Supermarket Swan Song

When was the last time you stepped foot into a supermarket? I haven’t walked into one in years.

Personally, I see the warehouse scene as "something to aspire to" for people who previously thought they couldn't afford the membership fee. Meanwhile, those of us who've "been there, done that" have moved on after experiencing the truth of the matter: there aren't many real bargains at these places, and sometimes the membership fee isn't worth it. That’s just my take.

We've forgotten that these stores are meant to cater to small businesses, or never knew it in the first place.

Regular supermarkets could acquire enough stock to become their own mini-warehouse store (and the square footage of some of them suggest they already ARE), but at least two things stand in the way: storage space and shelf life. Since manufacturers already pay the stores for advantageous shelf placement, you’d think the stores would want to roll in MORE dough by adding more shelves and aisles…but no—they make money on a per-unit basis instead of volume sales. I guess these shelf fees don’t cover the heating, cooling, lighting, signage and labeling, labor, and maintenance costs, so it’s made up in product price.

Quick turnover is the name of the supermarket game, because it yields the most pricing power for the least amount of shelf space.

I was telling a friend that I wouldn't mind seeing a grocery store WITHOUT the flower, bakery, pharmacy, and liquor departments in them...but then, I’d be looking at a convenience store. Just compare the difference in price levels between the two retail formats just by deleting some unnecessary items from the grocery store! I guess those flower bouquets, drugs, doughnuts, and wine are working in my favor after all.

For me, the supermarket has already died a horrible death. I do most of my shopping at a health food store, and a few items at Sam’s Club do the rest. If I didn’t have certain health concerns (sodium, sugar, and carbs), I could easily skip the health food store.

By streamlining my food needs and shopping places, I’ve managed to save loads of time, personal energy, transportation costs, space, money, and brain cells (from the bombardment of ads and frivolous products). If possible, you should look into “killing off” your supermarket too. Let them continue to play their shelf-space-for-sale games without you.

So where else can you go food shopping?

1. CSAs and/or farmer's markets
2. Foreign/international grocery stores (way less marketing)
3. Feed stores (especially for bulk buying)
4. Online (although not recommended due to shipping costs)
5. Your own backyard garden
6. Salvage stores
7. Dumpsters (pre-packaged stuff only)
8. Supply outlets (bakery supplies come to mind--got a friend who owns a pizzeria or bakery? Ask him/her to order one more bag of flour (or whatever) for you, and pay them for it)

I'm sure there's more--just use your imagination, and maybe your phone book. Even though I no longer use a regular grocery store, I still use price per unit shopping methods, and the occasional rare coupon.