tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47806290764049386412012-02-11T21:03:52.768-08:00Talk about anything retail.Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-60315726663454019442007-08-11T07:19:00.000-07:002007-08-11T13:20:32.598-07:00

I thought I would talk about something a bit different today than the usual rantings of retail dysfunction. Something that I believe will have huge impact on all types of retail,every tax payer, and that would be the The FAIR TAX.If you are not familiar with the Fair Tax, let me take this opportunity to tell you a bit about the Fair Tax, along with the why and how I think it will impact all

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-57943672385547911782007-07-29T09:50:00.002-07:002007-07-29T10:27:34.188-07:00

While visiting a local supermarket yesterday I took note of the everyday retail on White and Red Seedless grapes; an astounding $2.99 lb.! You just have to scratch your head. Based on current FOB costs, freight, and D.C. up-charges, I estimate that their store level cost to be no more than $.95 lb. Which means that this retailer is generating a whopping 68% gross on their number one seasonal

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-91060041970972708272007-07-11T12:51:00.000-07:002007-07-11T13:30:42.701-07:00

I was looking at ads today; specifically at a few of the feature ad items in the produce section. Two of the major retailers in my area had Green Grapes advertised in a feature position. Retailer A at $1.99 LB. and the other; let's call them retailer B, at $1.69 LB.Based on current FOB's on Green Grapes of around $12.00 for a large berry, these Retailers probably landed them at their D.C. at

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-53823286567942518052007-06-26T05:56:00.000-07:002007-06-26T05:57:06.683-07:00

USA Today Ran a story that outlined the coming onslaught of Apples From China. I did not know this but according to the story fifteen years ago, China grew fewer apples than the United States. Today, China grows five times as many apples, almost half the apples grown on the entire planet.Beyond that, harvest workers make an average of $.28 per hour, or $2.00 per day while those that harvest

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-37526638952715896112007-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:002007-06-19T06:51:09.471-07:00

I will never forget the day I sat in a regional office of a dairy department category manager for a rather large supermarket chain. She was talking about how she had to maintain a 35% gross in her category and she was describing how she was determining which retails to raise in order to offset her ad markdowns and maintain her budgeted margin bill out. I was shocked, she was actually raising

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-31868279177893043582007-05-30T13:17:00.000-07:002007-05-30T14:43:20.608-07:00

In my last article, I talked about my experience with the inception of what we know today as Wal-Mart Super Centers and how so many retailers of fresh produce seem to have a misconception regarding the margins Wal-Mart is probably achieving in their produce operation. I say probably because although I don't have any inside knowledge or information, I do have some insight into the EDLP pricing

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-77651177620594636252007-05-22T08:40:00.000-07:002007-05-22T10:01:22.466-07:00

I've been fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to work in various parts of our great country for retailers operating a wide variety of formats. I cut my retail teeth working for Tom Thumb Page in Dallas Texas. Looking back, I see that from the perspective of management style, that company was well ahead of it's time with regard developing people, but that is not what I really want

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-54854772825182989432007-04-12T08:07:00.000-07:002007-04-12T08:50:29.402-07:00

Ever wonder what is up with how much retailers mark up certain categories of product? I sat on the retail side of the merchandising/buying desk for over thirty years, and had the opportunity to run the produce division for three supermarket chains in three different parts of the country. In that thirty years, one thing is for sure, and that is that I never stopped learning how to do my job.Now I

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-26278854634300447282007-04-07T14:20:00.000-07:002007-04-07T14:36:55.158-07:00

Last evening my wife and I went to a newly opened Whole Foods in our area to look around and have dinner, that's right, have dinner. This new Whole Foods your see, in addition to boasting a pretty comprehensive prepared meal area has a nice little bar/restaurant. My wife and I decided to belly up to the bar and check it out. I had pork tenderloin medallions with asparagus while my wife chose a

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-80547682887382335802007-03-21T07:02:00.000-07:002007-03-21T07:05:06.792-07:00

A STORY IN THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS TODAY reports that BI-LO stores located in Maulden SC will spin off it's Bruno's stores. The headquarters for Bruno's Supermarkets will return to Birmingham as part of the owner's restructuring plan that also splits the grocery chain from its South Carolina-based parent company.Lone Star Funds today announced that BI-LO will no longer own Bruno's. Lone Star will

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-8714642887863122422007-03-02T05:48:00.000-08:002007-03-02T06:13:07.062-08:00

Well, Birmingham Alabama finally got a truly premier food store now that Whole Foods has opened. I visited the store yesterday and I came away impressed with the content and execution of the store. Now I don't know that I will shop there on a weekly basis, but my wife, daughter and I will visit quite often.For me not only will I be curious to see if they keep up the high level of execution I

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-63425508452117299852007-02-23T07:08:00.000-08:002007-02-23T07:09:42.742-08:00

It was announced yesterday that Whole Foods has entered into an agreement to buy their largest like minded competitor Wild Oats, for $545,000,000.This will be interesting to watch. One thing that Whole Foods has shown is that they know how to assimilate acquisitions and make them better. A feat SafeWay, AHOLD, and Albertsons, never figured out. I don't know why this is, perhaps it is because

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-75464253649573312752007-02-16T20:02:00.000-08:002007-02-16T20:12:49.601-08:00

I subscribe to a daily newsletter where there has been a lot of discussion about Publix and if they are really as good as their reputation.Yes, they are. In many different ways. In my former life as a Produce VP competing with Publix I learned to respect them not only for their consistent high level of execution, but for the culture they have created in what must be a pretty good place to work.I

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780629076404938641.post-36907649995781135692007-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:002007-02-05T15:24:49.941-08:00

According to a January 31 story in the Packer On line www.thepacker.comDole Food Company is planning to launch a test program in five cities where school students will have access to vending machines stocked with cut fruit and salads. A program that could expand to other cities later this year.I for one am all for kids having the opportunity to eat more nutritious food while at school; especially

Ray's Blognoreply@blogger.com0