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Wal-Mart Bans Bulk Sales Of Rice
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 4-24-2008

Posted on 04/23/2008 7:32:50 PM PDT by blam

Wal-Mart bans bulk sales of rice

By Our Foreign Staff
Last Updated: 2:42am BST 24/04/2008

The American supermarket chain Wal-Mart yesterday banned bulk sales of rice at its cash-and-carry businesses, as the global food shortage and soaring price of food began to make an impact in the largest consumer nation.

The company's bulk supply division, Sam's Club, announced that it would sell a maximum of four bags of rice to each customer, after Costco, a rival chain, said it would place caps on some rice and flour sales in California.

The limits were imposed after some customers, apparently alarmed by the soaring prices for staple foods, made unusually large bulk purchases after the price of rice in some stores doubled in the past month.

While there was little evidence of "panic" buying, some restaurants and smaller retailers were buying up large stocks in the expectation that prices would soar higher.

Wal-Mart's regular stores, used by millions of Americans, are not subject to the restriction.

"What you're seeing is people who buy in larger quantities, who have a restaurant or a corner store, stocking up because of media reports that prices could go higher," said Dave Heylen, a spokesman for the Californian Grocers' Association.

A statement issued by Sam's Club said the limits were imposed "due to recent supply and demand trends".

James Sinegal, the chief executive of Costco, said the firm would limit only very big purchases.

Any customer wanting 10 pallets of flour probably would be told they could have only one pallet, he said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bans; rice; sales; wqalmart
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

It’s been the MSM’s design for the last few years - attacking the economy in general. Keep reporting about “recession”, and eventually it’ll happen.


21 posted on 04/23/2008 8:02:12 PM PDT by ItsOurTimeNow ("And as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention...")
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To: blam

And so it begins........


22 posted on 04/23/2008 8:03:54 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: blam

If George Bush came out and said we are banning ethanol in gasoline and drilling ANWR the nonsense would stop.

It’s not going to happen.


23 posted on 04/23/2008 8:08:01 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: Aquamarine

Don;
‘t feel bad. I just bought another pound myself.

The thing about rice is, in the event of marshall law, and you can’t leave the house..it will feed humans and dogs, and cats, maybe even birds.

I’m reminded of what my grandmother used to say on certain occasions: Better safe than sorry. Where there is smoke there is fire.


24 posted on 04/23/2008 8:08:38 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: Cold Heart

It’s not going to happen because the President can’t do that.


25 posted on 04/23/2008 8:10:42 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: Shortcake

I was thinking that I should go and buy some seeds and start a garden. It seems like this would be a good year to do so.


26 posted on 04/23/2008 8:11:11 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
I agree - we're being manipulated. Whatever happened to all the articles about how Americans are too fat and food too plentiful? In the space of a few weeks we've gone from having too much food to having empty rice shelves. If this weren't an election year, I suspect things would be reported differently.

No doubt there are challenges, but I have a lot of faith in ordinary hard-working people the world over. If our politicians will only get out of the way, we'll muddle through this too.

27 posted on 04/23/2008 8:11:34 PM PDT by Think free or die
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To: luckystarmom

Seeds are always a good idea.

If not for yourself, good for trade.

This “crisis” may not be real, but then again, it may very well be someday.


28 posted on 04/23/2008 8:13:46 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: Shortcake
marshall law

Who dat?

29 posted on 04/23/2008 8:13:52 PM PDT by Peelod (I do renounce Hillary! and all her pomps and works.)
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To: blam

how about the government stop using taxpayer money to buy millions of tons of rice every year and sending it to africa.


30 posted on 04/23/2008 8:13:55 PM PDT by stricklandpoliticalmachine
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To: Peelod

I know I can’t spell.

But, I never call false something that can happen.


31 posted on 04/23/2008 8:15:29 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: dynachrome
"Beans next?"

I hope it is broccoli. ;-)

32 posted on 04/23/2008 8:15:36 PM PDT by verity ("Lord, what fools these mortals be!")
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To: Shortcake

I know he can’t do it, that is why I said it won’t happen.


33 posted on 04/23/2008 8:15:50 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: Shortcake

Just as a side note, we’re having chicken & rice tommorow.
Both bought “on sale”.


34 posted on 04/23/2008 8:21:43 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: Shortcake
By EO, he could.

Make it a National Security issue and claim it's to insulate the US from volatility upcoming in the ME.

There are ways to do anything, if you really want to.

George doesn't want to.

35 posted on 04/23/2008 8:23:16 PM PDT by Thumper1960 (Unleash the Dogs of War as a Minority, or perish as a party.)
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To: Cold Heart

Oh no! Don’t eat the rice! That is for emergency use.


36 posted on 04/23/2008 8:27:20 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: Thumper1960

Dubya doesn’t want to do a lot of things, I agree.


37 posted on 04/23/2008 8:28:33 PM PDT by Shortcake
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To: Shortcake

There were some big bags of rice on the floor that I’d never noticed before, felt like it would have been smart to buy one.


38 posted on 04/23/2008 8:29:06 PM PDT by Aquamarine
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To: blam
Anybody know if the Navy still ruins every meal with rice or not? Back in the 1970’s the Mess Specialist Chiefs were mostly Filipino especially on carriers. Rice for lunch and rice for supper usually mixed in with the main dish. Naturally they ordered plenty of rice no matter what. We never ran out I kid you not. If you said no rice they looked at you like you were an uncivilized mad man. It cured me of ever wanting another meal with rice in it. Give me beans instead anything but rice.
39 posted on 04/23/2008 8:32:13 PM PDT by cva66snipe (Three Blind Rats. Three Blind Rats, See How They Run. See How They Run. Hillbomacain)
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To: blam

NO MO RICE FOR YOU!



40 posted on 04/23/2008 8:32:29 PM PDT by stlnative
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