint.org (which I was linked to on DU many, many years ago), has been tracking this forever. TroubleMan Jan 2013 #15

Here are a couple of other shinking product sites- Snarkoleptic Jan 2013 #20

Thank you for these links and the post above you I wasn't aware of them. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #85

Toilet paper is absolutely the worst arikara Jan 2013 #16

And the rolls have shrunk from 4.5 to 4 in wide Leslie Valley Jan 2013 #21

Yes! The rolls no longer fit on my 15 yr old toilet paper holder! southerncrone Jan 2013 #36

Safeway owns the Domick's Finer Foods stores in the Chicago area. Snarkoleptic Jan 2013 #17

Americans are too fat anyway. ErikJ Jan 2013 #18

It's wonderful that the higher prices and lower quantity of products isn't a problem for you. nc4bo Jan 2013 #37

Sorry. No sympathy for obesity here ErikJ Jan 2013 #39

wait... no sympathy for fat folk ProdigalJunkMail Jan 2013 #41

. nc4bo Jan 2013 #77

A little judgemental, aren't you? smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #76

super judgmental people datasuspect Jan 2013 #94

You shouldn't cook with EVOO. Use it only for marybourg Jan 2013 #115

Thank you for the tip! smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #166

or, extra virgin coconut oil. n/t easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #169

Try NOT using dairy and meat and you will save more money. tantric calvinist Jan 2013 #136

I'm trying to cut down, but it's hard. smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #167

Sorry ErikJ my grandchildren and I are not overweight and bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #91

Okay, so you don't have a TJs... tantric calvinist Jan 2013 #135

They are building a TJs in my neighborhood. It should be openes next year... Walk away Jan 2013 #54

These pudding cups were a treat for my bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #88

And I am not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #90

A way to tell they're making too much money... socialindependocrat Jan 2013 #19

Yes we do!!! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #92

The Consumerist calls this the "grocery store shrink ray." alarimer Jan 2013 #22

Well it's time for the comsumer ray to shrink the shrinkers ;-) bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #93

Red Stripe Beer went from 12oz bottles to 11oz without mention NightWatcher Jan 2013 #23

Now I'm really pissed!!! Bay Boy Jan 2013 #155

Watch produce take a sharp hike very soon siligut Jan 2013 #25

Several months ago Dole changed how they package their juice. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #26

Zest soap got smaller and tapered... Science Geek Jan 2013 #32

Same with apple juice the container is ridiculous to hold and yes is smaller. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #95

big ole box of cereal - maybe 12 x 14 inches - Kali Jan 2013 #29

It's been going on for decades. southerncrone Jan 2013 #31

Yes I bought a Charmin package that said bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #97

And yet... littlemissmartypants Jan 2013 #33

the RETAILER is throwing much of that away KurtNYC Jan 2013 #60

Got two words for you: 99Forever Jan 2013 #35

Yep and Save-A-Lot is another one. nc4bo Jan 2013 #38

Yes they do and they take advantange of it too stultusporcos Jan 2013 #42

This has been going on for years. hobbit709 Jan 2013 #43

Don't blame "grocers" tama Jan 2013 #46

Our farmers market sucks and we don't have a small family business vegetable shop here. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #98

It has always been this way. I'm used to it. It's the way it's done in the food biz. Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #47

Your post is timely. Last week I taught unit price to a class of sixth graders no_hypocrisy Jan 2013 #48

Wonderful and observant teacher you are. Thank you for what you do! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #103

On the plus side.. ananda Jan 2013 #49

Either that, or raise the price. Robb Jan 2013 #50

My oatmeal canister never held all of a large sized cardboard canister. One of those brewens Jan 2013 #52

Yes, it's everything. nc4bo Jan 2013 #59

You said it so well, thank you! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #105

For the past 6 months, I've made our own laundry powder. phylny Jan 2013 #147

Grocers aren't the ones doing this -- why blame them? obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #58

They are part of it. Everything you buy in a grocery is $3 (on average) KurtNYC Jan 2013 #65

No, the grocers are not part of this obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #68

They have their own brands -- made and packaged to the Grocers specifications KurtNYC Jan 2013 #138

We have tons of land. Just Monsanto and the Gang controlling our food supply! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #107

How do you get to the suppliers without not buying the food... bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #106

You are attacking the wrong people obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #110

a recipe can change dembotoz Jan 2013 #61

Local KeyFood Supermarket ... SummerSnow Jan 2013 #67

This reminds me of Subways 11" "footlong" Generic Brad Jan 2013 #72

Except grocers aren't doing this obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #102

It's not the grocery chains Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #89

The psychology of smaller packaging/same price is deceptive, and so it should be illegal, Nay Jan 2013 #99

There is an equivalent shift to larger packaging as well Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #100

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to the word deceptive! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #108

I've noticed that the package is the exact same size but there's less product inside. riderinthestorm Jan 2013 #101

Yes that too! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #117

The problem is the packages are smaller but the price is the same as for bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #112

I guess making stuff from scratch has become a lost art in this country. tjwash Jan 2013 #96

You do know that "grocers" just sell? Their profit margin is miniscule. WinkyDink Jan 2013 #104

Less than miniscule. Codeine Jan 2013 #146

Smaller packages can mean less gets thrown away muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #109

My thoughts are of a boycott and yes thank you that is what I meant. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #118

Interesting theory, but food producers have shown a clear pattern of shrinking items when costs rise Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #133

That's where they think we are stupid....not bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #141

Smaller packages makes more garbage nolabels Jan 2013 #162

"They" don't care what we think SoCalDem Jan 2013 #111

Yes you are so right and said it better than I could. That is what is happening.! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #119

Are you sure it's the grocers and not CEO pay? lonestarnot Jan 2013 #113

They all work as a team but you do have a good point! bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #120

It's like shopping in Europe. MADem Jan 2013 #114

I'm no longer surprised at anything sociopath CEO's do. There's nothing you can do about it! n/t L0oniX Jan 2013 #116

If we have that thinking we are doomed. It's up to us the consumer the one that spends bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #122

LMAO ...yea they'd take notice and pay off some more politicians. n/t L0oniX Jan 2013 #123

It's not funny but you do have a point. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #124

This explains why I sometimes wonder beveeheart Jan 2013 #121

It doesn't serve a family of four. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #125

they do it to help you FreeJoe Jan 2013 #126

4 jello snacks for the price of 6.... Historic NY Jan 2013 #128

You can make your own for pennies ..in small containers SoCalDem Jan 2013 #131

Watch Your Favorite Shampoo.... global1 Jan 2013 #132

So deceitful and it should be regulated or we will be buying bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #144

Grocers? Buddy, that's what I do for a living. Codeine Jan 2013 #134

"that it's fractionally smaller than the existing shelf stock." I disagree it is not a small change. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #142

Grocers don't work as a group. The idea that we do is laughable. Codeine Jan 2013 #145

I'm not against you! But if ALL Grocers stuck together with the consumer bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #150

And realistically I do understand that all Grocers would not want to do this. bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #153

I don't buy much in the way of processed foods. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #137

That is true. This will get people to buy less in processed foods which is good bkkyosemite Jan 2013 #143

Here is my shopping list... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #156

i made rum cake this xmas. recipe cake 18.5 oz. what i buy now? 16.5 oz. the whole recipe seabeyond Jan 2013 #163