Serious Discussion - Empty Grocery Stores

F Me In The Brain

The FDCM segment of retail is going gangbusters right now.  Unfortunately the rest isn't....but at least one segment is healthy.
Food
Drug

Convenience
Mass (BJs, Costco, Wal Mart, Target, etc)

I talked to two people yesterday who described vastly different shopping experiences this week.  One was a nightmare - people coughing, being too close, acting like animals (standard market in SoCal) and the other with people very respectful , distanced, and the store well stocked (Mom's Market (specialty market) in South Jersey.

Such strange times.

Be safe out there

tempo_n_groove

Jason P said:

I thought this might be an opportunity for people to try cooking and discover healthy better tasting food ... but the Hot Pocket factory showed true american grit.  As far as I can tell, food panic in my area is simmering down 

I'm still cooking healthy.  Made orange marinated chicken tacos last night.  No cheese, just cilantro and onion.

Yummy.

tempo_n_groove

hedonist said:

Jason P said:

I thought this might be an opportunity for people to try cooking and discover healthy better tasting food ... but the Hot Pocket factory showed true american grit.  As far as I can tell, food panic in my area is simmering down 

I used to love the old school Hot Pockets, before they made them “healthier” and fancied up the crust. 

This pairing used to be my favorite.  For whatever reason the Tapatio and these burritos were amazing together.

F Me In The Brain

tempo_n_groove said:

hedonist said:

Jason P said:

I thought this might be an opportunity for people to try cooking and discover healthy better tasting food ... but the Hot Pocket factory showed true american grit.  As far as I can tell, food panic in my area is simmering down 

I used to love the old school Hot Pockets, before they made them “healthier” and fancied up the crust. 

This pairing used to be my favorite.  For whatever reason the Tapatio and these burritos were amazing together.

Mmmm. Tapatio.  That is a gateway drug, right there.  I miss that being on the table at tons of places.

tempo_n_groove

F Me In The Brain said:

tempo_n_groove said:

hedonist said:

Jason P said:

I thought this might be an opportunity for people to try cooking and discover healthy better tasting food ... but the Hot Pocket factory showed true american grit.  As far as I can tell, food panic in my area is simmering down 

I used to love the old school Hot Pockets, before they made them “healthier” and fancied up the crust. 

This pairing used to be my favorite.  For whatever reason the Tapatio and these burritos were amazing together.

Mmmm. Tapatio.  That is a gateway drug, right there.  I miss that being on the table at tons of places.

F Me In The Brain  Try this one.  It's made by the lead singer of The Offspring and is pretty damn good.  I only use this one now, such a great flavor to it.

F Me In The Brain

Will try it.  One of the guys in my fraternity was childhood friends with that dude.  Still hangs with him and he goes to concerts with him and stuff.  He styled his friends out, big time.  

rgambs

If you want a decent shopping experience, you only need to avoid the big bargain mega stores.  They are sold out and packed and the independent stores a mile down the road are calm and stocked.  Yes, you will pay a little more, but shop savvy with ads and coupons and you will get the same, or better prices.

rgambs

F Me In The Brain said:

tempo_n_groove said:

hedonist said:

Jason P said:

I thought this might be an opportunity for people to try cooking and discover healthy better tasting food ... but the Hot Pocket factory showed true american grit.  As far as I can tell, food panic in my area is simmering down 

I used to love the old school Hot Pockets, before they made them “healthier” and fancied up the crust. 

This pairing used to be my favorite.  For whatever reason the Tapatio and these burritos were amazing together.

Mmmm. Tapatio.  That is a gateway drug, right there.  I miss that being on the table at tons of places.

Those burritos are pretty dang good!

tempo_n_groove

F Me In The Brain said:

Will try it.  One of the guys in my fraternity was childhood friends with that dude.  Still hangs with him and he goes to concerts with him and stuff.  He styled his friends out, big time.  

That is cool.  You out in SoCal??

F Me In The Brain

tempo_n_groove said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Will try it.  One of the guys in my fraternity was childhood friends with that dude.  Still hangs with him and he goes to concerts with him and stuff.  He styled his friends out, big time.  

That is cool.  You out in SoCal??

No, I lived there for 20, originally moved from VT to LA to go to USC and stayed.
Moved to South Jersey in 2012.

Thoughts_Arrive

Last time I went to the supermarket was about a week ago and I actually swore out loud in there as I could not find anything I need to make the meals for dinner that I want. Twice I was short 2-3 simple ingredients to make the meals. Hopefully better luck tomorrow.

tempo_n_groove

F Me In The Brain said:

tempo_n_groove said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Will try it.  One of the guys in my fraternity was childhood friends with that dude.  Still hangs with him and he goes to concerts with him and stuff.  He styled his friends out, big time.  

That is cool.  You out in SoCal??

No, I lived there for 20, originally moved from VT to LA to go to USC and stayed.
Moved to South Jersey in 2012.

OK thought so, threw me for a loop about SoCal.  I was out there from 93-96 then on and off w there and Seattle.

KROQ baby!

deadendp

I just threw a big ass order at Instacart for Aldi.  Keeps my mom out of the store and keeps me out, too.  Looking forward to see how this works out.  I'm having them drop the groceries into bins I will have next to the side door.  I will separate and then deliver to my parents house what they ordered.  When delivered, it will have been three weeks since the last time I shopped.  We're still holding well, but I wanted a ham for Easter as well as some other things to stock up on.  My husband asked me just to order and not go to the store.  I can do that! 

F Me In The Brain

Hopefully your order is picked well.  Always a good idea to pick back up choices for everything as odds are what they tell you is in stock is not going to be correct for many items.  (As a consistent user of their services for the past few years this was always the case but likely to be more so now )

This is great.  You support the store, the shopper, and protect yourself and your parents.  Hopefully the shopper is keeping themselves safe.

deadendp

F Me In The Brain said:

Hopefully your order is picked well.  Always a good idea to pick back up choices for everything as odds are what they tell you is in stock is not going to be correct for many items.  (As a consistent user of their services for the past few years this was always the case but likely to be more so now )

This is great.  You support the store, the shopper, and protect yourself and your parents.  Hopefully the shopper is keeping themselves safe.

I picked substitutes on everything I could. Any tips are appreciated! Anything else you cam think of, let me know! 

I appreciate that they give the shopper 100% of the tip. I appreciate them shopping for me! 

rgambs

deadendp said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Hopefully your order is picked well.  Always a good idea to pick back up choices for everything as odds are what they tell you is in stock is not going to be correct for many items.  (As a consistent user of their services for the past few years this was always the case but likely to be more so now )

This is great.  You support the store, the shopper, and protect yourself and your parents.  Hopefully the shopper is keeping themselves safe.

I picked substitutes on everything I could. Any tips are appreciated! Anything else you cam think of, let me know! 

I appreciate that they give the shopper 100% of the tip. I appreciate them shopping for me! 

Seems like this could be implemented on a large scale...this could be a great opportunity for employment without nearly the same infection risk.  
All stores closed to public, employees pulling all orders, 24 hours a day... Much easier to control social distancing that way.

deadendp

rgambs said:

deadendp said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Hopefully your order is picked well.  Always a good idea to pick back up choices for everything as odds are what they tell you is in stock is not going to be correct for many items.  (As a consistent user of their services for the past few years this was always the case but likely to be more so now )

This is great.  You support the store, the shopper, and protect yourself and your parents.  Hopefully the shopper is keeping themselves safe.

I picked substitutes on everything I could. Any tips are appreciated! Anything else you cam think of, let me know! 

I appreciate that they give the shopper 100% of the tip. I appreciate them shopping for me! 

Seems like this could be implemented on a large scale...this could be a great opportunity for employment without nearly the same infection risk.  
All stores closed to public, employees pulling all orders, 24 hours a day... Much easier to control social distancing that way.

One of our local Giant Eagle stores has closed for a day or two to convert to curbside pick-up/delivery only. I thought that was the best idea!

I would have gotten Aldi as a curbside pick-up, but it isn't available in our area. Delivery only. 

deadendp

I also just ordered stamps to have them delivered.  I don't use that many, but I'm down to one.  A sheet of 20 will probably take me to Christmas.  

cutz

I went to  Shop Rite and Costco and neither had toilet paper. I'm not in dire need of TP...................yet. I was surprised that I was able to get pretty much what I needed. I was also surprised that I was able to go  in-and-out of Cotsco  because the line was long at check out when I walked in. I hit it lucky on the way out. But of course I forgot a couple of items. I hate shopping as it is>LOL

I did get a attitude from someone at the Shop Rite but I bit my lip and didn't reply back. I wanted to tell him you might want to be careful because you may give someone else that same attitude and they may not be so kind and deck your ass, or worse.  I got more patience in my old age>LOL

brianlux

What is it with tortillas?  I can't find them anywhere.  This is hugely vexing for me.  I can't eat yeast and sourdough has high levels of tyramine which cause migraines so I can't eat that either so that leaves non-yeasted wraps for my bread and now there are none to be found.  Arg!  I'm also having a hard time finding eggs here and we live in a semi-rural area.  And this is only week 2 1/2 of sheltering at home.  Guess I'd better start looking at what parts of a pine tree are edible.  Shhheeeit!