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Florida Freeze Forces Tropicana to Raise Orange Juice Prices
Florida's inclement weather this Winter is no pulp fiction. Due to a deep freeze in January that impacted tomatoes and citrus, Tropicana is saying it has no choice but to raise prices on its orange juice. In May, Tropicana plans to keep the price steady on its Pure Premium orange juice half-gallon cartons, but reduce their size from 64 to 59 ounces.
Do You Mind Shopping in a Crowded Grocery Store?
Now that I've moved to a new neighborhood, I've started shopping at a different grocery store, specifically the Whole Foods on Franklin and California in San Francisco. I've only been twice, but both times it was unbelievably crowded — so packed that I could hardly make my way through the aisles. When I asked the checker if it was always busy, he said, "Yes.
Shrunken Packaged Foods' Slow Return to Their Original Size
In a small indication that America may be on a slow road to economic recovery, consumer foods marketers are beginning to reintroduce larger packages at the same price. Last year, manufacturers were hit by high fuel and commodity prices, so to avoid blatantly transferring cost increases to consumers, manufacturers such as Hellman's, Tropicana, and Kellogg's quietly began downsizing packages.
Ben & Jerry's even went after the size of Haagen-Dazs in its marketing campaign, pointing out that the rival company had downsized its "pints" from 16 to 14 ounces.
Sales Surge at Salvage Supermarkets
As customers search for deeper discounts, they appear to be moving away from traditional grocery stores. In recent months, sales have soared at salvage supermarkets, no-frills operations where shoppers can buy food that's discounted, sometimes by more than 50 percent. The lower price, however, comes at a cost.
Do You Go Through the Self-Checkout?
Although a recent report found that you can save both cash and calories by going through the self-checkout at the grocery store, some consumers have mixed feelings about scanning your own sundries. On one hand, you can bag everything to your liking, but on the other hand, the automated machines often get stuck on unseen errors. What's your take on them?
Self-Checkouts Better For Your Wallet and Waistline
Next time you're waiting in line at the supermarket, do yourself a favor and mosey over to the self-checkout instead. According to Consumer Reports, ringing up groceries yourself could save you calories — as well as cash.
Last month, the magazine reported that the unit price of Coke at the register was more than twice as expensive as Coke sold in the beverage aisle, illustrating the fact that items sold near the checkout tend to be more costly than their grocery aisle counterparts.
Restaurants, Suffering From Poor Turnout, Look to Retail
These days, chain restaurants are looking for any way to eke out a profit, from offering cheaper steaks to haggling with customers. But given the economic downturn, many are no longer expecting to fill tabletops at dinner — instead, they're counting on customers at the grocery store. Restaurants from Jamba Juice to California Pizza Kitchen and even Tony Roma's plan to introduce new licensed food products in the next year.
The Year's Best Grocery Store
Earlier we asked your thoughts on the Best of 2008, and that included your favorite grocery store of the year. Although prices went through the roof on everything from beef to dairy, you chose Trader Joe's as your number-one pick. For the second year in a row, it was the clear winner, taking 39 percent of the vote.
What's Your Favorite Grocery Store of 2008?
As we continue our coverage of the Best of 2008, I want to know which grocer is your favorite.
This year, we saw the cost of food increase across the board. With consumers on a tighter budget, pricier grocers such as Whole Foods have suffered.
Whole Foods Offering Bigger Discounts
Natural and organic supermarket Whole Foods really wants to be there for you during tough times. In fact, the retailer wants to give you a deal so badly that it's posted a printable online coupon for $5 off.
The discount is part of a new Whole Foods value guide called the Whole Deal.
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