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I can see why it's tempting for FM to re-do themselves as a hybrid of HT and WF. The risk is that they tick off their established customer base and then fail to attract enough new customers who buy the commodity items in large enough volumes to make up the difference. Good luck with that, but my guess is that it's the only thing they know how to try -- other than face the reality that they've over-expanded.
I've learned from 40 years of business is that if you stand in the middle of the road, you will get run over.
Hard to argue with 1.29/gallon milk and 0.39/dozen eggs though. It is like a mini-wharehouse club for your weekly or 2x/weekly "in and out" needs....without the membership fee, bulk buying or crowds. They offer mostly their own brands and just wheel the stuff out on pallets and cut open the boxes to let you help yourself (to keep costs down).
Aldi isn't all that different from Trader Joe's aside from the less polished image (and probably a much smaller selection of "foodie-friendly" items unless that's changed in recent years). So it makes sense Aldi would be doing well. In my experience, Aldi is cheap and decent.
Regarding Fresh Market - are they still carrying a good amount of the high quality stuff? What about their bulk coffee? It looks like they carry some good varieties and the price isn't bad either, but I haven't had a chance to try much of it yet. Hopefully that won't go downhill. I also like that they sell Root Candles. I don't think it's necessarily bad that they sell everyday products alongside the fancier things as long as they don't get rid of the fun stuff altogether.
I was at their Durham location a few days ago and a lady in front of me was buying a bunch of stuff that included Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner, if I remember correctly, so maybe their plan is working.
Let's agree to disagree. Imo Trader Joe's is a fun shopping trip. Aldis is like picking up rations in a Soviet supermarket.
Haaaa totally agree. FM is a blast for me for the same reason...surprises, random new items, local options, etc. Shopping a store like that is enjoyable. Aldi....no thanks, just not for me. There was a time where I would have dug it, not anymore.
I dislike big grocery stores (except Weggies) and, with only two of us at home now, Trader Joe's has everything we want as far as food. I like the seasonal choices (although the pumpkin craze is a bit overdone!) and we never get bored there with new choices coming in all the time.
We used to go to Fresh Market in its old location on Kildaire Farm but now TJ's is closer.
We seldom bought in bulk but I did like some of the cookies, desserts and speciality salads.
When Wegmans comes, we will definitely go there regularly as we have missed it. The deli (subs!) and prepared food choices are fantastic. Also, the flower shop is awesome and reasonably priced. Nothing compares . . .
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