[AGreatPer]

I don't know about other areas of the country but we have several mid to large local grocery stores competing nicely against Wal-Mart. In PA we have two different Giant Chains, Weis Markets, Karns, etc.

Today I went to Weis where lettuce was $1, WM $1.69. I won't bore you with the other special savings. But there were many.

It seems that we all have to be smarter shoppers to meet a budget. Yes, I do it. If they want to fight on prices, I will take advantage of it.

Never have I found WM the lowest prices over all. I definately get better quality meats from Karns and better seafood from Fox's.

What's that old song? "You better shop around."

[Radix]

Those two different Giant chains were for a time under the same corporate umbrella of Royal Ahold. Ahold is one of the largest retailers in the world, and is certainly in the top 30 in the USA! The competition between Ahold and Wal Mart in the USA for market share is quite fierce but Ahold is losing ground and fast.

Some of the other Ahold chains are known as Bi-Lo, Tops, and Stop & Shop. There are other companies such as food distributors, and you better hope that they can compete. If the current trend continues in a few years you are going to miss those competitors.

Ahold has been losing ground and has been divesting of certain assets including already one of the "Giant" food chains which you mentioned. Wal Mart is a steamroller, and ultimately we will all pay for allowing them to engage in certain business practices.

In a way it pleases me because I have so little love for certain unions which have been wreaking havoc on our economy for years.

http://www.ahold.com/

http://www.siamfuture.com/RetailBusCenter/RetailIndus/Top100.asp

[scab4faa]

Oh I agree, We usually shop at safeway, king soopers, Albertson's for the deals of the week but for bulk items Sam's club beats them all. 8 can's of Bush's baked beans for 5 bucks! LoL

[freekitty]

There won't be any place to shop around pretty soon. We will all be marching like soldjers to WM. Of course, it you rich, you won't have to.

[this_ol_patriot]

I have nothing for or against Wal-Mart, it's just a place to shop as far as I'm concerned but here in York, Pa. the grocery sections are just awful. The produce section smells like a garbage can and I saw a bird pooping on the potatos, no shit, it was flying around crapping everywhere. The fish and meat section smells just like the Inner Harbor did near the Proctor & Gamble plant not the spicy McCormick smell. Shopping at Giant or Weis for food is a pleasure compared to Wal-Mart although Wal-Mart has some things they don't have like my hot sauce sardines.