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Considering the number of grocery stores, the U.S. has the lowest store density (per capita) in the developed world. Therefore it seems absurd to think that the U.S. has too many grocery stores. But the main reason for the small number of grocery stores is of course that the U.S. is so car oriented.
But isn't that really because the stores we have are mostly huge monstrosities? In other countries they tend to be smaller and non-chain...and people shop more often for very few processed food items, hence no need for huge stores - just produce, meat, and staples.
It's a shame your area has limitations for groceries. It definitely depends on where you live. We have wonderful small shops as well as a huge amount of large chain, big box and warehouse stores. The variety would seem to keep all types of shoppers here happy.
We have small Italian markets with specialty deli, onsite butcher and bakery with the best bread and rolls! We have farms with fresh produce and their own milk and baked goods/preserves. We still have butcher shops/meat markets, family owned bakeries and a variety of ethnic shops. I've lived in two counties outside of Philadelphia all my life (less the first 22 months), and I think shopping choices for groceries have improved over the decades. The small family owned shops we go to do a thriving business and have been here for many decades. As long as there is a demand for such quality, it doesn't matter how many supermarkets are around. Our area is proof of that.
It really does depend on location in the country, I guess. We, too, have many small specialty stores. Within a fifteen minute walk of my house I have a bakery, two butcher shops, a seafood market, a deli and a small shop selling homemade type food. Within a fifteen minute drive we have farmer's markets, farm stands, small ethnic food stores, more bakeries both traditional and ethnic then I can shake a stick at. Oh and there are plenty of regular supermarkets .
Too many where foreigners get their products for free using EBT cards, only to resell them.
That, and those that will give you 50¢ on the dollar for EBT benefits meant for food.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reneeh63
But isn't that really because the stores we have are mostly huge monstrosities? In other countries they tend to be smaller and non-chain...and people shop more often for very few processed food items, hence no need for huge stores - just produce, meat, and staples.
The largest supermarket that I've ever been in was store named Cactus located in Diekirk, Luxembourg.
What do you think? Some people say we have too many grocery stores, other people say our stores are too big. Then other people say the stores we do have don't have the right selection.
All I know is, there is no perfect store. And I usually have to shop 3-4 different stores every week. Sometimes I want organic French olive oil, sometimes I want Oreos. Sometimes I want fresh halibut, sometimes I want boiled peanuts. Why can't one store have everything?
Why has no one been able to come up with the perfect store? Not too big, not too small, not too expensive. This should not be that hard.
Maybe the solution is no store and buying everything online. That way, no wasted time and trips to the store where you can't find the right selection or price or quality. That's what the "experts" say anyway.
This is the US. Our country is big. Our roads are big. Our cars. Our houses are big. The people are big. We need big grocery stores. Too many fast food places though.
We only have one regional chain, one dumpy Kroger, Aldi, and Walmart in my town of 50,000. Prices are through the roof. I'd love some competition.
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