April 2007 Archives

Whether it is to demonstrate their support for the growing concerns over global warming or simply to try to find new savings in grocery store operations, more and more grocery chains are introducing change.

Kroger says energy consumption is down 20 percent, Food Lion says it has cut energy use 27 percent for its 1,300 supermarkets.

Wal-Mart opened what it calls "High-Efficiency Supercenter" stores in Kansas City, Mo., and Rockton, Ill., which use 20 percent less energy than typical grocery stores. By incorporating innovations in heating, cooling, water, lighting and construction materials the company expects to notice big savings.

So will this mean lower prices for the grocery shoppers, better profits for the shareholders a better world or . . .

Read more: The News Tribune Tacoma
The Salt Lake Tribunes
Wal-Mart

A year ago last March Wal-Mart surprised consumers with the announcement that they were making a major push to increase their commitment to organic foods.

Stephen Quinn, a top marketing executive, told investors at a conference that the company would double the number of organic food items in its stores to 400 and offer them "at the Wal-Mart price" But now Karen Burk, a spokeswoman for the company, says that the majority of Wal-Mart stores are offering between 100 and 200 organic food items.

What is behind the shift is strategy on organic foods? Was it that Wal-Mart grocery shoppers were not willing to pay the higher prices that organic foods command or was it supplier issues? From the various stories floating around it looks like Wal-Mart had mis-judged the organic food sector on multiple levels.

Read more: Business Week