July 16, 2008Locally grown is the new grocery buzz wordIt’s no secret that more food retailers are trying to promote themselves as the primary source for local produce and other foods. Even large chains like Wal-Mart have jumped on the bandwagon and appear to be making progress. Here’s an interesting Wal-Mart Web site, highlighting what locally grown produce the retailer sells in which state. If you check out Virginia, you’ll see that from June through August, Wal-Mart is selling Virginia-grown broccoli, corn, cucumbers, green bell peppers, peaches, radishes and squash. And through October, the Virginia selections include yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and others. Wal-Mart claims that its selection of locally-grown produce is even larger than last year. One example is chili peppers. Apparently 65 Wal-Mart stores in Virginia are selling state-grown chili peppers, compared with zero last year. July 14, 2008Spending tactics at the supermarketThanks for all of the great feedback about your memories of former restaurants and stores throughout the region. I’m compiling your contributions now to blog about this week, so keep reading. I’m working on a story about the region's grocery options, with the opening of Kroger’s newest store planned for July 24th in the Bonsack area. In some research, I found some tips directed at grocers about how they can encourage consumers to spend more. It’s according to a report by Unilever, called “Winning Shoppers in Turbulent Times.” So, lookout for these sales tactics the next time you’re at the supermarket. They may or may not entice you to spend more than you budgeted. 1) Create circulars built around whole meals. They resonate with shoppers who are budgeting and planning their menus. June 27, 2008Marking Ukrop's first year in Roanoke
Here are some of the activities going on between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Ukrop's Franklin Road store: --Starting at noon, the grocer will give away slices of a custom-made Mill Mountain cake. It weighs more than 200 pounds and serves more than 400. And here’s your chance to comment on Ukrop’s Roanoke store. If you’ve been there in the last year, what do you think about the store, its prices, foods, etc.? In your opinion, has it had a successful first year in business? June 6, 2008Whole Foods isn't coming to Roanoke, despite what a job ad saysIf you've seen an online job advertisement on Monster.com or other Web sites for a Whole Foods Market in Roanoke, don’t get excited. 
I’m sorry to disappoint those of you who have had your hearts set on Whole Foods coming here. Whole Foods, a natural and organic grocery chain based in Austin, Texas, plans to open its Richmond store at Short Pump. Also Whole Foods is relocating its store in Charlottesville to a new area off Hydraulic Road. June 5, 2008The growth of self checkoutAt least one Roanoke Kroger has added a few additional self checkout kiosks, revealing that there is growing demand for this quick and supposedly convenient way of buying groceries. Kroger is looking for opportunities to add more of these kiosks in its high-traffic Roanoke Valley stores, said Carl York, a spokesman for the grocer. “There are a lot of people who really like them [the self check-out],” York said. “Others still like going through the lines and talking with the cashier.” The newest local Kroger that is under construction on U.S. 460 in Roanoke County will have self checkout kiosks, he said. It’s planned for a late July opening. Here's an interesting article about the popularity of self-service machines, whether they are self checkouts or vending machines. A report by Packaged Facts forecasts that the transaction volume of self checkouts will continue to rise. Of course, there are pros and cons to using self checkouts, which you now can find at many big box retailers, including Wal-Mart. I typically use them to purchase a maximum of 10 to 15 items. And I appreciate when others abide by roughly that same rule. Those lines can be long at times! What do you like or dislike about using self checkouts? April 30, 2008Giving to tornado victimsStarting Sunday, Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Roanoke Valley locations, will accept donations for victims of the tornados this week in Eastern Virginia. You can contribute money through the coin boxes in each Kroger check-out lane and at the grocer's self-checkout kiosks. The donations will go to the American Red Cross for the tornado victims. April 22, 2008Eco-friendly bags and organic food savingsJust in time for Earth Day today, one of the last major grocery chains in the Roanoke Valley to sell reusable bags has rolled out its own versions in stores. 
Also related to Earth Day, click here to find out which local grocery stores are participating in a Go Organic campaign. At these stores and online, you can receive coupon books for about $18 in savings on organic foods. The coupons are good until August. The local stores participating are Kroger and Ukrop’s. Perhaps these coupons will provide a little relief in your budget for buying organic foods, because generally these items are pricier. Fresh Market pondering changeSome news about The Fresh Market came across my desk recently. The Greensboro, N.C. based specialty grocer may open the company up to outside investors. That means the privately held Fresh Market could go public or be sold entirely. Here’s a recent story about the decision. March 27, 2008Retailers use Earth Day to push changeIf you think you’re seeing an unusually high number of pushes to be more environmentally friendly lately, you’ll begin to see even more by Earth Day next month (April 22). It seems like this is the magic day or timeframe that many retailers, namely grocers, are rolling out different environmental initiatives. Whole Foods Markets is one of them. This natural and organic foods grocer already has announced its plans to do away with all plastic bags by Earth Day. There’s not a Whole Foods in Southwestern Virginia, but I’m sure that some of you have shopped at this grocer in other cities. The Richmond-based Ukrop’s Super Market, which has a Roanoke store, has a few environmental changes up its sleeve next month. It plans to offer ten $1,000 Ukrop's gift cards between March 31 and April 26. You can enter a drawing to win one of these cards by carrying the grocer's mesh bags or reusing a paper bag, along with using its valued customer card. Another way to have a chance to win a gift card (which we all could use nowadays with the cost of so many foods rising) is to buy marketed “green” products at Ukrop’s stores. Some examples of the chain’s eco-friendly eats include all-natural spring water, Full Circle-branded products and all natural meat and bakery items. And to all of you who have commented that you keep forgetting to bring your reusable grocery bags into the store with you, Ukrop’s is planning to post a sign on the front door of its stores. It will remind customers to get their reusable bags out of their cars before they shop, said Bobby Ukrop, president and chief executive officer of the chain, this week. You still may not want to go all of the way back to your car once you’ve reached the store’s front doors, but at least it’s a reminder before you begin shopping. Let me know if you hear of other Earth Day initiatives. March 25, 2008Downtown grocer will resemble small supermarketI’ve been away from blogging for the last several days, because I have been sick with the flu. Finally, I have recovered. Here’s an update on a new grocery space in downtown Roanoke that I mentioned last week. Jay Aneja, who is owner of 7 to 7 Grocery, said this new store slated for Campbell Avenue, will stock supermarket items, though it won’t be a full grocer like Kroger or Food Lion. Aneja plans to sell dry grocery items and some produce, such as fruits, onions, tomatoes and other vegetables in season. The shop also will sell some convenience store fare, including hot dogs, fried chicken, onion rings and hot drinks. The growing number of people residing in apartments and condominiums in downtown Roanoke prompted Aneja to create the small grocer, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The new store is located beside The Hancock, a building that is being refurbished to house apartments. Aneja already owns and operates a neighboring convenience store on Campbell Avenue, called G&G shop. Before this shop sold convenience store items, it primarily carried jewelry and watches. Aneja plans to return to selling this kind of merchandise once 7 to 7 Grocery opens later this month or in early April. March 19, 2008Grocer for downtown?A growing number of downtown Roanoke dwellers lament the lack of options for places to buy groceries in their immediate neighborhood, other than fruits, vegetables and some baked goods at the city farmers market. 
A glance through the shop's windows reveals food shelves that are in the midst of being set up. I'm not sure yet whether this store will become a full grocer or a small convenience retailer with select grocery products. February 13, 2008Save-A-Lot will debut on Thursday
If you stop by the store in the next few days, let me know what you think of it. January 11, 2008Save-A-Lot will debut in FebruaryA new Save-A-Lot grocery store planned for Melrose Avenue in Roanoke will open its doors on Feb. 13. The grocery company, based in Missouri, just announced that Rett Ward, who also owns Tinnell’s Finer Foods in South Roanoke, will be the owner of the new Save-A-Lot. 
Compared with some of the new grocery stores to hit the Roanoke Valley in the last several years, Save-A-Lot will have a different selection and presence. The debut of Fresh Market in 2005 and Ukrop’s Super Market last June brought high-end, specialty grocery offerings, an in-store cafe and dressed up spaces serving free coffee. Save-A-Lot, on the other hand, is described as a no-frills concept with prices that are 40 percent less than traditional grocery stores, according to the company. There are 1,200 Save-A-Lot locations nationwide. January 5, 2008Grocery delivery slowing for local companyBusiness has taken a different turn for a Roanoke-based Internet grocery delivery service. Since Land launched ShopFoodEx.com in 2003, he has been spreading the word about this online business that allows customers to create a grocery list online and pay to have the order delivered to their home. He shops at Kroger, Wal-Mart, Ukrop’s and some locally-owned grocery stores. But Land said he has not built a sufficient customer base loyal to deliveries. To focus on the company's increasing mail-order business, Land has cut back the days each week that his company delivers groceries. ShopFoodEx.com’s grocery delivery, which is offered for a $5 service fee, now is only available on Thursdays to homes that are located in certain zip codes throughout the Roanoke Valley. The minimum order is $75. Through mail-order deliveries, people order food items that they can’t find in a particular area. Land said he’s also getting referrals from manufacturers who search online for certain products and discover ShopFoodEx.com. Continue reading "Grocery delivery slowing for local company" » November 20, 2007Your take on Wegmans
I reported that Wegmans, a specialty grocer based in New York, is planning some Virginia locations next year, but they are located in Northern Virginia. And the closest stores to Southwest Virginia are in Sterling and Fairfax. Here’s what some of you said about Wegmans: Joann Hoag comments about Wegman’s prices: |
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