SPECIAL REPORT: Shopping Strategies

Augusta, GA—These days, everybody’s got a shopping strategy:

Shopper: “I was looking at the yellow tags.“

Shopper: “Instead of the name brand, we have to buy off-brand stuff.“

Jessica admits she doesn’t check the weekly fliers…“no, not at all!“...nor the yellow tags…“for the most part, no.“ But, she’ll likely wind up paying more when she gets to the checkout. Kroger Manager Christian Brander says without a list, she’s vulnerable to the “visual appeal” of the store. Think flowers and coffee bars…

Christian Brander, manager, Washington Road Kroger: “It adds to the shopping experience.“

Jennie Montgomery, reporting: “Thank you! So, in a perfect world, I can grab a latte, take a seat and leisurely look through the flier to see how I want to plan my list, but this is not a perfect world. I don’t have time for lattes and lists, I’m a busy working mother of 3…that’s why today’s grocery store isn’t your mother’s grocery store.“

From fresh sushi to ready-made meals, 21st century grocery stores are geared toward working families.

Christian Brander: “A lot of families don’t cook as much as they used to, so that whole ‘grab n go’ concept has grown, tremendously.“

No more marching to the back of the store for milk…

Christian Brander: “That’s one of the urban legends.“

...or bathrooms!

Christian Brander: “Really listening to customer feedback.“

In an 80,000 square-foot store, convenience counts.

Chrisitan Brander: “Grab the convenience stuff, go through ‘YOU SCAN’ and you can get in and out very fast.“

Christian has 3 tips for smart grocery shopping, beginning with the weekly fliers.

Christian Brander: “Look at the ads and then decide what your entrees are going to be for the week, whether you’ve gonna have chicken, pork or beef- serve what’s on sale.“

Next, watch for the bulk ad items and shop yellow tags.

Christian Brander: “A 97-cent cracker, $2.97 cereal and canned vegetables for 55-cents…these 3 features are great values and they’re ad items reflected on the perimeter of the aisle…and there’s a sea of yellow tags, prices that aren’t advertized but are lower every day.“

And look at the difference between kraft and kroger macaroni and cheese.

Christian Brander: “The savings are very significant.“

Jennie Montgomery: “Take a look at this: the name brand raisin, dates and pecan is $3.04 a box, the store brand…$2.39 every day. I’m looking at cereals up here on the top shelf…but if I were pushing a small child in a cart, look where their eyes would be…“

And that’s a trap…impulse buys! So keep your list handy and stay on track…and resist the last chance impulse buys…the magazines and candies at check out.

Savvy shoppers get more than a receipt, they get a gas discount, too.

Christian Brander: “The ad, yellow tags, discounts, double coupons, gas prices…you roll that into one shopping strategy…you’ll find you can get a lot more for your dollars these days.“

Several people told us Kroger’s gas prices get them in the store. The Kroger gas discount saves you anywhere from 3 to 15 cents a gallon.