A question about Publix (Greenville, Spartanburg: neighborhood, bankruptcy, quality of life)

[southbound_295]

I live up the road in Kings Mountain, NC, so check this board, occasionally, for certain things. We have a thread on the Charlotte board concerning Publix. They are looking at property in Ft. Mill. The question being raised in that thread is what will happen if Publix goes head to head with Harris Teeter.

I'd swear that I saw something in a grocery thread, here, that Harris Teeter was in your area at some time. I can't find that post to make a post in that thread, so I'll just ask the question. Did Harris Teeter go head to head with Publix in your area?

[SFLtransplant]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I live up the road in Kings Mountain, NC, so check this board, occasionally, for certain things. We have a thread on the Charlotte board concerning Publix. They are looking at property in Ft. Mill. The question being raised in that thread is what will happen if Publix goes head to head with Harris Teeter.

I'd swear that I saw something in a grocery thread, here, that Harris Teeter was in your area at some time. I can't find that post to make a post in that thread, so I'll just ask the question. Did Harris Teeter go head to head with Publix in your area?

Publix will do very well if they move into that market. They are based in FL, Clearwater area. Coming from South FL, they have squashed and dominated the competition for years - squashing dirty Winn Dixie to irrelevancy/oblivion/bankruptcy and kicking Albertsons out of town. They are THE player. They are also a huge player in GA - their stores are bright, clean, everything is presented well - very good store. They are usually recognized as one of the best run privately-held companies in the country every yr as well - they are managed exceptionally well.
Harris Teeter should be concerned...
In the Upstate, the only place I'd pick over Publix is Whole Foods and that isn't a comp. Publix supermarkets carry their Greenwise organic brand in certain capacities - what would be great is if Publix would put their Greenwise Organic Markets (comp to Whole Foods) up here as they have done in my hometown of Boca Raton - that would give Whole Foods a run for their money in that space.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by SFLtransplant

Publix will do very well if they move into that market. They are based in FL, Clearwater area. Coming from South FL, they have squashed and dominated the competition for years - squashing dirty Winn Dixie to irrelevancy/oblivion/bankruptcy and kicking Albertsons out of town. They are THE player. They are also a huge player in GA - their stores are bright, clean, everything is presented well - very good store.
Harris Teeter should be concerned...
In the Upstate, the only place I'd pick over Publix is Whole Foods and that isn't a comp. Publix supermarkets carry their Greenwise organic brand in certain capacities - what would be great is if Publix would put their Greenwise Organic Markets (comp to Whole Foods) up here as they have done in my hometown of Boca Raton - that would give Whole Foods a run for their money in that space.

Thanks. Here in Kings Mountain, we have an 80K sq ft Ingles which has done what Ingles does best - squash Food Lion. There's another somewhat smaller Ingles Supermarket in Gaston County (& an older, remodeled, Ingles grocery store) & supposedly they are building in Lincoln County & Gastonia, headed for Charlotte, on the NC side of the border.

I know that you also have Ingles, but don't know if you have any of the new generation of supercenters. Are we in for a supermarket war?

[drfranklin]

I currently live in Greenville, but have lived in other markets where Publix has "invaded" and "conquered".

Birmingham, AL - prior to the Publix introduction in the early 2000's, this market was dominated with Bruno's, Winn-Dixie, Food World, Piggly Wiggly - Bruno's is now bankrupt and Winn-Dixie has been decimated - interestingly, the B'ham market now has a Wal-Mart "Neighborhood Market" and Super Target (both selling groceries)

Chattanooga, TN - Publix came onto the scene there in 2007 - now, with 3 stores, I've heard they're dominating - prior to Publix, the Chattanooga grocery market was dismal: outdated and old Bi-Lo and Food Lion stores littered the grocery landscape - it's now much better with Publix, updated Bi-Lo stores, GreenLife (flagship location), Fresh Market, EarthFare

Greenville, SC - this is grocery store nirvana - I've never lived in an area with such a variety and competition of grocers: Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Aldi, EarthFare, Bloom, Bi-Lo, Ingles, Publix, Wal-Mart, Fresh Market, Food Lion, etc. I prefer Publix to all because of convenience, outstanding variety, incredible bakery/deli, cleanliness, customer service, and overall value

Western NC (Asheville/Henderonsville) market - I nearly moved to Hendersonville, NC - there, the grocery scene is MUCH different (than just 45 minutes "down the mountain" in Greenville) - much less competition - Ingles dominates (and I'm not an Ingles fan) - I believe there are a couple of Harris Teeter locations but they just don't compete overall with Publix - I do have family in Greensboro, NC and will say that the Harris Teeter at Friendly is comparable to some Publix locations

Publix would dominate the Western NC grocery market if it chose to establish

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by drfranklin

I currently live in Greenville, but have lived in other markets where Publix has "invaded" and "conquered".

Birmingham, AL - prior to Publix introduction in the early 2000's, this market was dominated with Bruno's, Winn-Dixie, Food World, Piggly Wiggly - Bruno's is now bankrupt and Winn-Dixie has been decimated - interestingly, the B'ham market now has a Wal-Mart "Neighborhood Market" and Super Target (both selling groceries)

Chattanooga, TN - Publix came onto the scene there in 2007 - now, with 3 stores, I've heard they're dominating - prior to Publix, the Chattanooga grocery market was dismal: outdated and old Bi-Lo and Food Lion stores littered the grocery landscape - it's now much better with Publix, updated Bi-Lo stores, GreenLife (flagship location), Fresh Market, EarthFare

Greenville, SC - this is grocery store nirvana - I've never lived in an area with such a variety and competition of grocers: Whole Foods, EarthFare, Bloom, Bi-Lo, Ingles, Publix, Wal-Mart, Fresh Market, Food Lion, etc. I prefer Publix to all because of convenience, outstanding variety, incredible bakery/deli, cleanliness, customer service, and overall value

Western NC (Asheville/Henderonsville) market - I nearly moved to Hendersonville, NC - there, the grocery scene is MUCH different (than just 45 minutes "down the mountain" in Greenville) - much less competition - Ingles dominates (and I'm not an Ingles fan) - I believe there are a couple of Harris Teeter locations but they just don't compete overall with Publix - I do have family in Greensboro, NC and will say that the Harris Teeter at Friendly is comparable to some Publix locations

Publix would dominate the Western NC grocery market if it chose to establish

Thanks!

I have the impression that Greenville & Spartanburg have a more competitive grocery market. I've been meaning to run down & check it out, but haven't been able to, for various reasons.

Harris Teeter & Food Lion dominate here. Out here, west of Charlotte, the Harris Teeters are dismal & Food Lions are just plain awful. (They were raunchy when I first moved here, but since Ingles is squashing them, they've improved to awful.) Bi-Lo is here as well. Whole Foods is coming to Charlotte, but EarthFare is in Charlotte now, as is Fresh Market & the occasional Bloom. The wildcard here is Compare Foods, which is a NY based ethnic chain with some surprisingly good produce.

I thought that this would be the best place to check on what the result might be with Harris Teeter going head to head with Publix.

My impression of Ingles is that the prices are very good compared to the options around here, & usually the produce is good, but a bit pricey, compared to the Philly market that I came from. What I find a bit irritating about Ingles is that, while they have, in my opinion, patterned the big stores after the big stores in the north, they don't do the loss-leaders & very carefully control prices to keep just under everyone else. (Harris Teeter sets the tone for prices around here.) My solution to that is frequent trips to Aldi.

[drfranklin]

I have since added Trader Joe's and Aldi to my list above (I can't believe I forgot those two). Now, with Trader Joe's in Greenville, this complements the already outstanding array of grocers. Additionally, there is no need to go to Atlanta or Charlotte (in search of TJ's) unless one needs something quite exotic.

Back on topic: I do not think that Trader Joe's competes at all with Publix - again, TJ's complements the grocery arena and, dare I say, improves quality of life. However, overall, Publix (IMO) is the best grocer in the Southeast hands-down.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by drfranklin

I have since added Trader Joe's and Aldi to my list above (I can't believe I forgot those two). Now, with Trader Joe's in the Greenville, this complements the already outstanding array of grocers. Additionally, there is no need to go to Atlanta or Charlotte (in search of TJ's) unless one needs something quite exotic.

Back on topic: I do not think that Trader Joe's competes at all with Publix - again, TJ's complements the grocery arena and, dare I say, improves quality of life. However, overall, Publix (IMO) is the best grocer in the Southeast hands-down.

LOL, Trader Joe's is one of 2 businesses that I go to Charlotte for. I love Trader Joes! (I love the General Tso Sauce.) Ulta is coming to Gastonia in August, so if Gastonia could snag a Trader Joe's I wouldn't need to set foot in Charlotte for shopping of any kind. Trader Joe's & Aldi don't actually compete directly with anyone, but I have noticed that Ingles seems to have noticed them. I heard from 2 different sources, that Bob Ingle was talking with Publix about selling them some stores, but now that he's dead & his son is in charge, I guess we'll have to see what happens.

Usually, 1/2 the cars in the Ingles lot here have SC plates (Blacksburg). A bit of topic, but it would be nice if the state would try to get some businesses into Cherokee County.

[Skyliner]

Harris Teeter's presence in Greenville was quite minimal during the 90s. I remember only one store that was nice, but not extraordinary for this market.

Publix wasted little time expanding in Greenville, but could effectively add one or two stores in the metro area.

The elements I like most about Publix are their high quality customer service that seems genuinely friendly (management philosophy), the cleanliness of their facilities, and their remarkably good deli (and bakery).

Aldi's main competition in Greenville is Sav-a-Lot.

[emilybh]

I don't see how anyone would choose Publix for its bakery. Even the stuff they bake IN the store is loaded with chemicals and preservatives. You only have to read the labels to see that. You'd think they could at least have some real natural baked goods like simple loaves of french bread that just had flour; water yeast and salt but NOOOOOO. Publix has to in addition, dump a dozen or so chemicals in and who knows if they use irradiated wheat or not? If Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Earth Fare can manage, you'd think Publix could.

Also Publix tries to pass off grocery items marked with the brown price tag on the shelf as organic or wholesome which are items that are GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)--which means NOTHING. None of these are organic and many have genetically modified ingredients in them and are just as bad for you as the other items with the white price tag but just cost more than they do.

I'm sorry but I think that is misleading to shoppers. I take points away from Publix for this.
http://www.saynotogmos.org/fda.htm This link talks about GRAS.

[912]

The big scuttlebutt I hear on & off again is about the eventual spinoff of H-T by their parent company, Rucker, to Publix. It would make sense, but it hasn't happened. I'd be much more surprised if Ingles sold off parts of their company to Publix. They're in growth mode & I don't see where they're hurting for capital.