Target and other discount superstores now offering expanded groceries in their NYC stores

[Shortline Bus]

Target and other discount drugstores now offering expanded groceries as one-stop spot

 

BY Elizabeth Lazarowitz

NY DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER

 

Friday, August 5th 2011

 

 

"Toothpaste, toilet paper ... and taco fixin's?

 

Target, like many other big discount retailers and drugstore chains, is beefing up its food offerings at stores in the city to lure customers with "one-stop shopping."

 

The company has revamped the grocery section in four of its New York City stores this year - two in Brooklyn, one in the Bronx and one in Staten Island - adding about 40% more food than in its general merchandise stores.

 

Where there was once just chips and candy, there are now more fresh food items like bagged lettuce, meat, fruit and baked goods, said Target spokeswoman Jamie Bastian.

 

"They're able to pick up their toothpaste as well as some simple options for a dinner that evening," Bastian said.

 

Target's push deeper into the food business began in 2008, and it started expanding its grocery section overhaul efforts to New York last year.

 

It so far has reformatted about 850 of its more than 1,700 stores nationwide, finishing its Brooklyn store makeovers this spring.

 

Sales at stores with the new food format rose about 6%, Bastian said.

 

Retailers better known for selling aspirin than apples are also now offering more options for quick meals.

 

CVS has expanded the grocery sections at many of its city locations, adding more quick meals like sandwiches and salads.

 

Duane Reade's new Wall Street location has a sushi bar, and its Williamsburg location sells beer on tap.

 

Those retailers are trying to feed a need for customers pressed for time and money in a difficult economy, said Bonnie Riggs, restaurant industry analyst at NPD Group.

 

"When gas prices are as high as they are now, customers try to do more combined shopping," said Riggs, adding that sales of prepared foods at these new venues, as well as traditional supermarkets, are eating into restaurant revenues.

 

"They do tend to be a little more pricey, but the convenience factor for many will overtake that obstacle."

 

 

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/08/05/2011-08-05_target_and_other_discount_drugstores_now_offering_expanded_groceries_as_onestop_.html

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Smart marketing tool. When it's late at night and Whole Foods has closed, I'll go to Duane Reade because some locations do offer some natural or organic items like bread, cheese and turkey deli slices and there's usually always one nearby where I'm at in the city. The big Duane Reade on 42nd and 8th offers organic wheat bread, natural deli turkey and some natural cheeses, so I went there picked up some items and had a nice sandwich when I got home late that night.

 

If I don't feel like preparing anything they even have Honey Nut Cherrios which is natural and Horizon Organic, which is organic milk. It's true that they can be pricier with some things, but the convenience is great if nothing else is open or you're too tired or too drunk to go anywhere else, as has happened to me a few times. B) They also carry those tasty Zabar's sandwiches that I like too. :cool:

 

 

Nothing worse than drinking or doing some smoking of the good stuff and having the munchies and nothing being open... :eek:

[Shortline Bus]

Smart marketing tool. When it's late at night and Whole Foods has closed, I'll go to Duane Reade because some locations do offer some natural or organic items like bread, cheese and turkey deli slices and there's usually always one nearby where I'm at in the city. The big Duane Reade on 42nd and 8th offers organic wheat bread, natural deli turkey and some natural cheeses, so I went there picked up some items and had a nice sandwich when I got home late that night.

 

If I don't feel like preparing anything they even have Honey Nut Cherrios which is natural and Horizon Organic, which is organic milk. It's true that they can be pricier with some things, but the convenience is great if nothing else is open or you're too tired or too drunk to go anywhere else, as has happened to me a few times. B) They also carry those tasty Zabar's sandwiches that I like too. :cool:

 

 

Nothing worse than drinking or doing some smoking of the good stuff and having the munchies and nothing being open... :eek:

 

 

That maybe true for someone working or living in Manhattan. However if a customer lives in the outerboros you still better off shopping IMO at the big supermarket chains like Stop & Shop, Shoprite or Pathmark if you are on a 'tight budget' to buy organic foods.

 

Also my guess on a little secret boys and girls on why Target, Duane Reade and other superstores/pharmcy stores are adding foods/groceries to their locations IMO?:eek:

Because seriously they (Target, etc.)probably feel in near the future, Wal-Mart maybe opening probably first in outerboro location like East NY, Brooklyn or Staten Island.

 

Wal-Marts have had mega store called "Super Wal-Marts' in more rural/suburban areas of the country for years now that a expanded supermarket section to their regular stores.

Where I am at up in Ducthess County, there are '3' super wal-mart's within 45 minute drive of my house in Fishkill, Newburgh and Middletown, NY.(orange county)

[Via Garibaldi 8]

That maybe true for someone working or living in Manhattan. However if a customer lives in the outerboros you still better off shopping IMO at the big supermarket chains like Stop & Shop, Shoprite or Pathmark if you are on a 'tight budget' to buy organic foods.

 

Also my guess on a little secret boys and girls on why Target, Duane Reade and other superstores/pharmcy stores are adding foods/groceries to their locations IMO?:eek:

Because seriously they (Target, etc.)probably feel in near the future, Wal-Mart maybe opening probably first in outerboro location like East NY, Brooklyn or Staten Island.

 

Wal-Marts have had mega store called "Super Wal-Marts' in more rural/suburban areas of the country for years now that a expanded supermarket section to their regular stores.

Where I am at up in Ducthess County, there are '3' super wal-mart's within 45 minute drive of my house in Fishkill, Newburgh and Middletown, NY.(orange county)

 

 

Good points... I'm in West Brighton and one of supermarkets that stays open late sucks (Pathmark in Port Richmond) B) Really ghetto with all of the food stamp folks in there and they don't have many organic or natural selections either... I think Shop Rite might be okay over on Richmond Ave, but that's a good 15-20 minutes or so by car each way. I may check it out soon though since checkmate says that they have decent selection there. I don't think it can be too much for car service there and back when I feel like staying on Staten Island.

[Shortline Bus]

Good points... I'm in West Brighton and one of supermarkets that stays open late sucks (Pathmark in Port Richmond) B) Really ghetto with all of the food stamp folks in there and they don't have many organic or natural selections either... I think Shop Rite might be okay over on Richmond Ave, but that's a good 15-20 minutes or so by car each way. I may check it out soon though since checkmate says that they have decent selection there. I don't think it can be too much for car service there and back when I feel like staying on Staten Island.

 

 

Not to get off topic and be mean but man Garibaldi calm down on your tea party agenda:mad::tdown:. While no doubt some people abuse the system with food stamps/welfare there also some 'good people' who actually need food stamps. There been many new applicants due to this recession who never thought they be out of a job and do need the food stamps/government aide now.

 

I do agree on reforms on the entire welfare system and giving a 'time period' (unless you have a long term disability)to being on public aide. That for another topic though.

 

 

And back to topic. That Shoprite on Richmond and Forest seems to a good store for groceries including affordable 'organic food." When i still lived in SW brooklyn and returning from NJ or sometimes Pa. driving i would stop at that location. IMO worth the trip for affordable 'organic food.'

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Not to get off topic and be mean but man Garibaldi calm down on your tea party agenda:mad::tdown:. While no doubt some people abuse the system with food stamps/welfare there also some 'good people' who actually need food stamps. There been many new applicants due to this recession who never thought they be out of the job and do need the food stamps/government aide.

 

I do agree on reforms on the entire welfare system and giving a 'time period' (unless you have a long term disability)to being on public aide. That for another topic though.

 

 

And back to topic. That Shoprite on Richmond and Forest seems to a good store for groceries including affordable 'organic food." When i still lived in SW brooklyn and returning from NJ or sometimes Pa. driving i would stop at that location. IMO worth the trip for affordable 'organic food.'

 

 

LOL... What does a ghetto supermarket have to do with the Tea Party? The area in general is rather seedy, so naturally I would expect the supermarket to follow suit, but yeah I'll take you up on the Shop Rite trip to Richmond Avenue. :cool:

[B35 via Church]

not surprising....

 

there's already a ridiculous amt of ppl. that go grocery shopping inside rite aid's, CVS', walgreens, etc.... but the notion that groceries are cheaper inside these types of stores is complete & total bulls***....

 

the catch is that, the sales these places sometimes offer, are far better... so the masses jump all over it....

[Shortline Bus]

not surprising....

 

there's already a ridiculous amt of ppl. that go grocery shopping inside rite aid's, CVS', walgreens, etc.... but the notion that groceries are cheaper inside these types of stores is complete & total bulls***....

 

the catch is that, the sales these places sometimes offer, are far better... so the masses jump all over it....

 

What ironic is that a duane reade in Manhattan may charge $5.00 for 'organic' gallon of milk. I said organic not regular gallon of milk lol so it's going to be more expensive.(not a misprint)

 

While if you go to a special fruit store say for instance 'Three Guys' on Ft. Hamilton Pwy in Brooklyn (just off the Ft Hamilton/62nd subway stop)they may charge only $2.79 a gallon.

Everytime i am at Three Guys it always packed even late into the evening since they have so called 'farm fresh' veggies and fruits at wholesale prices. My mom when she still was living in NY always liked to shop there.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

What ironic is that a duane reade in Manhattan may charge $5.00 for 'organic' gallon of milk. I said organic not regular gallon of milk lol so it's going to be more expensive.(not a misprint)

 

While if you go to a special fruit store say for instance 'Three Guys' on Ft. Hamilton Pwy in Brooklyn (just off the Ft Hamilton/62nd subway stop)they may charge only $2.79 a gallon.

Everytime i am at Three Guys it always packed even late into the evening since they have so called 'farm fresh' veggies and fruits at wholesale prices. My mom when she still was living in NY always liked to shop there.

 

$4.99 I don't bark over for a half a gallon of Organic milk because that's what most places charge. Basically Organic Valley and Stonyfield which are known to strive for true organic milk. Sometimes I'll go for Horizon Organic if nothing else is available because it may be a tab cheaper at $4.49 for a half gallon of organic fat-free milk, but they aren't the organic brand.

[checkmatechamp13]

That maybe true for someone working or living in Manhattan. However if a customer lives in the outerboros you still better off shopping IMO at the big supermarket chains like Stop & Shop, Shoprite or Pathmark if you are on a 'tight budget' to buy organic foods.

 

Also my guess on a little secret boys and girls on why Target, Duane Reade and other superstores/pharmcy stores are adding foods/groceries to their locations IMO?:eek:

Because seriously they (Target, etc.)probably feel in near the future, Wal-Mart maybe opening probably first in outerboro location like East NY, Brooklyn or Staten Island.

 

Wal-Marts have had mega store called "Super Wal-Marts' in more rural/suburban areas of the country for years now that a expanded supermarket section to their regular stores.

Where I am at up in Ducthess County, there are '3' super wal-mart's within 45 minute drive of my house in Fishkill, Newburgh and Middletown, NY.(orange county)

 

I don't think anybody at CVS or Duane Reade or any of those other stores is really intending to buy a whole bunch of food: Like Via Garibaldi said, they're just stopping there to pick up a bite to eat because there isn't anything else nearby (buying some prepared food is still cheaper than going to a restaurant)

 

Good points... I'm in West Brighton and one of supermarkets that stays open late sucks (Pathmark in Port Richmond) B) Really ghetto with all of the food stamp folks in there and they don't have many organic or natural selections either... I think Shop Rite might be okay over on Richmond Ave, but that's a good 15-20 minutes or so by car each way. I may check it out soon though since checkmate says that they have decent selection there. I don't think it can be too much for car service there and back when I feel like staying on Staten Island.

 

It's not even 15-20 minutes by bus (unless you're counting the waiting time), unless there is some really bad traffic along Forest Avenue. By car, there are some side streets like College Avenue that you can zip down.

 

I don't really go to Pathmark, but ShopRite doesn't seem to have a lot of people on food stamps shopping there (then again, I don't really check to see how the person is paying). You don't really see too many disturbances (except for when I hold up the self-checkout line with my coupons and such. ).

 

LOL... What does a ghetto supermarket have to do with the Tea Party? The area in general is rather seedy, so naturally I would expect the supermarket to follow suit, but yeah I'll take you up on the Shop Rite trip to Richmond Avenue. :cool:

 

Well, I wouldn't really consider the area around Pathmark to be seedy. That general area near Decker Avenue is pretty decent.

 

In any case, by my standards, the area around ShopRite isn't too seedy, but by your standards, going further west down Forest Avenue, it would get seedy.

 

not surprising....

 

there's already a ridiculous amt of ppl. that go grocery shopping inside rite aid's, CVS', walgreens, etc.... but the notion that groceries are cheaper inside these types of stores is complete & total bulls***....

 

the catch is that, the sales these places sometimes offer, are far better... so the masses jump all over it....

 

Their sales really aren't too great either, at least as far as food items go. On things like toothpaste, they sometimes run decent sales.

 

What ironic is that a duane reade in Manhattan may charge $5.00 for 'organic' gallon of milk. I said organic not regular gallon of milk lol so it's going to be more expensive.(not a misprint)

 

While if you go to a special fruit store say for instance 'Three Guys' on Ft. Hamilton Pwy in Brooklyn (just off the Ft Hamilton/62nd subway stop)they may charge only $2.79 a gallon.

Everytime i am at Three Guys it always packed even late into the evening since they have so called 'farm fresh' veggies and fruits at wholesale prices. My mom when she still was living in NY always liked to shop there.

 

$5 for a gallon of organic milk is great. The only time I find it at that price is when ShopRite has it on sale, which isn't too often.

 

There's a store by Forest Avenue a few blocks east of South Avenue that has milk for $2.99, but that's about as cheap as I could find it. Western Beef used to have cheap milk, but not anymore (last year, it was $1.99 but now it's up to $3.69. :eek: )

 

$4.99 I don't bark over for a half a gallon of Organic milk because that's what most places charge. Basically Organic Valley and Stonyfield which are known to strive for true organic milk. Sometimes I'll go for Horizon Organic if nothing else is available because it may be a tab cheaper at $4.49 for a half gallon of organic fat-free milk, but they aren't the organic brand.

 

The thing that I've found weird is that ShopRite Organic milk is $4.49, but Stonyfield Farm is $4.79. How do they expect to compete with a brand that is known for good quality when they're only 30 cents cheaper. :confused:

 

Now with the gallons, it's a different story (though lately, they've been getting harder to find).

 

As far as organic foods go, I think Stop and Shop promotes its store brand (Nature's Promise) more. ShopRite has a decent selection, but anything organic you can find in ShopRite you can more than likely find in Stop and Shop, while the reverse doesn't always hold true.

[lilbluefoxie]

so if organic milk is sooo expensive just buy regular milk then B)

[checkmatechamp13]

so if organic milk is sooo expensive just buy regular milk then B)

 

I don't think anybody's really complaining about the high price of organic milk. In any case, like I said, there are ways to get a discount on organic milk (coupons, store brands, etc). It probably won't be as cheap as regular milk, but the difference won't be that much.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

It's not even 15-20 minutes by bus (unless you're counting the waiting time), unless there is some really bad traffic along Forest Avenue. By car, there are some side streets like College Avenue that you can zip down.

 

True, but somehow, between the traffic and the damn lights on Forest Avenue, by me that aren't run in sink, it can take up to 15 minutes by car.

 

I don't really go to Pathmark, but ShopRite doesn't seem to have a lot of people on food stamps shopping there (then again, I don't really check to see how the person is paying). You don't really see too many disturbances (except for when I hold up the self-checkout line with my coupons and such. ).

 

lol... I would be one of those giving dirty looks and blowing and such. Sometimes if I get annoyed enough I may acutally verbalize my disgust so that they know that they're taking too damn long. Anyone who can't use the self-checkout line should move to the regular line. You have a bunch of folks that love experimenting and trying to scan stuff when they don't know how to do it right, not that it is that complicated, but of course folks don't pay attention. They have no clue where to find the barcode, nor how to hold the package or item so that it scans quickly and properly. Yesterday at Whole Foods, I bought some couscous and the cashier was so dumb that he called himself scanning the item and it never scanned and he put it right in my bag. I didn't say a word and got my receipt walked right out. :cool:

 

As for the people on Food stamps, believe me at that Pathmark you would know. Seedy looking...

 

 

Well, I wouldn't really consider the area around Pathmark to be seedy. That general area near Decker Avenue is pretty decent.

 

In any case, by my standards, the area around ShopRite isn't too seedy, but by your standards, going further west down Forest Avenue, it would get seedy.

 

Decker Avenue is quite nice, but that immediate area there by Pathmark, say a three or four block radius up to Jewett Avenue is the pits. It's not so much because of the appearance of Forest Avenue over there, but moreso due to the seedy folks that congregate over there. I mean at the Pathmark you do have some working class professionals that will go there, but I doubt many of them make it their main supermarket. I'd prefer ShopRite if I had to go on Staten Island and going forward I will try it, even though it is bit further away. I've just been too lazy to stop in. I only go to Pathmark maybe a few times a year when I'm in Staten Island and want to pick up a few items and don't want to schlepp to Whole Foods in the city.

 

 

Their sales really aren't too great either, at least as far as food items go. On things like toothpaste, they sometimes run decent sales.

 

I try to watch what I buy in those drug stores because they jack up the prices like crazy and overcharge and then they put stuff "on sale" at the price that it should really be sold at, so I try to stick to items that I know have a fixed price where possible unless I really want it and it isn't too overpriced.

 

 

$5 for a gallon of organic milk is great. The only time I find it at that price is when ShopRite has it on sale, which isn't too often.

 

 

The thing that I've found weird is that ShopRite Organic milk is $4.49, but Stonyfield Farm is $4.79. How do they expect to compete with a brand that is known for good quality when they're only 30 cents cheaper. :confused:

 

Now with the gallons, it's a different story (though lately, they've been getting harder to find).

 

As far as organic foods go, I think Stop and Shop promotes its store brand (Nature's Promise) more. ShopRite has a decent selection, but anything organic you can find in ShopRite you can more than likely find in Stop and Shop, while the reverse doesn't always hold true.

 

 

Well, even the store brands of organic milk won't be cheap, simply because if they are really following the standards necessary for the milk to be certified with the USDA organic label, then the costs involved in making the milk are not cheap and those costs have to passed on to the consumer. Believe it or not, many of those companies that sell things like organic milk don't have huge profits because of the costs involved in making organic milk. If they really charged what they should for organic milk to make a somewhat decent profit, you'd be paying a good $5 more, but of course that would mean fewer people would buy it.

 

The one brand I don't buy a lot of is Horizon Organic, even though the milk tastes good, because I've read on several occasions that they cut corners to slide under the organic label, but don't strive hard enough really to be a true "organic" producer of milk. Stonyfield and Organic Valley get good grades in terms of their practices in making organic milk and sourcing from local farmers and such who follow strict organic standards.

[checkmatechamp13]

True, but somehow, between the traffic and the damn lights on Forest Avenue, by me that aren't run in sink, it can take up to 15 minutes by car.

 

 

lol... I would be one of those giving dirty looks and blowing and such.

 

As for the people on Food stamps, believe me at that Pathmark you would know. Seedy looking...

 

I'd prefer ShopRite if I had to go on Staten Island and going forward I will try it, even though it is bit further away.

 

If they really charged what they should for organic milk to make a somewhat decent profit, you'd be paying a good $5 more, but of course that would mean fewer people would buy it.

 

The one brand I don't buy a lot of is Horizon Organic, even though the milk tastes good, because I've read on several occasions that they cut corners to slide under the organic label, but don't strive hard enough really to be a true "organic" producer of milk. Stonyfield and Organic Valley get good grades in terms of their practices in making organic milk and sourcing from local farmers and such who follow strict organic standards.

 

Bold #1: That's why I suggested College Avenue. My dad would sometimes drive my brother and myself to that YMCA on Broadway and would never take Forest Avenue.

 

Bold #2: Now they've added an extra 2 self-checkout lines (rpobably to save on costs). But the issue was never with the actual scanning of the items: The issue was actually processing the coupons. On the regular checkout lines, the problem is that every coupon has to be approved, so the cashier has to call over a manager and hold up the line until they show up.

 

Bold #3: That doesn't necessarily mean they are on food stamps. In any case, at Western Beef, you can actually tell who has food stamps: They have to scan some paper or something to approve the food stamps, and it is printed on the receipt.

 

Bold #4: The advantage of ShopRite is that it is at a main intersection. You could take the X10, X12, X30, or X42, and then take the S48 home.

 

I always used to do that whenever I came back from the YMCA.

 

In any case, I don't know how it as at Pathmark, but the only "seedy" people are the ones who put cans in the machines (I do that occasionally, but I don't go hunting for cans in other people's recyclables). They leave everybody alone, so that isn't an issue.

 

Bold #5: No, you would be paying an extra $5 more. I'd just stop buying it if it went that high.

 

I read somewhere that organic milks make up something like 2% of the market for milks, so I assume there are a lot of people who would stick to organic milk regardless of what price it is.

 

In any case, I think the regulations are pretty much factored into the price. They turn a small profit, but I think they're content with it.

 

Bold #6: I wonder if the store brands do that as well. It's possible, but they're probably big enough that they can afford to do it the right way.

 

In any case, I don't really taste a difference in the different brands, so I assume they're all pretty similar.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Bold #1: That's why I suggested College Avenue. My dad would sometimes drive my brother and myself to that YMCA on Broadway and would never take Forest Avenue.

Yeah, but half of the cabbies are morons, so they'd take Forest Avenue anyway unless I asked them to go another way. Some of them are so dumb that I have to tell them the directions to get home. I mean why not just invest in a f*cking GPS system? :mad: They can't be that expensive.

 

 

Bold #2: Now they've added an extra 2 self-checkout lines (probably to save on costs). But the issue was never with the actual scanning of the items: The issue was actually processing the coupons. On the regular checkout lines, the problem is that every coupon has to be approved, so the cashier has to call over a manager and hold up the line until they show up.

Yeah, the coupon thing is stupid. Most supermarkets have it where you just scan your rewards card and get the discount that way. These must be other coupons, since I'm sure ShopRite has a rewards card. But still, you have folks that can't scan items for their lives.

 

Speaking of scanned items, I have been getting these imported cookies from France from Whole Foods for free two weeks in a row. :cool: I picked up the item last week sometime and recall the price being $3.79 from past purchases. However, it scanned for $3.99, so I asked for a price check and sure enough it was $3.79, so I requested it for free and was given it for free, which is the norm when they f*ck up on the price. Fast forward to today... I see the price is still listed as $3.79, so I said to myself, these idiots... They're so lazy to fix the price, so I'll help myself to another free box of these. I knew the price would ring up as $3.99 and sure enough it did. I asked for a price check already knowing what it was and was given them for free. This time though the cashier was smart enough to note the item that was given for free, as he wrote down the product and the barcode and such, so I expect that the pricing will be correct on at least one item down there. If not I'll keep doing it. :cool: lol That's why I always make a mental note of everything that I buy and the price because those supermarkets will jip you if you're not careful.

 

Bold #3: That doesn't necessarily mean they are on food stamps. In any case, at Western Beef, you can actually tell who has food stamps: They have to scan some paper or something to approve the food stamps, and it is printed on the receipt.

 

Believe me, I'm 29 years old and I've been around the block a few times... I'm pretty good with those types of things and over there, there are a lot of people with food stamps that go to Pathmark. Maybe ShopRite doesn't take them and if they don't then that's a good thing. Less riff raff. I can certainly spot them in Whole Foods, though there are very few of them. Once in a blue moon they'll shop there, probably because it is out of the way from where they live. They come in and buy up the whole damn market with food stamps with taxpayer dollars nonetheless. I mean really?? Organic and natural food on taxpayer money? Talk about a b*tch man. Sometimes I wonder what I even work for. :mad: There was this lady who was clearly homeless and stunk something terrible. I don't know what she would do, but she would go to the Whole Foods there at Union Sq and go to the return counter and constantly return stuff (expensive items too considering that she was homeless)... Jana water and so forth and I'm thinking sh*t, I drink Jana... I hope they don't put that damn water back on the shelf for re-sale... :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Bold #4: The advantage of ShopRite is that it is at a main intersection. You could take the X10, X12, X30, or X42, and then take the S48 home.

That's true, but it's still out of the way for me unless I took the X30. That's an additional 30 minutes easily on the X10, esp. and another 20 or so on the X12 or X42, so I'd only do that when I was in the mood for the ride and then I'd take car service after that.

 

In any case, I don't know how it as at Pathmark, but the only "seedy" people are the ones who put cans in the machines (I do that occasionally, but I don't go hunting for cans in other people's recyclables). They leave everybody alone, so that isn't an issue.

 

LOL... I take all of my plastics and clean them and put them in a Whole Foods bag and take them back to Whole Foods since the city doesn't recycle all plastics. :mad: However, I don't do it for money or anything since the stuff I bring back you can't get cash for anyway (i.e. plastic containers, etc.). I am just environmentally conscious and certainly not seedy. :eek:

 

Bold #5: No, you would be paying an extra $5 more. I'd just stop buying it if it went that high.

 

Now that's a "shocker"... I'm actually shocked that you even splurge $4.99 for it, but I know you look for it when it is on sale esp. Truth be told, I usually only get the half gallons when I shop on Staten Island there at MET foods on Victory and Manor because they don't carry any of the organic milk brands in the quart size. Whole Foods does though and since I usually shop there, I get Organic Valley in the quart size for $2.69. :cool:

 

I read somewhere that organic milks make up something like 2% of the market for milks, so I assume there are a lot of people who would stick to organic milk regardless of what price it is.

 

Yes, you do have folks who care a lot about what they eat like myself and don't mind paying more for the quality. The one thing I have noticed since I switched from just buying natural milk and basically using organic milk exclusively is that I don't get bloated or gassy at all, no matter how much of it I drink, so it must have something to do with how they process the milk. Before I used to buy the 365 brand of skim milk by Whole Foods and if I drink a lot of it with certain organic cereals, it did not agree with me, but I don't have that problem at all now with organic milk. :cool: Earlier this year I decided to switch to all natural or organic products including deodorant, soap and cleaning products and I have noticed a nice improvement overall in how I feel and look. Skin looks brighter, teeth are whiter and so on, so it is certainly worth it. I have somewhat changed with my clothing detergent in that I now buy natural fabric softener that is great, but the natural detergent for my clothes I haven't been successful with yet, so I've been sticking with Arm & Hammer powder which does a good job and is supposed to be mainly baking soda, so they do make an effort to make it enviromentally safe and as natural as possible. I had been a Tide user for years, but their powder detergent has been lacking of late. :mad:

 

In any case, I think the regulations are pretty much factored into the price. They turn a small profit, but I think they're content with it.

 

That's true to a degree, but that also depends on the sourcers for the milk.

 

Bold #6: I wonder if the store brands do that as well. It's possible, but they're probably big enough that they can afford to do it the right way.

 

The one thing that is happening is that natural and organic users are growing and businesses are realizing this and realizing that there is money there so everyone is trying to get into the market. The problem is not all of them are doing things the way that should and they'll use false advertising saying for example that they use "real cocoa" or have natural flavors in their product, but that doesn't mean that the product is 100% natural, so they may look to mark up that product more, but a smart consumer that knows this will do their research about the company and their practices, as I do because I want to support companies that are environmentally responsable and are doing things the right way, not to mention the ones that are American and are making their products here and sourcing their products locally. :cool: :tup:

 

In any case, I don't really taste a difference in the different brands, so I assume they're all pretty similar.

 

Well, I buy plenty of Whole Foods products and they're pretty damn good. Organic oatmeal, organic granola, made both made by the 365 brand that is by Whole Foods and it's great. Of late though I've been sticking to other brands like Cascadian Farms which makes mainly organic cereals and today I got some natural cereal by Kashi since it was 2 for $7.00 and got a box for $3.50. :cool: The thing with Whole Foods that is great is they know how to look for specialty suppliers so they'll have them make their products and then sell it as a "store brand", but it tastes nothing like the typical crap you would expect from a store brand. :cool:

[Locomotion69]

I know Via G eats out a lot, but I would like to know what is inside

his fridge,lol. Every single item either organic or high end name brand.

 

Have you ever been to a 99 cent store before in your lifetime?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I know Via G eats out a lot, but I would like to know what is inside

his fridge,lol. Every single item either organic or high end name brand.

 

Have you ever been to a 99 cent store before in your lifetime?

 

Well I basically buy food either every day or every other day and keep just enough so that nothing goes bad. Right now I have several bottles of Perrier and San Pellegrino in the fridge since I don't drink soda, at least not the processed kind anyway. I keep organic yogurt, natural fruit (I have some grapes from Whole Foods) and then I have my regular bottled waters (usually Voss, Evian, Volvic or Jana or sometimes Acqua Panna, but now I have Iceland spring water since it was on sale). I had couscous and a veggie burger earlier for lunch and for dinner I have some balsamic tofu since it's warm to keep things on the light side.

 

Aside from that I usually keep organic skim milk and some natural or organic cereal around as well.

 

I started doing this when I was back in Italy. There folks buy food daily or every few days, so I would go food shopping once a week and then go to my regular "fornaio" (bakery) or whatever for my bread and then to my other spots for meat or cheese or whatever and then come home and cook since I enjoyed cooking at home. Since I've come back to NYC I don't cook at home as much because I'm usually too tired so I just get prepared stuff from Whole Foods, but I still make sure to buy healthy stuff and keep tabs on what is in the food that I buy.

 

Here is a picture of my kitchen when I was living back in Italy:

 

 

It had a skylight too so that made it difficult for me not to want to cook in it.

 

My thinking is when I move to my condo or whatever I'll move somewhere that allows for a quicker commute on Staten Island and the kitchen will be uber chic so I'll be forced to want to cook, but we'll see...

 

 

As for the .99 cent store, I actually have been in one some 10-15 years ago. LOL My mom went in one out of curiosity and they had a few items like papertowels or toilet paper that was worth buying, but the other stuff was garbage and I think the one we went to sold Bounty too at the time, but now I wouldn't step foot in one because most of the stuff now and days I'm sure is from China and is probably tainted, so I wouldn't even chance it. My life is worth more than saving a few bucks.

[B35 via Church]

What ironic is that a duane reade in Manhattan may charge $5.00 for 'organic' gallon of milk. I said organic not regular gallon of milk lol so it's going to be more expensive.(not a misprint)

 

While if you go to a special fruit store say for instance 'Three Guys' on Ft. Hamilton Pwy in Brooklyn (just off the Ft Hamilton/62nd subway stop)they may charge only $2.79 a gallon.

Everytime i am at Three Guys it always packed even late into the evening since they have so called 'farm fresh' veggies and fruits at wholesale prices. My mom when she still was living in NY always liked to shop there.

 

yeh, don't think I forgot about that blatant embellishment you made when you mentioned 5.00 for a gallon of regular milk in mom & pop stores, compared to what it costs in walmart back when you were on that 'bring walmart to nyc' kick.... I still have yet to see a gallon of milk priced that high anywhere in a regular supermarket or a mom & pop store w/i NYC btw... lol....

Good choice to alter that to read "organic" milk....

 

Anyway, I see you mention Three guys.... you should walk up about 5 blocks & check out Circus fruits over there on ft. hamilton & 60th also.... Can't go wrong w/ either one though....

[Via Garibaldi 8]

yeh, don't think I forgot about that blatant embellishment you made when you mentioned 5.00 for a gallon of regular milk in mom & pop stores, compared to what it costs in walmart back when you were on that 'bring walmart to nyc' kick.... I still have yet to see a gallon of milk priced that high anywhere in a regular supermarket or a mom & pop store w/i NYC btw... lol....

Good choice to alter that to read "organic" milk....

 

Anyway, I see you mention Three guys.... you should walk up about 5 blocks & check out Circus fruits over there on ft. hamilton & 60th also.... Can't go wrong w/ either one though....

 

Interesting point... I don't know about the other boroughs, but the mom and pop stores on Staten Island are very pricey, esp. milk, so pricey infact that I just stick to the box stores on the island.

[checkmatechamp13]

Yeah, but half of the cabbies are morons, so they'd take Forest Avenue anyway unless I asked them to go another way. Some of them are so dumb that I have to tell them the directions to get home. I mean why not just invest in a f*cking GPS system? :mad: They can't be that expensive.

 

 

Yeah, the coupon thing is stupid. Most supermarkets have it where you just scan your rewards card and get the discount that way. These must be other coupons, since I'm sure ShopRite has a rewards card. But still, you have folks that can't scan items for their lives.

 

Speaking of scanned items, I have been getting these imported cookies from France from Whole Foods for free two weeks in a row. :cool: I picked up the item last week sometime and recall the price being $3.79 from past purchases. However, it scanned for $3.99, so I asked for a price check and sure enough it was $3.79, so I requested it for free and was given it for free, which is the norm when they f*ck up on the price. Fast forward to today... I see the price is still listed as $3.79, so I said to myself, these idiots... They're so lazy to fix the price, so I'll help myself to another free box of these. I knew the price would ring up as $3.99 and sure enough it did. I asked for a price check already knowing what it was and was given them for free. This time though the cashier was smart enough to note the item that was given for free, as he wrote down the product and the barcode and such, so I expect that the pricing will be correct on at least one item down there. If not I'll keep doing it. :cool: lol That's why I always make a mental note of everything that I buy and the price because those supermarkets will jip you if you're not careful.

 

 

Believe me, I'm 29 years old and I've been around the block a few times... I'm pretty good with those types of things and over there, there are a lot of people with food stamps that go to Pathmark. Maybe ShopRite doesn't take them and if they don't then that's a good thing. Less riff raff. I can certainly spot them in Whole Foods, though there are very few of them. Once in a blue moon they'll shop there, probably because it is out of the way from where they live. They come in and buy up the whole damn market with food stamps with taxpayer dollars nonetheless. I mean really?? Organic and natural food on taxpayer money? Talk about a b*tch man. Sometimes I wonder what I even work for. :mad: There was this lady who was clearly homeless and stunk something terrible. I don't know what she would do, but she would go to the Whole Foods there at Union Sq and go to the return counter and constantly return stuff (expensive items too considering that she was homeless)... Jana water and so forth and I'm thinking sh*t, I drink Jana... I hope they don't put that damn water back on the shelf for re-sale... :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

 

That's true, but it's still out of the way for me unless I took the X30. That's an additional 30 minutes easily on the X10, esp. and another 20 or so on the X12 or X42, so I'd only do that when I was in the mood for the ride and then I'd take car service after that.

 

 

 

LOL... I take all of my plastics and clean them and put them in a Whole Foods bag and take them back to Whole Foods since the city doesn't recycle all plastics. :mad: However, I don't do it for money or anything since the stuff I bring back you can't get cash for anyway (i.e. plastic containers, etc.). I am just environmentally conscious and certainly not seedy. :eek:

 

 

 

Now that's a "shocker"... B) I'm actually shocked that you even splurge $4.99 for it, but I know you look for it when it is on sale esp. Truth be told, I usually only get the half gallons when I shop on Staten Island there at MET foods on Victory and Manor because they don't carry any of the organic milk brands in the quart size. Whole Foods does though and since I usually shop there, I get Organic Valley in the quart size for $2.69. :cool:

 

The one thing that is happening is that natural and organic users are growing and businesses are realizing this and realizing that there is money there so everyone is trying to get into the market. The problem is not all of them are doing things the way that should and they'll use false advertising saying for example that they use "real cocoa" or have natural flavors in their product, but that doesn't mean that the product is 100% natural, so they may look to mark up that product more, but a smart consumer that knows this will do their research about the company and their practices, as I do because I want to support companies that are environmentally responsable and are doing things the right way, not to mention the ones that are American and are making their products here and sourcing their products locally. :cool: :tup:

 

 

Well, I buy plenty of Whole Foods products and they're pretty damn good. Organic oatmeal, organic granola, made both made by the 365 brand that is by Whole Foods and it's great. Of late though I've been sticking to other brands like Cascadian Farms which makes mainly organic cereals and today I got some natural cereal by Kashi since it was 2 for $7.00 and got a box for $3.50. :cool: The thing with Whole Foods that is great is they know how to look for specialty suppliers so they'll have them make their products and then sell it as a "store brand", but it tastes nothing like the typical crap you would expect from a store brand. :cool:

 

Bold #1: One time, my dad broke his wrist, and he obviously wasn't going to drive himself to the hospital for the X-rays and whatnot (and nobody else can drive). He called car service, and he suggested that the driver take Post Avenue, rather than sitting on Forest Avenue, but he refused. It isn't like a taxi driver in Manhattan where he gets paid extra for sitting in traffic: Both the passenger and driver are losing time and money by sitting in traffic, and yet he refused.

 

Bold #2: They have some coupons that you can download, but to my knowledge, the ones that I use are only found on paper.

 

Bold #3: Yeah, I keep a mental note of all of the things I regularly buy. I probably would've done the same thing if I were in Whole Foods (you should've told me. I would've gone and picked up a package for myself. )

 

Bold #4: No, ShopRite takes them. I know they accept WIC, and occasionally I've seen people use food stamps there. I'm pretty friendly with one of the workers there, and she said that there's this homeless man that frequently stops by (after I saw a guy with one shoe on and other raggedy clothes on).

 

You have to consider that Whole Foods (I'll take your word that there is one by Union Square, because I don't really pay attention when I'm in that area), is near a relatively poor area. The immediate area is pretty upscale, but by Avenues C and D, it is still a pretty poor area, and there are a few housing projects further west by like 8th Avenue, so there are always going to be poor people frequenting the store.

 

Bold #5: Well, I'm not describing people who look for cans as "seedy". Seedy would be if somebody is hanging around, looking like they're up to no good.

 

Bold #6: No way am I paying $4.99 for 1/2 gallon of milk. The thing is that my family used to only buy it occasionally, and get a 1/2 gallon for $3.49 (and then when they came out with the gallons, we bought those). But now that the price of regular milk has gone up, we're buying it more, since the price difference isn't as much. Rather than $1.99 vs. $5.49 a gallon, it is more like $4.29 vs. $5.99, so for an extra couple of dollars, we can get a better quality.

 

In any case, I've recently been getting organic milk for free. If you go to mystonyfieldrewards.com, you can enter the codes from the yogurt containers (all sizes), and they add up to rewards like free milk and yogurt.

 

In any case, I don't see the need to buy milk in quarts, but then again, my family goes through milk like you wouldn't believe. It only takes 2-3 days for us to finish a gallon (since our breakfast consists of several bowls of oatmeal daily)

 

Bold #7: The thing is that the USDA has specific standards, so you can cut corners, but there is a limit to how much you can do it before the product is no longer considered organic.

 

Bold #8: But that's probably only with the organic brands, though. Their regular brand is probably similar to the average store brand.

 

I know Via G eats out a lot, but I would like to know what is inside

his fridge,lol. Every single item either organic or high end name brand.

 

Have you ever been to a 99 cent store before in your lifetime?

 

"How am I supposed to feed my brain when all you have is your fancy bubbly water?"

 

Anybody get the reference?

 

Interesting point... I don't know about the other boroughs, but the mom and pop stores on Staten Island are very pricey, esp. milk, so pricey infact that I just stick to the box stores on the island.

 

Not always. There are a few that have good deals on milk. I know the one across the street from ShopRite always has cheaper milk (though lately, the price has been catching up). I think there's one by Forest Avenue/Broadway that also has cheap milk, and I know there's one a block or so from Western Beef that has milk for something like $2.99.

[Tokkemon]

lol at people buying organic food.

[Shortline Bus]

lol at people buying organic food.

 

agreed. As someone who like many these days on a 'budget' unless the organic food is almost the same in price, I stick to eating 'regular' veggies/fruits and low fat milk fresh from the farm.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

lol at people buying organic food.

 

What's so "lol"ish about it?? :mad: Let me guess... You find Micky D's to be of "nutritional" value?? B)

[B35 via Church]

What's so "lol"ish about it?? :mad: Let me guess... You find Micky D's to be of "nutritional" value?? B)

sad part is, some ppl. actually do

 

I haven't ate from mcdonalds in almost..... 2 months now....

I just walk up christopher, to 8th st, and hit up dominos... I don't even think twice about turning the corner once I get to 6th av where that mcdonalds is.....

 

Anyway, I still cannot get over the salad havin more sugars than the goddamn mcdonaldland cookies.... That's the one thing I'll never forget after having watched that documentary "Super Size Me"

[Via Garibaldi 8]

sad part is, some ppl. actually do

 

I haven't ate from mcdonalds in almost..... 2 months now....

I just walk up christopher, to 8th st, and hit up dominos... I don't even think twice about turning the corner once I get to 6th av where that mcdonalds is.....

 

Anyway, I still cannot get over the salad havin more sugars than the goddamn mcdonaldland cookies.... That's the one thing I'll never forget after having watched that documentary "Super Size Me"

 

 

I made sure I went to watch that movie and it was insane how he had the mood swings and how much weight he gained in just such a short period of time. The last time I attempted to eat McDonald's was when I came back from Europe (this was more than 7 years ago back in 2004) and I got so sick just eating a friggin hamburger that I just gave up fast food all together. I had went months without eating any processed food in Italy and when I came back here my body definitely noticed the difference and let me know it. That's when I discovered some of the Whole Foods here and saw the types of items they carried and started shopping there more and more because I could see that they carried quality products. For what it's worth, people complain about it being expensive but that really depends on what you are buying and knowing how to shop.

 

Many products are either cheaper than or on par with the processed stuff sold in the regular supermarkets, so to me it is really a no brainer. Pay a little more or in some cases less and get better quality.

 

The only so called fast food stuff I get is from my pizzeria here in the neighborhood, but I avoid the fast food chains... Nothing but pure garbage. Subway is supposed to be somewhat "healthy" but I don't even mess with that stuff because I'm sure most of it is processed. Certainly has that processed taste. Basically I stick to Whole Foods or places that I know serve either natural or organic food and if I can't get that then what I'll do is look for a few items that I know I can pick up in a standard store that are natural like Honey Nut Cherrios and such.