FOOD Report food & grocery shortages / price increases here: 2024 Edition

[anna43]

I bought a packet of pinto bean seeds maybe 20 years ago. At harvest I saved seed for the next year and continued to do so. I have harvested gallons and gallons of beans off the first packet in 20 years. A 30' row yields a gallon to a gallon and a half of dry beans each year.

I shopped today for the first time since 1/28/24. Aldi's frozen foods section was sparse to say the least. Many areas were empty. The rest of the store seemed to be stocked -- if -- you didn't notice they'd moved spaghetti sauce to a much smaller space, and it was nearly empty. I was focused on my shopping list so didn't register what was missing but many shelves were empty. Eggs were $1.60 on 1/28 and today were $2.78 for a dozen large eggs. Produce and bread were decently stocked and looked good.

I also went to Dollar Tree for shelf stable milk and the shelf was empty.

 

[energy_wave]

I thought I was good at scoring discounted meat...

Grocery Haul, March 6, 2024​

Rt 2:52

 

[SuElPo]

I thought I was good at scoring discounted meat...

Grocery Haul, March 6, 2024​

Rt 2:52

That haul was amazing. Me and hubby yesterday found a haul but it was on breads. I wanted to go by this fruit and veggie market that also has bread, and a big greenhouse of flowers etc. to pick up a good dark jar of raw honey. Hubby seen this one section of blueberry bagels, Cinnamon & raisen bagels, rolls of all kinds, and English muffins that were .50 cents a pack. I told him to get all he could, and we put them in our freezer. We hadn't found much in real deals in awhile.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That haul was amazing. Me and hubby yesterday found a haul but it was on breads. I wanted to go by this fruit and veggie market that also has bread, and a big greenhouse of flowers etc. to pick up a good dark jar of raw honey. Hubby seen this one section of blueberry bagels, Cinnamon & raisen bagels, rolls of all kinds, and English muffins that were .50 cents a pack. I told him to get all he could, and we put them in our freezer. We hadn't found much in real deals in awhile.

We used to go to what was called "Day Old Bakery". They had sales like that on breads of all kinds, muffins, snack cakes, bagels, etc. We would load up, bring it home, and put in the freezer. I miss that store. It went out of business a couple of years ago. Don't know why, because it did a world of business.

 

[moldy]

The nearest 'bread' store to us is in Denver, and the prices are really not good - not worth the drive. We do have a couple 'discount' grocers, but they are in Dacono (just north of Denver) and Loveland - which are still a 'far piece' from where we live. We go to them maybe 3 times a year. Last time, I did stock up on CALM magnesium powder for about 40% of what I would have paid at Amazon or Walmart. I probably need to go hit them again soon.

 

[SuElPo]

Hubby also got a lemon pepper seasoning 6oz for $1.79 which is cheaper for us. I think it come from the Mennonites.
Susan

 

[anna43]

Those sales may be out there somewhere, but I've never seen prices like those in my area. Best I've seen is $2.00 off meat that is ready to outdate. I take advantage but not enough available to stock up. Maybe 3 or 4 packages marked down.

 

[paxsim2]

My Walmart has no unbleached flour or bread flour and barely any regular. No frozen broccoli or Hormel chili with no beans. Going on 3 weeks. Oklahoma.

 

[SuElPo]

I always liked their Hormel chili.
Susan

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I always liked their Hormel chili.
Susan

That's our brand, too, with beans. No shortage at our Walmart.

 

[nomifyle]

I've got a running grocery list on the walmart on line. I haven't gotten a pick up in at least a couple of weeks. Several items have gone in and out of stock on my list. Right now everything is in stock, but I'm not picking up until after the 22nd. Prices are way up from where they were, but about the same lately.

 

[Tex88]

Even Bud Light now $11 a six-pack!

And at the grocery store, Lone Store and Shiner were 11 bucks, too!

 

[Texican]

Stopped by the store in the nearby little town.

Milk was $6 per gallon and eggs were $4 per dozen.

Will be shopping at Krogers on Friday to see what the costs are.

Texican....

 

[mzkitty]

 

[inskanoot]

Family Dollar, Dollar Tree to close 1,000 stores

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/business/family-dollar-stores-closing.html

Family Dollar to Close Nearly 1,000 Stores​

The chain has struggled for years. Its parent company, Dollar Tree, cited inflation, theft and reduced government benefits as challenges that had prompted the closings.​

March 13, 2024

Family Dollar plans to close 1,000 of its stores.Jessica Tezak for The New York Times
Family Dollar will close nearly 1,000 stores, a move its executives say is a result of declining sales and economic headwinds.

Dollar Tree, which owns Family Dollar, said Wednesday that it would close 600 Family Dollar locations this year and phase out 370 more when their leases expire. Family Dollar currently has about 8,000 stores.

The company said stubborn inflation, theft and the end of pandemic-era additional benefits from the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were weighing on the company.

“Family Dollar is a victim of the macro environment out there,” Dollar Tree’s chief executive, Rick Dreiling, told analysts on Wednesday.

Those economic headwinds have been felt throughout the retail sector, but Family Dollar has suffered more than its peers.

Dollar Tree’s sales increased 6 percent last year. Dollar General, which will report its quarterly earnings on Thursday, last year reported a slight increase in sales and has expanded its footprint.

Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar in 2015 in an $8.5 billion deal that was seen as a lifeline for Family Dollar, which had struggled with its operations for years.

Family Dollar has been challenged with “the basics of retail” like keeping the store clean and the shelves stocked, said Joe Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group. The chain was fined more than $40 million by U.S. Justice Department last month for distributing products from a rat-infested warehouse.

“It was a mess when they acquired it,” Mr. Feldman said of the chain, “and it’s been a mess ever since.”
The Dollar Tree management team that closed the deal had trouble spinning things around, said Peter Keith, an analyst at Piper Sandler. A newer leadership team — including Mr. Dreiling, who previously led Dollar General — has joined over the past two years with a new approach to fixing Family Dollar’s issues.

Those executives said in November that Dollar Tree would review its Family Dollar locations, looking to trim underperforming stores. The company said the closings announced on Wednesday would increase its earnings per share this year, but it lowered its earnings target for 2026, news that sent its stock down 15 percent.

“That suggests that this whole turnaround process is a bit more challenging than they were expecting,” Mr. Keith said.

 

[nomifyle]

For the longest time I bought lip balm on ebay, 10 for $10. Those same 10 now cost $35. Good thing I stocked up.

 

[nomifyle]

The Family Dollar/Dollar Tree stores are total high priced crap. I've been in one a couple of times. No loss if all these combo stores close.

 

[Tex88]

For the longest time I bought lip balm on ebay, 10 for $10. Those same 10 now cost $35. Good thing I stocked up.

Oh yeah eBay doesn’t count. All those “resellers” (scalpers) on there will gladly ask for ten times the price on items that are well in stock at the regular store.

 

[Marseydoats]

The Family Dollar/Dollar Tree stores are total high priced crap. I've been in one a couple of times. No loss if all these combo stores close.

Probably varies store to store, but the 2 that I shop at have some nice things. They carry the lower priced Hallmark greeting cards that are still really nice, that no one else sells anymore. I usually go twice a year and stock up. They have nice wrapping paper and party supplies, and any kind of balloon that you would want.
Mine used to carry all kinds of rubbermaid type containers, but they don't have those anymore. And they used to sell some powdered sugar/chocolate morsel cookies that I hadn't had since I was a kid.
I have gotten some really nice wool socks there, unfortunately I only bought one pair to try, and they were sold out when I went back. And now they're the only store where I can get the thin cotton gloves that I use for liners in the winter.

 

[ginnie6]

Went in Wally World last week to get fruit for an event we were having at church. NO grapes of any color. Aldi down the road had them though. I've noticed random odd things not being available at wm lately a lot.

 

[connie]

We have lots of those stores but the only one I shop at it is Dollar Tree. Mostly greeting cards, gift wrap, foil sheets, parchment sheets, kleenix. Recently they had several sixes of the giant zip lock bags.
Their inventory is dwindling however.

 

[Zagdid]

Went in Wally World last week to get fruit for an event we were having at church. NO grapes of any color. Aldi down the road had them though. I've noticed random odd things not being available at wm lately a lot.

Was just in Wally world recently. An earlier visit found the produce section empty in spots. Believe this is due to workers that rather have meeting in the walkways instead of working. We self-checked out while the employee that was paid to watch us watched.

 

[nomifyle]

Oh yeah eBay doesn’t count. All those “resellers” (scalpers) on there will gladly ask for ten times the price on items that are well in stock at the regular store.

They can pound sand, I can still find Carmex for a buck, its not my favorite but its certainly okay.

 

[John Deere Girl]

For the longest time I bought lip balm on ebay, 10 for $10. Those same 10 now cost $35. Good thing I stocked up.

I know this doesn't help right now, but around Christmas, you can generally find some really good deals on chapstick.

 

[nomifyle]

I know this doesn't help right now, but around Christmas, you can generally find some really good deals on chapstick.

Thanks I'll keep that in mind, although I probably don't really need any because I probably have enough now to last the rest of my life and have some left over.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

My dental hygienist keeps me stocked with lip balm every 6 months, along with a new toothbrush, floss, and a tube of toothpaste. I've got enough lip balm to last the rest of my life. It's a courtesy package for all her patients.

 

[greysage]

Nothing in the shortages category.

The price of coffee continues to climb. I buy Starbucks, ground, in the 12 ounce bag, from Hannafords. It's now $10.49 a bag. Pre-scamdemic it was $6.89 for the same thing. Last time I bought one, it was $9.89, maybe three weeks ago.

 

[Tex88]

Even Two Buck Chuck is now four bucks:

 

[Loretta Van Riet]

Loose leaf wide ruled paper. I know this isn't a grocery item, but I would purchase it at my local store.

On rare occasion would find it for 0.50 during "back to school" time.

Well... let me tell you that now it is as rare as hen's teeth. Comes from Vietnam, and costs $3.99 for 150 sheets!

 

[bracketquant]

Loose leaf wide ruled paper. I know this isn't a grocery item, but I would purchase it at my local store.

On rare occasion would find it for 0.50 during "back to school" time.

Well... let me tell you that now it is as rare as hen's teeth. Comes from Vietnam, and costs $3.99 for 150 sheets!

It's about .87 at my local WalMart. It never runs out, same with college ruled.

5 X 5 graph ruled is the only thing they consistently run out of.

 

[Toosh]

Since covid, Kroger in KY has offered delivery and when shopping online I am able to purchase products by the case. So I save buying most everything in bulk. Three friends and I shop together in a group-buy scenario and share a case. This has kept my grocery bills at pre-covid levels.

I keep enough on hand so that I never need anything. Because sales occur about every 6 weeks, if I can keep at least a 6 week supply then I can buy products only when on sale and never pay full price. I budget $200 a month for groceries/consumables +$100 on a Amazon/Lowes gift card. My Kroger offers 4X the fuel points toward fuel discounts when I buy on Friday. Therefore, $300 a month spent at Kroger is enough to get $1.25/gal off fuel - which is nice! Plus, I have the gift card for home stuff.

You have to leave their system. Shopping for one week at a time, to fill a just-in-time need, at a grocery store strips you of control and vulnerable to supply chain upsets.

 

[greysage]

Went grocery shopping twice today. Needed groceries, and we've got our Spring wrecked with what is supposed to be a large snowfall. Skipped getting sweet treats on the first run. Went back out to a closer location for some chocolate ice cream novelty. Anyway, both Hannaford locations I went to a Chittenden County Sheriff cruiser and officer stationed there. They've even got the generator trailer with the cameras and blue flashing lights running in both parking lots. They upped the security game from private security mall cop types.

 

[summerthyme]

Went grocery shopping twice today. Needed groceries, and we've got our Spring wrecked with what is supposed to be a large snowfall. Skipped getting sweet treats on the first run. Went back out to a closer location for some chocolate ice cream novelty. Anyway, both Hannaford locations I went to a Chittenden County Sheriff cruiser and officer stationed there. They've even got the generator trailer with the cameras and blue flashing lights running in both parking lots. They upped the security game from private security mall cop types.

I've been saying for about 15 years that my sign that it's time to "pull up the drawbridge" (and if shopping is absolutely necessary, take an armed person along) will be when supermarkets start having armed guards, and semi-trucks carrying food start getting hijacked. It looks like we're almost there.

Summerthyme

 

[Signwatcher]

Meijer has joined the double digit price for the refrigerator meal of Beef Tips, DH likes. It's priced out of my range now at $10.49.

I figured VG's and Kroger would be in that price range, but for Meijer's to join them is disturbing on many levels. Bodes very bad for the economy. Bodes very bad for the beef market (that's been killing off lots of cattle in freezing events and fires).

Noticed eggs are up in price at Meijer as well.

Had been getting them from Market Wagon (small farmer group that delivers to your door), but they raised the delivery price so high I threw my cards down on the table in despair and walked away from Market Wagon.

Found a guy down the road that sells eggs, but the 5 dozen I got from him all floated when I went to make hard boiled eggs. ALL five dozen, so I won't be getting eggs from him again.

Hate getting them from the grocery store, but I don't have the energy to raise them myself.

Anyway, prices are horrible and getting worse all the way around.

 

[BetterLateThanNever]

We use an instant pot to make our hard boiled eggs.

Place a dozen or so eggs on the rack, add a cup of water and steam them for 5 minutes.

Don't have to worry about floating eggs.

 

[Bps1691]

Had to make the hour plus trip to the largest city in my AO to the north west for an appointment today and went by Aldi, myjers, snucks and Walmart.

All had different fruits on sale.

Scored several two pounds of super large and nice strawberries for $4.99 per two pounds.

Large containers of very nice raspberries, blackberries and blueberries also for $4.99 per container.

Loaded up for us and our grand kids.

It’s been hit and miss for us in fruit for the previous two months. Either didn’t have any worth buying or way to high priced.

Had to go to three different stores to get these.

 

[nehimama]

We use an instant pot to make our hard boiled eggs.

Place a dozen or so eggs on the rack, add a cup of water and steam them for 5 minutes.

Don't have to worry about floating eggs.

Eggs that float are not fresh. They're probably bad.

 

[psychgirl]

My dental hygienist keeps me stocked with lip balm every 6 months, along with a new toothbrush, floss, and a tube of toothpaste. I've got enough lip balm to last the rest of my life. It's a courtesy package for all her patients.

We get those too, at every cleaning

 

[straightstreet]

DH and I grocery shop once a month at Walmart and that includes household and personal care items. This past month was $386 and that included baby clothes, diapers, wipes, etc for our granddaughter who is due in May We do a large stock up shopping trip every 6 months at Sam's club and split with our DD if she needs it. We don't buy meat at Walmart except for the Perdue organic chicken breasts - they come in a box, each breast individually vacuumed packed. We have a small grocery store in town that has a meat dept with a butcher and I keep an eye on their ads online for any good meat dept deals for our freezer. We are just doing what we can as the prices go up and up.
ETA: we also have a large garden as I'm sure most of y'all do. We eat and share our bounty with our adult kids.

 

[moldy]

Went to Safeway today for the specials only. Bought nothing that wasn't on sale. I did OK. The meat case was VERY bare, but most everything else was well stocked (except they were out of the mayo that was on sale). Lots more 'newcomers' in our small town - lots more homeless.

@summerthyme - do you have a set of plans for that drawbridge?