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Walmarts Replace Brand Name Food with Their Brand “Great Value”
NewsFlavor ^ | Friday, December 4, 2009 | DiamondPoet

Posted on 02/16/2010 10:01:48 AM PST by Star Traveler

Walmart’s Replace Brand Name Food with Their Brand “Great Value”. Who Will This Really Benefit?

Published by diamondpoet
December 4, 2009

What is Walmart really up to.

Walmart is one of the biggest supermarket chains in the world. As of August 31, 2008, Walmart has as many as 100 food categories:

United States 4,227 total units.

International 3,210 total units

This is a time where families needs to make every penny count, Walmart expansion of it’s Great Value brand is replacing many of the name brands, we have used for so many years.

The new improved Great Value products — which has been appearing on shelves and various sections of the store, is slowly  being integrated into Walmart stores across the country, within the past few months – will provide families with affordable and possible high quality groceries. This is some sales jargon that Walmart has come up with, but what is really going on?

Walmart is the company, that is famous for their roll-back slogan, and now it would seem that they are also trying to monopolize the food industry. I am all for savings, but I prefer quality products and good taste. I grew up with many of the brand names and it is what I am accustomed to.

There are a few thing that I could settle for, that is not name brand, but when I was shopping during the Thanksgiving holiday, I was looking for McCormick’s vanilla, this is the only brand that I use to make my pies. I discovered that Walmart had completely removed McCormick’s brand and replaced it with their own brand Great Value. I rely on McCormick’s products to prepare many of my meals.

I tried using substitutes, but there is no comparison to McCormick’s Seasonings. I have never shopped anywhere other than Walmart, because I was comfortable and they basically provided most of my needs.

It would now see that I am being forces to shop somewhere else. Walmart no longer stock  all the brand names that I desire. Since Walmart is trying to completely eliminate the middle-man, what type of effect will this have on many of the distributors and will this also have a spiraling effect on the economy as well?

Since so many distributors rely on Walmart’s business, will they not suffer and be forced to downsize? I can’t help but wonder is this really going to benefits the consumers or hurt us even more?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: china; grocery; retail; retailfood; walmart
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To: VOA
You were saying ...

Well, I can report the “replace” is not happening here in Colubmia, MO WalMarts. The WalMart “Great Value” brands are ALTERNATIVES placed on the shelf next to the standard “brand name” food products.

Note what the original article said and what the additional article that I've posted said (from the Advertising magazine) and also, what I've said.

It's that Walmart is doing this with certain selected name-brand items. And I've already run into it. In addition, another FReeper reported on this thread that also Walmart discontinues some of these name-brand products for a few months and bargains with suppliers and then it shows back up on the shelf again.

All this means that customers who were spending money there for these products are forced to go to other stores and this hurts Walmart. It doesn't hurt the customers themselves, as they are exposed to other stores with a wide variety of products in them, and they (many times) find other things that they like. So, in that respect, forcing those customers out of Walmart for those particular discontinued items, has been a benefit to the customers.

So, who it is not a benefit to... is Walmart itself... and that's the problem (for Walmart, itself, of course.).

In addition, with the news reports about this, it's also clear that Walmart is doing this as a chain, for all stores, and it's not just on the basis of one particular store and one particular manager of a store, doing this just for his store.

And, once again, so to make it clear (and this is the one thing that many posters seem to be confused about) -- it's that Walmart is not replacing "all" name-brand label items, they've selected a certain portion and a certain number to do this for. That seems to be one confusing point to some posters here.

Another confusing point to some posters is that they think this is a discussion about whether Walmart "should have" any "off-label" items on their shelves. And once again, that's not the issue here, because all stores have those.

321 posted on 02/17/2010 10:12:25 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Who are they? The competitors?

Target is right across the street from my local Walmart. As Walmart's store brand product quality is deteriorating (sorry, the "white box" stuff IS on the whole worse than the prior look-alike products), I'm going over to Target more to buy their distinctly superior Archer Farms store brand. If what I'm after is can't-screw-it-up dirt-cheap at Walmart (and they HAVE screwed up dish detergent), I'll go there. If I want something with quality (not premium, just better) I'll appreciate, I'll go to Target (they've got an AWESOME house-brand coffee selection, many varieties of small-batch exotic-location beans).

Ok, so you can't camp in Target's parking lot, and I can't buy my daughter's first rifle there (she is NOT getting married at Walmart!!!). As the "white box" Walmart brand deteriorates, I do go across the street more.

322 posted on 02/17/2010 10:26:40 AM PST by ctdonath2 (Pelosi is practically President; the Obama is just her talk show host.)
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To: Star Traveler

Exactly, and eventually if enough of your “key” items wind up missing from WM shelves you’ll switch entirely over to their competitor. Becoming a house brand retailer can be a dangerous transition.


323 posted on 02/17/2010 11:37:14 AM PST by discostu (wanted: brick, must be thick and well kept)
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To: devolve
I live in an area that produces blueberries and also have them growing in my field and into the woods--at least I know they are not sprayed with anything.

OK grits is not my thing..am from the North and we don't see what "you all" see in grits!

Maple sugaring time is coming soon!!

324 posted on 02/17/2010 1:23:25 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: ctdonath2
...she is NOT getting married at Walmart!!!

(laughs)

Target is more in the heavily populated areas for some..Target is not close to those more rural.

I am a Hannafords customer, local farm stands in the summer etc. WF when I get into the city.

Now if you had the choice of spending 20K on a destination wedding or amost feebie Wal Mart "theme" wedding....(you snob you..lol)I still know your answer.

325 posted on 02/17/2010 1:28:29 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: ctdonath2

http://www.walmartcommunity.com/the-great-grocery-smackdown/


326 posted on 02/17/2010 1:29:26 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: Star Traveler

http://www.walmartcommunity.com/the-great-grocery-smackdown/


327 posted on 02/17/2010 1:29:53 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
Now if you had the choice of spending 20K on a destination wedding

I did. Next question? :-)

328 posted on 02/17/2010 1:46:00 PM PST by ctdonath2 (Pelosi is practically President; the Obama is just her talk show host.)
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To: fight_truth_decay
The first thing I saw [at Walmart], McIntosh apples, came from the same local orchard whose apples I’d just seen in the same bags at Whole Foods.

Compare them again, and methinks you'd see that Whole Foods had someone hand-select fruits & veggies individually for optimal color & quality. That they may have looked the same was likely more a matter of the orchard having a uniformly good crop.

(FWIW: I sometimes go thru Whole Foods. Once I recover from the prices (again), I usually leave empty-handed and head to Walmart.)

329 posted on 02/17/2010 1:49:56 PM PST by ctdonath2 (Pelosi is practically President; the Obama is just her talk show host.)
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To: fight_truth_decay; potlatch

.

Grits = Corn

Add stone-ground cornmeal instead

Call them Rhode Island Johnny Cakes

Yankee style


330 posted on 02/17/2010 1:58:21 PM PST by devolve ( . . . . . . . . . woodpile alert - "My muslim faith....." - "Kobe" Osama -- ABC-TV . . . . . . .)
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To: devolve

Warm, with some salt and butter. Yum.


331 posted on 02/17/2010 2:39:34 PM PST by potlatch (- What a co-inky-stink!)
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To: Roccus

I totally agree with you - the only thing that has changed is they are packaging them in white and they stand out more.

Previously the Great Value labels mimicked those of the brand name that they were comparable to. I have even picked up Great Value by mistake a time or two because the packaging was similar. The new white labels really stand out.


332 posted on 02/17/2010 2:47:14 PM PST by worrywart
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To: potlatch

.

Yup!

I make up multi-grain pancake mixes too

Try sneaking in some oatmeal in pancake mixes as one FReeper mentioned about adding oatmeal to tuna salad or chicken salad


333 posted on 02/17/2010 3:09:14 PM PST by devolve ( . . . . . . . . . woodpile alert - "My muslim faith....." - "Kobe" Osama -- ABC-TV . . . . . . .)
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To: devolve
Hot Johnny Cake with butter, that I recognize!

Hmm! Hmm! Hmmmm!

334 posted on 02/17/2010 3:12:34 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: devolve
..to the Tuna add red pear..
335 posted on 02/17/2010 3:14:30 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: ctdonath2
I sometimes go thru Whole Foods

I go just to eat their fired pizza!! Real Italian style with crust done the correct way..equal thickness (wheat) from tip to stern! The vegan/veggie with chicken ( looked like chicken, tasted like chicken ), but is called the Vegan pizza or just the Italian with red sauce, pepperoni and big globs of mozzarella

336 posted on 02/17/2010 3:22:04 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay; potlatch

.

In the South - leftover grits are often spooned into cooking or baking trays - and fridged

Fried in butter on a griddle or a pan

Grits <-&-> Johnny Cakes

Cousins

Cranberries are great added to hot oatmeal

Blueberries are better and healthier for you!

Add them on top - nuke frozen booberries 30-60 seconds first - mixing in produces purple oatmeal or pancakes - not pretty!


337 posted on 02/17/2010 3:40:48 PM PST by devolve ( . . . . . . . . . woodpile alert - "My muslim faith....." - "Kobe" Osama -- ABC-TV . . . . . . .)
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To: SkyDancer

I’ve have a box of great value salt and morton’s in the same kitchen, I can’t tell the difference.


338 posted on 02/17/2010 3:44:33 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Rebelbase

There are some things like that you can’t tell the difference but try their tuna - mush - or other items like that and you’ll taste the difference ...


339 posted on 02/17/2010 3:50:16 PM PST by SkyDancer (If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)
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To: CrappieLuck
Walmart can keep their cheap, unknown Chinese made brand.
340 posted on 02/17/2010 3:51:41 PM PST by Ron H. (I believe in and practice the 4 Gs : God, Guns, Guts and Garden and OBTW, Obama LIES.)
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