Comments on: Ralph’s Food Cheap!(er)

By: WILL CAMPBELL

WILL CAMPBELL — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:09:09 +0000

I was about to nitpick about the errant apostrophe but Evan beat me to it.

By: libertad

libertad — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:29:36 +0000

There is always a lot of food on sale after a big BBQ weekend (like Memorial Day). Fresh & Easy had a huge multi-pack of 4 sausages + 4 hamburger patties + 8 chicken pieces on sale for $5.

See y’all at the supermarket on July 5th!

By: rodger

rodger — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:53:44 +0000

Food prices are linked to the cost of their commodities (the main ingeditents)like corn, wheat, and dairy, and the cost of fuel to transport the groceries to your supermarket. Commodities are volatile because their price is based on demand and exchange trading. The price of commodities have been coming down drastically due to a reduce in demand at the manufacturing and consumer level brought about by the severe economic downturn. The Consumer Price Index reports that food prices have plunged by 0.8 percent in the first three months of 2009.

In short, consumers are buying less food and, in turn, farmers and manufacturers are putting less and less product into the marketplace; it’s a vicious merry-go-round, really. If the price declines become widespread and profound, then deflation sets in and we’re really screwed.

By: gabriele360

gabriele360 — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:42:54 +0000

Evan: I stand corrected on the spelling for Ralphs.
Matt Mason: Jon’s Markets has cherries on sale for 99 cents a pound if you want them from a store.

By: Matt Mason

Matt Mason — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:12:11 +0000

Cherries. Lots of cherries.

By: evan

evan — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:34:55 +0000

I hate to nitpick, but there is no apostrophe in the name Ralphs. The name comes from the founder’s last name, which was Ralphs. I would think it should then be Ralphs’, but it isn’t. But it definitely isn’t a possessive of Ralph.

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/oct/19/local/me-then19

By: Lucinda Michele

Lucinda Michele — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:05:21 +0000

So I guess the big question is, What did you buy for those new food cravings?

By: marshall

marshall — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:52:56 +0000

I was at Albertson’s the other day, and I can totally confirm the above – they’re running a recession/depression special.

By: gabriele360

gabriele360 — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:37:36 +0000

Check out
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2009/05/wednesday_morning_he_120.php

They quote the LAT about Albertson’s reducing a lot of their prices (and note that Ralph’s is much larger, volume-wise)…perhaps Ralph’s is making sure they stay #1. What I find funny about Albertson’s is that they closed a lot of medium sized stores (like the one in Highland Park, which is now a Superior Grocery Warehouse/nonunion store) and haven’t opened any new ones that I’ve seen.
For myself, my choice is Super King but they have only three locations, Anaheim, Los Angeles (San Fernando Rd near the 2 Fwy) and the newest, in Altadena. http://www.superkingmarket.com. Their sales are often on specialty/ethnic items, but their produce is often a very good value and great deli & meat markets.
There’s a new Fresh & Easy opening soon in Pasadena (S. Lake at California, where the old Wild Oats used to be) so all the ‘regular’ markets are getting competition from all over.
I think maybe Ralph’s is taking a look and making a move now, rather than later. Another chain to check out for diversity and good produce (& prices) is Jon’s…www.jonsmarketplace.com.
I check out all the sales online then plan…I still check Ralph’s and Albertson’s….but one great buy WITH card isn’t worth the trip when everything else costs more.