“What exactly are we trying to control?” Many grocers are digesting Vice President Kamala Harris’ statement that she wants to crack down on gouging in the grocery trade. One of those Chicago grocers, HarvesTime owner Hristos “Chris” Dallas, said he isn’t sure “what we’re trying to control.” “Most grocers that I know and deal with are very conscious that we have products that we price based on what we pay for them and not necessarily what the market will bear,” Dallas said. Fox News. Other industry leaders agree with Dallas – things aren’t that simple. —Chloe Riley
Where are your parents? Grocers struggling with rampant shoplifting in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area are at a loss as to how to curb theft in their stores. Now, shoppers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent after 6 p.m. if they want to enter a Giant supermarket. It’s not Giant’s first attempt to curb theft. In May, Giant imposed a ban on backpacks and large bags – anything over 14 x 14 x 6 inches – in its D.C. stores, but those restrictions are now being relaxed, according to NBC4 News. Customers can now enter stores with backpacks as long as they accept security checks. The new policy means customers with backpacks will no longer have to leave them outside the store while shopping. —Tim Inklebarger
From garbage to enjoyment: What’s a retailer to do when life throws you too many loose grapes? In the case of Batavia, Illinois-based Aldi, the answer seems to be freezing. The fast-growing discounter began flash-freezing super-sweet cotton candy grapes that would otherwise go to waste and selling them for $3.49 a bag in the frozen food section as a no-sugar-added treat. The move underscores Aldi’s spirit of innovation and commitment to sustainability, said Aldi communications director Bridget Kozlowski. noted on LinkedIn this week. “We don’t just talk about it—Aldi has an entire sustainability team dedicated to ensuring our company continues to be a leader in sustainability… Reducing food waste is such an important part of that effort.” Awesome! —Heather Lalley
The more pharmacies, the better: The majority of Americans want personal access to a pharmacist, writes Fast Companywith more than half saying they would rather seek care at pharmacies for non-urgent cases than go to the doctor or hospital. The article offers three reasons why it’s important to prioritize pharmacy health. First, they fill gaps in our flawed health care system. Second, they provide convenience and continuity to those who need care. And third, they are a critical resource for the U.S.’s most vulnerable populations. So the demand is there, but lately the challenge has been more about adequately staffing pharmacists. Pharmacists at Walgreens and CVS have both voiced complaints about heavy workloads and inadequate staffing. Better working conditions seem to be the answer, but the “how” remains to be seen. —CR
Don’t step on plastic: The Responsible Recycling Alliance, a coalition of plastics recyclers and manufacturers in California, is calling on the state to commission a study on the economic impact of the proposed plastic bag ban law on minority communities. “Now is not the time to rush through legislation whose lasting economic impact is unknown – especially as Californians suffer higher costs every time they shop for groceries,” Roxanne Spiekerman, spokesperson for the RRA and vice president of public affairs at PreZero US, said in a press release. “And for the thousands of small businesses serving communities in need, this ‘bag tax’ could well be the difference between staying open or going out of business for good, which would harm those communities even more.” The RRA argues that proposed laws AB 2236 and SB 1053 should be amended to “incorporate reusable, recyclable plastic film shopping bags into the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program created by SB 54 in 2022.” —TI
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“Most grocers that I know and deal with are very conscious of pricing our products based on what we pay for them and not necessarily what the market will bear,” Chicago grocer Hristos “Chris” Dallas said above. Do you agree with him? Add your comments to this story below or email us your thoughts at (email protected).
