10 Reasons to Stay Away From Conventional Grocery Stores
July 13 2006
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Conventional supermarkets bring in $480 billion a year, but their profits have reached a standstill.
Meanwhile, specialty grocers like Whole Foods have experienced sales growth averages of over 11 percent annually for the past five years, and the organic industry, a $15-billion industry, has grown at least 20 percent a year for the last 15 years.
SmartMoney.com has featured 10 reasons why many consumers may be turning away from their conventional grocery stores in favor of more upscale options, including:
- Grocery stores can make you sick via roaches, rats and other pests in the stores.
- Employee practices are likely the number one cause of cross-contamination in supermarkets.
- The freshness of vegetables and meats sold in grocery stores is highly debatable.
- Many automated scanners used at checkout lines don't work properly, overcharging often for items on sale.
- Weekly coupons and sales trick you into paying for more expensive products.
In response, supermarkets are bringing in more organic and natural products and arranging their stores to appeal to shoppers who would otherwise choose Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wild Oats Markets or other specialty stores.
Safeway grocery chain, for instance, has opened close to 500 Lifestyle stores, including one in Boulder, Colorado that has 600 organic items, a sushi bar, a hot-roasted-nut bar and an open hearth to watch fresh bread being baked. Even Wal-Mart has plans to expand its organic selection across the nation.