Retail Watchers

Does Samsung Pay work at 99 Cents Only? I've never tried it there. When I tried to tap a card there recently a new cashier said something to the effect of "I hope that works here" then when it didn't said "that is pretty sad." Did not see him on my next visit. Yes, Samsung Pay i...

I am happy almost everywhere I shop supports NFC so using Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a physical Contactless card is fairly universally accepted. Except Kroger and Wal Mart. But Wal Mart supports NFC in Canada now. I suspect it is just a matter of time for them in the US. And Kroger... w...

They could price a larger format/new concept store differently if they wanted to. I saw Kroger do that with Marketplace format stores in the past, specifically on national brand center store items. But the better concept with Pavilions vs. trying to slug it out on who is going to have the best deal...

I agree. There's simply too many trendy, upscale grocers throughout the Los Angeles area -- everything from Gelsons to Bristol to Erewhon, etc. -- and the Pavilions banner is just too battered for it to successfully grow market share in the arena. I don't think Safeway/Albertsons cares about the ma...

Vons is nothing special but they blow Savemart out the water was very suprised when a couple Vons locations shut down in Fresno back in 2015 Same thing happened in Bakersfield, I think the new Albertsons management was trying to cut the fat after the merger. But I don't think it had anything to do ...

Middle aged housewives/moms in my area seem to love this game. They post about it on Facebook and whatnot. It's cringey to me, but I suppose Albertsons has run the numbers and seen that it increases sales enough to be worth it.

It's great to see independent players opening stores. Roseville is probably a good market for them. But I wish they would get more into the discount market, because shoppers are getting more price-sensitive these days. I wonder if they are planning any more Food 4 Less locations.

Going rate on bananas in NorCal proper is .79/lb at Safeway (.55/lb at the Nevada Safeways on the price cut program who are matching Smiths). Smiths has a sign up about a banana price increase but I never saw any increase. Save Mart (also under a price cut program monitoring Smiths prices in NV) we...

I’ve always found it quite odd you have two chains (Raley’s and Save Mart) having a substantial presence in NorCal / Northern Nevada (and sharing Super Store Industries / Sunnyside Farms) being “frenemies” of sorts in the same market area. I’ve always thought someone should buy one or the other - A...

Kroger actually filed 3 WARN Notices in Long Beach: Food 4 Less - 62 employees "Layoff Permanent" Ralphs - 94 employees "Layoff Permanent" Food 4 Less - 156 employees "Layoff Type Unknown" I wonder what the 156 employees one is for? Is there an office or some kind of w...