Special Opinion to the Mirror by Charles McWilliams.
Since 2016, prices in the area’s only supermarket kept pace with industry standards. In 2018, the Cape Charles Lankford Highway Food Lion underwent a major renovation. Prices since, have skyrocketed. An order costing 65.00, now averages 103.00 a whopping 60% with MVP card and without a steak or premium food item.
Rumored, ALDI Corporation had proposed opening in the old Meatland location in Cape Charles. If the decision to introduce a competitively priced grocery source were vetoed. On the basis of whose interests? Certainly not the hard-working area consumer or those living on a fixed income. Had Delhaize Corporation influenced a decision?
Well after the renovation, meats are still often out of date, the cellophane wrap on prepared meat items is bulging. Dairy items are often out of date or in limited supply, and slow-moving store brand basics, are even out of stock.
A county wide consensus, management at this location, needs a primer on public relation skills.
If there was a better place to shop, without driving forty miles round trip to the Exmore Food Lion, the Cape Charles Lankford Highway store, would cease to exist. The time is right to welcome a viable grocery alternative, one providing first class meats, dairy and produce at prices Cape Charles and Northampton County residents can afford to put on their table.
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I believe an option like Aldi would be phenomenal, which not only offers great prices but a quality product! We need more options here- especially organic and local marketed goods!
Give Sunnyside Meat and Deli Market in Cheriton a try. It’s a small local business so it won’t have the quantity of items like a supermarket. They offer locally grown produce as it’s available. Great sandwiches, too!
Sunnyside Meat and Deli Market
21067 N. Bayside Road
Cheriton, Virginia 23310
And…. The prices would be even higher at Sunnyside. I doubt very seriously Aldi will ever open in Northampton County. Everything goes to Accomack county.
Thank you, I’ll try that
Sunnyside does have excellent meats and poultry. As do the road side fish purveyors.
Unfortunately, they are a bit more expensive than a chain, but we drive through’s can pay it and have no problem doing so.
Yes, the prices have to rise to pay for the renovations. But a larger issue is the loss figure, How much has the FL lost due to spoilage, theft and tampering?
A market operates on a razor thin margin, and each and every sampled product, or purloined item makes it less likely the larger community can benefit from the powers of bulk purchasing.
Monopolies are always bad for consumers.
The Food Lion in Exmore has increased prices as well.
Walmart is the best alternative although not my preference due to their business practices.
Aldi would be a welcome alternative.
Food Lion would have to be competitive just to stay in business.
blame it on the board of supervisors, they reduced the population in Northampton County by getting rid of business since I moved here we lost over 200 business two grocery stores, a hospital, 90% high school students left the county, no housing for them, no jobs for them, this county is moving backward while the rest of the county is getting rich while the people in our county is getting poor. We now have a senior population with no hospital, and we deserve it the voters keep putting in uneducated supervisors or people that don’t know what they’re there for. our political parties both the Republicans and the Democrats are a discrace to the people they need an overall elect people in both parties that fight for the people needs of Northampton instead of concentrating on national politicians. Obama was no help either is Trump, they don’t give a hoot about Rural areas they concentrate the big cities where the big amounts of money are.
The FTC was contacted. The representative stated, this was a valid concern and provided a case number.
Here’s hoping, The Federal Trade Commission recognizes the plight of the consumer and takes steps to entice competitors and in the interim, force Delihaiz Corporation to justify then roll back 60% pricing and face penalties for doing so.
If you must look at the prices in a grocery store (most all products are under $100.oo) then there is a good chance you can not afford them.
Food Lion has an interesting pricing schedule for their soda water (cans).
12 packs of Food Lion brand soft drinks are $2.09. These soft drinks contain, in addition to water and carbon dioxide, sugar and flavors.
12 packs of Food Lion brand soda water are $2.99 for a 12 pack. Soda water contains water and carbon dioxide, and nothing else.
By selling a simpler, cheaper to produce product at nearly a 50% higher price, they maximize their profit margin.
That is the American Way, and I certainly can’t fault them. But competition is also the American Way, and it would do wonders for Northampton consumers if we were to have an alternative.
The Food Lion brand soda water ( seltzer) now contains sodium! (A trace amount 5mg per 12 oz can)
It didnt always… so why the change?
I, for one, do not want added salt in my seltzer water!
Who knew! Thanks!
If you keep to a bi-weekly schedule even with the toll it’s cheaper to shop at Aldi’s.
Don’t know if you’ve noticed but everyone is smiling in Aldi’s, even the checkout people. Can’t say that about ANY Food Lion.
Aldi’s cashiers are smiling because 1) they are sitting down and 2) they don’t have to bag the groceries. All they do is scan. That is the European way.
Eat Chicken…..support the local growers of Delmarva. They have been feeding you and your family for generations.
and as always……En-Joy!