Why your local grocery store is making a comeback

[IronLionZion]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/business/small-grocery-stores-rural-america-coronavirus/index.html

New York (CNN Business)Small town grocery stores have been struggling, first against the rise of Walmart and then from the growth of Dollar General. But for many independent grocers across America, the coronavirus has provided an unexpected lift.

"All of a sudden, it's been an opportunity to address the challenges they have seen for years and years," said David Procter, director of the Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University.

In rural Kansas, where more than 100 grocery stores have closed since 2008, a new store has not re-opened in 50% of those communities, according to the Rural Grocery Initiative. The situation is similar in other Farm Belt states. North Dakota has lost 20% of its rural grocery stores in the last five years, according to the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

Small town grocery stores have been bruised by several trends, experts say. The rise of such big box chains as Walmart (WMT) has pulled customers away. Wholesale distributors have consolidated, making it challenging to find vendors that are even interested in supplying small stores. And sales have dried up as the population has declined in many rural areas and some jobs have shifted outside small towns to larger suburbs and cities.

Additionally, Dollar General (DG) is opening 1,000 stores a year, mainly in small towns, chipping away at independent grocers. "Dollar General stores have had a significant impact on stores that are closing," Procter said. "That has been the event that has pushed them over them edge."

However, grocery owners and experts say the coronavirus crisis has led many customers to rediscover their local grocery stores. Some shoppers are turning to local grocers because items they are looking for are out of stock at big box chains. Others are shopping at their local stores to stay closer to home and avoid large crowds.

I've experienced something similar in a city. While many of my neighbors are waiting in long lines to get into Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's etc. immediately after the elderly/vulnerable hour. I casually walked into my local independent grocer this morning where I got lots of good things I needed as the only customer in a shop with 2 employees. They have plenty of TP, hand soap, some disinfectant cleaning products, fresh local produce and bread, and so on.

We all have our strategies for surviving this, and mine has been to go to the "too small to fail" shops if I look through the window and don't see many people inside.

[Wounded Bear]

1. I bought some produce at Walmart two weeks ago...

I was there for other supplies and figured to avail myself for convenience and avoiding an unnecessary trip to my local Safeway.

It sucked. Won't do that again.

[IronLionZion]

2. Politicians have been promoting Walmart

there have been several "experts" on the news claiming Walmart has the most resilient supply chain of any retailer in America designed for rapid restocking after natural disasters like hurricanes. I'm not convinced it's true. It might be propaganda.

[In_The_Wind]

3. Walmart has been out of many food items for weeks.

Campbell's Chunky Soup in all varieties Out Of Stock.

[Maraya1969]

4. I went into an Italian grocer the other day and it was great! I might

start making the effort to drive there since it is not as close as Publix.

They had all sorts of ready cooked food like grilled artichoke, fried eggplant, all sorts of cheeses and olives, fish and even a deli where you can get a sub. The man even got me to try this deli meat called Mortadela that had pistachios in it. Of course now that I looked it up it isn't as appetizing as there are lumps of fat in it.

It was a little more expensive than a regular grocer but I also didn't buy a ton of things. I like the idea of supporting local busineses though.

[IronLionZion]

5. My local Italian market has a paper process for sandwiches/deli orders

no touch at all. Just fill out the form and put it in the basket. As many foodies like to say, fat is flavor. Also a great place to buy wines, olive oil, pasta, sauces, etc.

[sarcasmo]

6. I do the same, and an hour before closing, No lines.

[Baclava]

7. I tried a little local convenience stop for milk and bread, they had lots, the owner thanked me

Pretty much every convenience store now has 'help wanted' signs up.

People aren't buying much gas even though its really cheap cuz there's no place to go and I think people are still binge shopping at the big grocery chains when they do venture out.

I dont need much still, so a 2 minute stop at an empty little shop seems a better plan for me.