[Hilda]

I just wanted to share with you ladies that I’ve accepted a position with my former employer. I used to purchase for this company, and they have since been bought-out by a fairly large corporation.

The good news, the reason why I’ve contemplated and gone over this decision, and why I’m sharing it here, is that before, as a purchasing manager, I had a bit of an “insider scoop” to the regional trends especially, and to the national trends to a lesser, but still significant degree.

I’m not really proud to come in here and say I’m working at a grocery store, but heh, I’m hopeful I’ll be able to share with you all some of the benefits. This position gives me a unique opportunity to see what’s coming down the pike a few days, weeks, or sometimes months before the consumer has a clue. (I’m not implying the consumer isn’t paying attention, I am stating they do their best to keep this info from the general public)

I also have access to internal reports from all departments, and trends for the corporation in-general, with more specific detail about my region, and full detail about my particular location. I will be keeping an eye on those as I did before.
It is amazing sometimes, especially after a disaster of some sort to watch the supply and price-points fluctuate. More practically I should be able to tell you when a huge increase on particular items is incoming. It's fun to track commodities from the market to the end-consumer grocery outlet. (if you can call that fun..) perhaps I should say, it's good to be inside watching and knowing what to expect in advance?

I’ve really missed the insight aspect of the job since I left this company, and I’m really pleased to not only pick-up the much-needed influx of income, but more importantly, the information which to me as a single mom, is invaluable. Second only to defending the clan, food prep is my number one priority at this time.

Hope to share lots of valuable tidbits with y’all as they become available to me, and I’m also very pleased to have found this forum and like-minded folks with which to share.

I will of course have to be discreet, and vague at times as well, I will not recommend or suggest anything, but I’ll reveal and share all that I am able. I will probably move this off to a blog in the future, as I do not want any legal BS here (or anywhere for that matter )

 

[preparedmama]

Why aren't you proud to be working at a grocery store? You put in your hours, work hard and support your family. To me that is something to be proud of!

 

[awildchipmunk]

Not a thing wrong with working in a grocery store,
when times start getting tough I would think it would be a real advantage...:thumb:

I would be very interested to know what I should be stocking up on prior to the hikes and shortages.

 

[theairgunman]

Why aren't you proud to be working at a grocery store? You put in your hours, work hard and support your family. To me that is something to be proud of!

+1 to that! I am the assistant manager of a grocery store. My family thinks I am wasting my life there, but I get to help people fulfill one of their most basic needs. Not to mention I am making as much money as my Dad. : Never be ashamed of what you do for a living, provided you are doing a honest job. :thumb:

 

[test]

Why aren't you proud of what you do? I'm proud of you and I don't even know you. You get up every day and go do an honest day's work. This idea that one must be a doctor or lawyer to be successful is nothing but pure bunk.

Doctors and lawyers have to eat....where do you think they get their food?

You have intrinsic value as a human being, you are a positive contributing person to your family and the society in which you live. Thank you for the job you do.

 

[Hilda]

Pet food has gone way up, and will continue to do so.

The manufacturers have a sixty day grace period in which to update their labeling when changing ingredients.

They are going one of three ways to compete with increasing production/shipping costs:

1. lowering the quality of their ingredients and marketing at the same price. And/or reducing the total weight of the package.
2. Carrying the increase to the shelf price - you the consumer will pay.
3. Marketing "premium" labeled product well above the price-point for other products (not to name names, but to give an example, I'll say one of these brands "starts with an I") There is nothing premium about thier ingredients imo, but your opinion may differ.

I will try to get back to this thread with links to product comparisons of ingredients.
Also, I have a collection of dog and cat food recipes to share. I'll try to get those into PDF and listed in the recipes thread as well.

Good to know if your pets have any allergies, and how to provide a balanced meal for them outside of commercial offerings (as well as including enough to provide for their needs in your food prep stock) imo.

 

[Hilda]

Stock-up on Holiday Sales!

Upcoming holiday sales – take advantage!
Here are just a few items that will be offered on sale in our stores regionally over the next 45 days at an annual low price:

Canned pumpkin, canned evaporated milk, brown sugar, canned yams, pickles and olives. Cake mixes, baking items such as chocolate chips, pecans and walnuts.

Turkeys, hams and bacon (pork still very low compared to other meats).

Oils (excluding corn oil which has shot through the roof)

Marachino cherries, cranberry sauce, pie fillings and canned fruits. Some dried fruits like raisins and prunes.

Eggs may be on sale, here at the lowest price I’ve seen since dec 2006 (1.49/dozen) Butter will be as low as $2.50/lb. here this season. Flour will be as low as (Im afraid it will ever be again) $ 1.49/5 lb. bag.

Apple cider and other juice.

California Navel oranges are in season, as are celery and lettuces, and cole crops (broc, cauli) should be priced accordingly.

We’re also trying to move some very non-holiday related goods like pasta, pasta sauces and tomatoes (canned or sauces) also. As well as peanut butter and jelly, syrups, and frozen dinners, toaster pastries, canned raviolis, and granola bars.


Our stores are offering some really great sales this holiday season. All major supermarkets will be in fierce competition for your holiday dollars again this year, as always, but most especially when so many are suffering in trying to absorb costs.

To pinch pennies: Plan your menu around sales items. Gather coupons and use them! Buy the store brand if possible, and substitute ingredients for less expensive items.

If you keep track of costs, as I know most of you ladies here do, then you'll recognize a good price when you see it and load-up accordingly. I firmly believe we will never again see prices lower than sale prices this year-end.

 

[American Chestnut]

"I firmly believe we will never again see prices lower than sale prices this year-end."

I too work in a grocery store and I'm not sure about your quote above. A lot depends on the economy. A few short months ago most thought we would never see gas under $2. again......and here we are. I can buy all I want for $1.80 a gallon. We are probably going to experience some deflation. Some probably think this is a great thing but in reality it can be more devistating than inflation. If your mortgage is fixed inflation helps to pay it as wages rise. Falling prices means eventually eomployers have to lower wages. A fixed cost mortgage might be tougher. I am seeing some prices come down quickly in the store.... its making life hard for the scan analyst. In our store we make money as a % of retail sales through the front end. Eventually people quit eating more food just because its cheaper. (we are not there yet by any stretch of the imagination
What is really good for an economy is stable prices.

The collapse of the baltic dry index is breath taking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index
I watch the stock DRYS for an entry but to be honest I probably need to leave it alone.

 

[Hilda]

"I firmly believe we will never again see prices lower than sale prices this year-end."

I too work in a grocery store and I'm not sure about your quote above. A lot depends on the economy. A few short months ago most thought we would never see gas under $2. again......and here we are. I can buy all I want for $1.80 a gallon. We are probably going to experience some deflation. Some probably think this is a great thing but in reality it can be more devistating than inflation. If your mortgage is fixed inflation helps to pay it as wages rise. Falling prices means eventually eomployers have to lower wages. A fixed cost mortgage might be tougher. I am seeing some prices come down quickly in the store.... its making life hard for the scan analyst. In our store we make money as a % of retail sales through the front end. Eventually people quit eating more food just because its cheaper. (we are not there yet by any stretch of the imagination
What is really good for an economy is stable prices.

The collapse of the baltic dry index is breath taking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index
I watch the stock DRYS for an entry but to be honest I probably need to leave it alone.

Thanks. I do want to clarify that I was referring to bulk staples. I agree that some things like boxed "helper" foods and insta-lunches will still compete, and probably get a lot cheaper. I know many people eat this stuff regularly, I see carts full of it every day. I personally tend to look at flour, oats, dairy, eggs, meats, etc as "real food", and these are what I fear will continue to go up.

A good friend of mine is the GM at our McDonalds. She and I have coffee every week and discuss our local market and each-other's business. I know that more and more people at least here, are eating lunch (or dinner with the entire family) every day at McD's. Lately we've both found more people are paying for their one dollar lunch with coins also.

Unhealthy eating will stay affordable, this is what scares and bothers me, as I feel it may be the only affordable eating for many who know no other way, while whole foods will continue to bump up imo.

 

[awildchipmunk]

Originally Posted by American Chestnut View Post

The collapse of the baltic dry index is breath taking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index
I watch the stock DRYS for an entry but to be honest I probably need to leave it alone.

Nifty little index you got there :xeye:

Found a link: Daily Market: This page contains the latest Dry Bulk Shipping News

http://www.dryships.com/index.cfm?get=report

The yesterday vs. a year ago, OMGoodness

 

[melody]

I've noticed a trend that as soon as a product at my local store goes on sale, the original price behind it jumps up. Then when the weekly sale is over, the higher new price is there to stay. Do all stores do that, or just my local one?

 

[anne36]

Melody, ive noticed the same thing.

One example I can think of is milk, (which has some down) last year they raised it to reg $4.99 / gal but i never pay that much for it.

Most recently a 12 pack of soda cans has been raised to $4.99 as well, which just shocked me. I have not paid this much for a 12 pack and probably wont, i have been picking up 2 liters, and the occasional single. (Bad I know, working on quitting)

 

[hippytreehugger4ev]

I've been keeping and eye on the price of flour and am trying to pick up 50-100 ibs at a time when it goes on sale under $2 a bag, even with those pesky limits of 2 bags

 

[farmerswife]

Why aren't you proud to be working at a grocery store? You put in your hours, work hard and support your family. To me that is something to be proud of!

I know alot of executives with high incomes that dont have the honor you have just shown us, by wanting to help us.Keep up the good spirit is all I can say.I agree with Prepared Mama.

 

[BrowserCat]

Here's why food prices aren't going down any time soon:
Fuel price goes up. Shipper feels the pain.
Price of corn, etc. [raw materials] goes up due to price of anything petro-related, which includes fuel, plastic, herbicides and pesticides. Mfgr. feels the pain.
Mfgr. has to raise price of food, or change size of package [like 8 rolls instead of 12 for the same price, smaller box, same price, etc.]. Many packages change size.
Store has older sizes, marked prices, new stuff is higher, lets old stuff go on sale.
New stuff comes in, smaller sizes, same or higher prices.

Petrol prices go down.

Food prices go down, right?

Nope.

Cost of raw materials [corn, etc.] is still higher, and mfgr.'s bottom line has not caught up to higher prices from fuel + raw material cost increases.

So, food prices will stay high for the foreseeable future because even if fuel and raw material prices fall, mfgrs will get used to mo' money and won't lower them down any time soon.

 

[Hilda]

I've noticed a trend that as soon as a product at my local store goes on sale, the original price behind it jumps up. Then when the weekly sale is over, the higher new price is there to stay. Do all stores do that, or just my local one?

This is a very common tactic. In a way, it makes the consumer "watch for the sale" and serves as distraction for the perma-hike. Very Common.

Our store (as is common with most) also runs sales almost constantly on some items, one week it's 3 for 5 next it's 6 for ten, next it's 5 for ten and so on.

If you stick with one brand/store long enough, you spot the really good sales when they happen. For example; our store does a sale of about a dollar a pound for pasta several times a year, this is a good deal. Our best sale ever is 20 for $10. As an employee I get 15% off our house brand. Needless to say, I have several hundred pounds of pasta at this time.

 

[Hilda]

I know alot of executives with high incomes that dont have the honor you have just shown us, by wanting to help us.Keep up the good spirit is all I can say.I agree with Prepared Mama.

What a lovely thing to say. Thank you!

 

[Highlander]

Pretty darn smart Hilda. Aren't you in a neat position now? You get to see shortages ahead of time.

 

[Madcapper]

I recall about 6 months ago I went to get some ice cream from the store. Edy's brand used to be half a gallon for say 5.50. When I went they two different sizes of the same flavors of ice cream. Half gallon and 1.75 quarts. They both had the same UPC and were the same price. I havent bought premium ice cream since then and I am assuming the packages are still the 1.75 quart ones. It just irked me to no end seeing the proverbial wool in action as I stood there looking at it.