H-E-B is not far removed from a 1980s grocery warehouse style store (albeit one with better presentation), very limited deli offerings beyond slicing cold cuts, and a heavy reliance on store brand. Publix has better presentation, better deli, and other features, but also a higher price point. To compare the two as being more of the same is preposterous.storewanderer wrote: ↑March 9th, 2024, 11:11 pmHEB has pretty strong pricing. I did notice a lot of variances in pricing between stores but for the most part HEB is a tough priced store and will absolutely go to battle over price. They are priced much stronger than Publix or Hy Vee- two chains that really do not go to battle over price.pseudo3d wrote: ↑March 9th, 2024, 7:47 pm
It's not just adding more stores, it's being a better operator. Albertsons, when it was adding more stores had a lot of issues in those days. Sure, it was fun to see the variety of stores they bought out and went into, doing "continuous" conversions (that is, remaining open without closing for a few days/weeks) of everything from Bruno's to Super 1, some interesting store design choices (some spectacular stores...but also some interesting conversions of other stores). Prices are still high and perishables could use work. While Albertsons hasn't really been much of an innovator the last interesting concept to their stores was building "Albertsons Market Street" in Idaho.
But the merger is still an issue: Kroger's stock jumped up with high profits and are continuing to fight the merger. Some knucklehead in Dallas thinks that the FTC issue "smacks of grandstanding" and also compares H-E-B to Publix which couldn't be farther from the truth. (Publix is MUCH more expensive than H-E-B, a recent survey of Blue Bell's banana-flavored ice pops in Louisville, when comparing them to Houston markets, is 10 cents more than Randalls and 60 cents more than H-E-B).
Kroger's great profit earnings report and Target's great profit earnings report despite soft sales numbers. It is so obvious what is going on here with everyone complaining about inflation and all these record profit earnings reports showing up with soft sales numbers...
Mostly baseless speculation on my part: I've suspected Kroger had some issues before all this, but is Kroger trying desperately so hard to buy Albertsons as-is (without making any adjustments to divestments, etc.) and then blame the acquisition when the wheels are falling off from the company? In any other situation, Kroger should make some PR statement how it was giving up the merger and make the usual overtures about disappointment, then try to come up with an alternate plan, like only buying certain assets. Seems like the acquisition would provide a perfect cover for some accounting shenanigans.