Grocery Store Comparison: Wal-mart versus Spanish-American Grocery & Deli
It’s easy to walk into the grocery store, or several, on a regular basis and not really notice what kinds of products are carried or how items are displayed. The differences between the stores don’t really become apparent until you walk into one you’ve never been in before. That’s when the differences really stand out.
Citrus County is small, but offers many different options for groceries. The store I find myself in most frequently is the newer Wal-Mart Super Center in Lecanto, mostly because it is inexpensive and on my way home from work and school. Wal-mart sells a little bit of everything, but this particular one does not seem to have found its niche yet concerning
…show more content…
what products to keep in stock. Since its opening, many things that I bought in the beginning have been discontinued, and some have even been brought back again since their cancellation. Wal-mart Super Centers pride themselves on being the lowest price around on all items ranging from health and beauty aids to clothing, human and pet food and even ammunition. When arriving, both food and clothing are immediately visible from the door, reminding you from the moment you enter that this store intends to be your one stop shopping experience. Lecanto Wal-mart carries many different types of product and usually in at least two brands so that you are guaranteed a choice. Most products have a “Great Value” alternative, which is Wal-mart’s store brand. Wal-mart’s grocery line consists of numerous products to accommodate various cultural and religious needs. Wal-mart product displays, such as end caps and center aisle racks, generally consist of either seasonal items that pertain to the upcoming holiday, or rollback items that have recently had a price reduction. Wal-mart makes it easy for a busy person to pick up everything they need in one place. Many times I have heard people talk about the Spanish-American Grocery and Deli in Lecanto.
However, in the 25 years that I have been in Citrus County, I have never crossed their threshold until my visit to fulfill the requirements of this assignment. In size, the Spanish-American Grocery & Deli was comparable to any older convenience store, but they were clearly a bit more than that. Too my right was a hot bar and deli, with a sitting area. To my left were grocery store shelves. The shelves were robust with many different of foods, the majority of which were made by Goya. I had no idea that Goya made so many different kinds of products. If this store had its own “store brand”, Goya would definitely be it. The majority of products at the Spanish-American store were beans, salsas, and hot sauces. They also carried several different types of sodas and juices that I had only seen in Mexican restaurants; some I had never seen at all. There didn’t appear to be much in the way of health and beauty aids there, but I did note an entire side of one shelving unit dedicated to candles. The most interesting items that I found were butter crackers that looked like extremely supersized oyster crackers, red quinoa, and the biggest cans of black beans I’ve ever seen. Up by the checkout counter were all of the essentials of a convenience or grocery store: candy, tobacco, and lottery tickets as well as some beer and American soda in the back refrigerated coolers. It appears that these
things are staples of any store, regardless of what culture the target market is. The Spanish American store is a clear choice for purchasing specific items to the Spanish-American culture. Prices seemed comparable to like items at Wal-mart, maybe even a bit lower. Wal-mart would be a better choice for shopping if one needs a broad list of things, especially health and beauty items. However, the Spanish-American deli is definitely worth checking out for anyone who needs the more specific types of product that they carry. I plan to make it back there in the near future to try their hot food offerings as well.
The firm began to open “warehouse-style stores under the trade name Super 1 Foods and 1 ’superstore’ under the trade name Brookshire’s Supercenter” in the 1980’s offering people other ways to save money (tsha.utexas.edu). Brookshire Grocery Company is also currently operating grocery store in Plano, Texas under the name Ole Foods to try to appeal to the Hispanic population in the community. The company’s manufacturing facilities include a bakery plant, dairy plant, ice cream plant, ice plant and water plant near Tyler, Texas (Brookshire Briefs).
As I have outlined in the charts below, there are various similarities and differences between Wal-Mart and Target. Wal-Mart is Target’s primary competitor, and vice versa. Wal-Mart has a strong market presence in its global markets and has a diverse range of products and services that are affordable and available in stock. Target, on the other hand, does not have a strong market presence or efficient product supply; however, Target’s physical environment and innovative products further the brand’s image and value. Unfortunately, Target and Wal-Mart are both e-commerce laggards with major competitors such as Amazon. Target faces complications with their pricing strategies and their product availability, which hinders their strength when competing
For this assignment, I decided to go to a grocery store by my house named Meijer. Meijer is just like any other grocery store, similar to Wal-Mart, yet higher quality products than Wal-Mart.
RNRA Team, “Supermarkets, Fresh Produce and New Commodity Chains: What Future for the Small Producer?” Hot Topics: February, 2004.
This is due to the symbiotic relationship Walmart has to its consumers, they are able to offer lower prices in more locations and consumers desire affordability and proximity. Despite the obvious domination of the economy by Walmart, less conventional producers and consumers are present and on the rise. Local rather than global and small rather than large, the increase of these less conventional manners of production can be seen in the increase abundance of farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and community gardens. Farmers’ markets are common areas where farmers meet on a regular basis and sell various fresh produce directly to the consumers. The number of farmer’s markets between 1994 and 2014 has increased from around 2,000 to 8,000 (ers.usda,gov). Farmer’s offer an aesthetic that Walmart cannot provide—the opportunity to be personable. The consumer is able to see who grew the food, ask how it was grown, and will not be dazzled by fancy packaging or
Corporations keep various types of financial records and it is the responsibility of managers to make sure that the records are maintained and resolved at the end of the fiscal year. Most company has shareholders that want a year-end account on how the company has done and with a projection of what the company is capable of doing in the future. The shareholders have a vested interest and want to be kept informed on how the company is doing financially. Financial records for major corporations are public knowledge and this paper is comparing Target and Wal-Mart and their financial standings.
Wal-Mart as we know it today evolved from Sam Walton’s goals for great value and great customer service. Mr. Walton’s competitors thought his idea that a successful business could be built around offering lower prices and great service would never work. Mr. Walton also credited the rapid growth of Wal-Mart not just to the low costs that attracted his customers, but also to his associates. He relied on them to give customers the great shopping experience that would keep them coming back. Sam shared his vision for the company with associates in a way that was nearly unheard of in the industry. He made them partners in the success of the company, and firmly believed that this partnership was what made Walmart great.
The goal for my ethnographic study is subjected to the study of the people of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a place that varies from city to city, but still attracts many of the same people. Everyone knows the weird people that wear ridiculous things to do their normal routine of shopping. That is why I have chosen to do my mini ethnography one day while shopping as an insider at the local Wal-Mart in Auburn, Alabama. Wal-Mart is a large center for shopping that attracts many different types of people, while creating an environment within itself.
stores are smaller because the products are mainly grocery items. They have wide aisles and
Wal-Mart’s competitive environment is quite unique. Although Wal-Mart’s primary competition comes from general merchandise retailers, warehouse clubs and supermarket retailers also present competitive pressure. The discount retail industry is substantial in size and is constantly experiencing growth and change. The top competitors compete both nationally and internationally. There is extensive competition on pricing, location, store size, layout and environment, merchandise mix, technology and innovation, and overall image. The market is definitely characterized by economies of scale. Top retailers vertically integrate many functions, such as purchasing, manufacturing, advertising, and shipping. Large scale functions such as these give the top competitors a significant cost advantage over small-scale competition.
Shopping/Merchandising: Each Whole Foods store maintains a special environment for their customers, such as ambient lighting, natural displays, and educational demonstrations, to encourage the shopper to be a repeat customer and even share their experience with friends and family.
Walk into any Fred Meyer’s/Kroger/Safeway store in the country and you will be met with bright lights, friendly smiles, and shelves stocked with enticing quality goods. The legacy left behind of the son of merchant who had selling in his blood, is one of tradition, of low prices, of meeting the needs of those who need them.
“The main difference was made in the floor size of the store. The stores in US were big and were generally in the suburban areas so that people have a drive way and sample p...
From the consumer side, Amazon provides services like Amazon Prime, which delivers free two-day shipping on retail purchases, on-demand video streaming and a free access to the Kindle library, everything for an annual
No longer just a place to buy food, the supermarket has become a place to cash a check, buy a birthday card, or pick up some tulip bulbs. These new extras are all centered on the idea of convenience. We all hope to find a few extra moments in our days, so supermarkets offer us a way to save time. I'll be the first to admit that buying three things at the same store is nicer than driving across town. Saving time can definitely be a good thing.