Retail Watchers

Funny I just saw this today a half hour ago at Albertsons...I'd always thought that half gallon--home freezer size-- of Thrifty was widely sold in California...didn't realize it was an exclusive.

Not awful--pretty low-budget, I'd say, but nice that they included ice cream---that ice cream is a hidden jewel.

Some of the Smartly stuff is pretty good (dishwashing liquid in a nice discreet compact/short industrial-type (rather than stylized) 8 oz container sourced in Canada; bar soap), some is about what you'd expect (99 cent toilet tissue--quite thin and loosely-rolled). I actually refill the dishwashing ...

Unfortunately that matches with the timing from my dude in Cathedral City...

I've noticed several sizes (batches) of Suavitel softener at Dollar Tree...some look like they were the laaaast "sold for $1" shrunken size, others are bigger (that are more in keeping with the $1.25 price). I think Colgate-Palmolive is especially skilled at doing this (also the pump sizes...

The quality faults which have tripped up KFC specifically have been associated with the cheapening/streamlining of the in-store preparation. Since I worked there in the late 80s, they have moved much more volume away from chicken on the bone. Nearly all of that comes into the restaurant pre-breaded ...

I believe this is one in a series of videos---really quite well done and interestingly analytical. Watched a couple during Christmas specifically on KFC (essentially how long can KFC have such a strong international business with product innovation etc when the US business is so mismanaged) and Pope...

No argument, but miles put on surplus merchandise reduces the profitability pretty quickly. Upstate NY (like Michigan) has significant agriculture (tree fruit orchards etc) as well as processing facilities which are really the bedrock of an operator like this---there are STILL overruns and obsolete ...

I wonder if they're just a little over-expanded on the west coast--leading to not enough bargains and specials popping up to keep their channels full. Perhaps a more even distribution of locations (including expansion into NY/New England) will assist them with perishable closeouts (closer to manufac...

Last week had a wander through the Cathedral City (Date Palm/Ramon) RA. Huge rather echo-y in-line store in a strip center (also a Stater and smaller stores in the center). Oddly, no scooped Thrifty ice cream----plenty of room. Anyway, the checker (smile-y Hispanic guy) was charming and friendly--re...