Wegman's may in their effort to fit into more urban areas and cutting prototypes as a result, may be doing something that is impacting their image. I have heard of some locations opening without custom sandwiches, for instance. Yet this is a chain that is known for its custom sandwiches. How hard is it to have a custom sandwich program (Publix and Safeway do it... Kroger doesn't seem to like to though) especially in a store where you are huge on prepared foods.mbz321 wrote: ↑March 31st, 2022, 7:57 pm
Along with that, with inflation rising, people are looking to curb their spending. While Wegmans has very good everyday dry grocery (and key basic perishable item) prices (prices that rival even Walmart and Aldi comparing store-branded items), their money is obviously comes from their higher end products and convenience foods, which have gone up and up over the years. I haven't been in a Wegmans in probably a year, but the prepared foods, especially from the self-serve food bars, were pretty astronomical. And yes, being a 'Disneyland' type store makes it harder for those to make it their 'everyday' grocery store unless they happen to live right around the corner (a lot of Wegmans stores seem to be built near housing within walking distance, but what about every else that passes other grocery options where they can grab the basics and get in and out quickly?).
So this temptation to water down stores even in less dense areas and turn the stores into less of a destination may not be working out so well, especially in NC given the competition there is something to take seriously.
Wegman's is tough to get in and out of from the parking lot to the layout of the store. Tons of employees so there are never lines for any kind of service but somehow the place still feels like it takes a while to get through. It seems like it shouldn't be as difficult as it is... but they are an overwhelming place to visit. But that overwhelming factor is why you are there in the first place. Take it away, and you may as well just go to the most convenient store (and Wegman's probably isn't going to be it in NC).