Grocery Thoughts

Food is never very far from my mind; eating it, preparing it, shopping for it - quickly, and near by.

So I am delighted to see the parking lot at Lakeview Village full of cars pretty much every day, and to hear the positive comments of my neighbors about the new Basha's. My car has been in that lot frequently, as well (since I end up shopping in the afternoons when it's very warm for biking). Along with those neighbors, I really want the Basha's to succeed, and I believe they will.

Yesterday's AZ Republic had an article on the grocers' plight, and it brought up a couple of interesting points:

Gilbert's grocery market is seeing a lot of turnover.

Bashas' plans to open a store at Val Vista Drive and Queen Creek Road in September and has opened a store in a former Albertsons at Higley and Elliot roads. Two Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets are coming to town, at the intersections of Higley and Ray and Greenfield and Warner.

Yet in 2006, five Gilbert grocery stores - three Albertsons and two Henry's Farmers Market stores - closed. The last day of business for Sunflower Farmers Market is July 25.

The article does say that Albertson's closing was due to its corporate sale, and of course, Basha's replaced the Albertson's store at Lakeview Village. I know that there is much competition in the grocery arena and that profit margins are smaller than in many other businesses, such as restaurants. However, since food is not an optional commodity, grocery stores will always be with us. And as Gilbert continues to grow, albeit a little slower than in years past, more grocers will be needed, not less. You can read the rest of the article for the nuances if you are interested.

By the way, the Fresh and Easy stores that they say will be opening not far from Morrison Ranch residents are the Tesco-owned markets coming from England. They sound interesting.