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8valvegrowl t1_iz4q8qp wrote

Wegman’s >>> Than any other grocery chain

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mundiel t1_iz4rmo9 wrote

You're 100% right, but they're not coming to VT any time soon. Probably ever.

I actually asked a Wegman's store manager about it once. He said their business model relies on being much closer to their supply chain than other supermarkets. They expand to whole regions at a time. It's not like Burlington just getting a single Target. All northern New England would have to become Wegman's territory, and it probably will never have the population density for that to be cost-effective for Wegman's, that manager thought.

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BudsKind802 t1_iz569yl wrote

I heard that same argument a decade ago from a Trader Joes rep I had known. Apparently the supply chain issue wasn't unsolvable, since they opened their store in S. Burlington a few years after that.

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mundiel t1_iz59edx wrote

Yeah, that seems reasonable. I'd love to be wrong, that was still the best major grocery chain I've ever shopped at.

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Nukeashfield t1_iz5vxvk wrote

I talked to a store manager at the Burlington MA Wegmans when it opened and he flat out told me in New England they're only going for sufficiently large affluent communities. So Bedford NH is about as close as you might see one to Vermont.

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bananabates t1_iz76zeq wrote

There's also the unofficial non-compete clause they have with Price Chopper. You'll never see a PC near Wegs locations and vice versa.

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master_harper t1_iz4tt3b wrote

And it's not even close. I've been in Vermont for over 5 years now and I still miss the subs. And everything else.

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Otto-Korrect t1_iz4z2h8 wrote

There is a Wegmans in Ithaca NY that is a 'must visit' every time I'm in that area. If I lived in that area. I'd be there every day.

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SuperBeastJ t1_iz5259a wrote

Went to undergrad in Rochester, NY. I miss Wegman's so so much :(

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hideous-boy t1_iz4yevk wrote

what's the point of Wegmans up here? It's overpriced and not as good as co-ops, so if I was looking to get groceries I would either go to Shaw's/Hannaford where the prices are more manageable or a co-op for more expensive local food. I don't know that there's a niche for Wegmans up here

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InformationHorder t1_iz4zs3g wrote

Wegmans is as good as you can ever get from a chain shy of going to the co-op. Their quality is better by miles. I dare say they have higher or equal quality than Whole Foods and only have half the price. Like all chains what's expensive and what's cheap is relative, but at Wegmans you never feel ripped off for the price you pay.

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kswagger t1_iz5681r wrote

Wegmans sells a lot of overpriced gourmet things, but that's hardly the majority of items in the store. Their fresh food (sushi, subs, soups, pizza, etc.) is miles above any other grocery store, I worked near a Wegmans for 10 years after college and basically was there for lunch 2 to 3 times a week, would never get lunch at hannaford or shaws, although the Market 52 sushi is okay. But that said, they sell plenty of bargain priced items of good quality, in particular their store branded canned goods, frozen seafood, lunch meat/cheeses, and pantry items. Also their bulk section is way better priced for as good quality as City Market/Wealthy Living.

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random_vermonter t1_iz5dc9p wrote

I’d take a Wegmans over Market Basket. Funny how I still remember the one Wegmans I stepped in over 20 years ago!

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_checho_ t1_iz4u8n4 wrote

I lived for a couple years in a place with a Wegman’s. It was easily the worst grocery store I’ve ever shopped. It was expensive relative to the surrounding grocery stores and the produce section was absolutely awful. Somehow they were often under stocked and large swathes of what they had were either rotten or crawling with flies.

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myloveisajoke t1_iz56koh wrote

Their pricing has gone nuts over the last year or so, more so than other chains. I used tobreally like them. Now not so much.

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LHcig t1_iz610e0 wrote

You misspelled Publix. I unfortunately lived in Florida for a bit and those grocery stores are the only part I miss.

−1

8valvegrowl t1_iz70a34 wrote

I’d still take a Weggies over a Publix. Any day and twice on Sunday.

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ericerikkedod t1_iz4zgne wrote

I love Market Basket, if I'm in Claremont or Keene and need groceries anyway, I always stop. If they put one at the Randolph or Northfield/Williamstown exits it would be packed at all times.

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blsmth t1_iz573xk wrote

Fully supportive of a MB in Randolph.

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Unique-Public-8594 OP t1_iz4k76i wrote

Consumers Checkbook did a comparison (154 items) and Market Basket was the clear winner compared to other grocery store chains in terms of a price and quality metric.

Call me guilty of wanting to change Vermont if you wish. This just seems like a good change that Vermonters could agree on.

Seeing a Hannaford’s, Shaw’s or Price Chopper sign doesn’t do anything for me.

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ThaGOutYourWaffle t1_iz4uob7 wrote

I've been to some excellent Market Baskets, and some terrible ones. Hopefully we get one of the good ones if they do!

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Libriomancer t1_iz50i9l wrote

I feel like a lot of this is very store dependent which kind of defeats a single study. For instance, we live within driving distance of a Market Basket and don't shop there because their meat selection is really poor compared to an equal distance Price Chopper. It is better than the in-town Price Chopper but that isn't a high hurdle.

If we go to my hometown, Price Chopper has run just about every brand of grocery store out of town. Price Chopper has been there for years and there was a rotation through just about every other type of store as they would open then closed down within a few years. Near where my wife grew up, Hannafords and Price Chopper are on near equal footing. Town where my friends grew up, Shaws has reigned supreme for a couple decades with other stores closing.

So yeah.... this really feels like a Market Basket ad whereas the few Market Baskets I have not lived up that type of reputation. It really doesn't feel like the others have universal quality issues, but instead it is mostly centered around leadership and market positioning. The Price Chopper we primarily shop at? Got a really good location so it is the go-to for a good chunk of the area compared to the Hannafords and Shaws in the same town, the Market Basket is in a less trafficked town in the opposite direction. As long as management at the Price Chopper doesn't let quality slip... not likely Market Basket would make a dent in the established area.

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syphax t1_iz5xyj4 wrote

So to take the counter argument, though not all MB’s are universally great, I’d go to the worst MB I know of over the best Price Chopper I’ve ever been in. No contest. Better quality, selection, staff, ambiance.

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Libriomancer t1_iz5zs3m wrote

Right which is a bit proving my point that it’s based on the store. I don’t know the Price Choppers you’ve been in but the ones we’ve hit have ranged from “okay if you just need a jug of milk” to “where we get 90% of our food”. I’ve probably only been in a handful of Market Baskets but all of them have been subpar compared to the handful of Price Choppers I’ve consistently used over the years (but better than dozens of others I’ve been in for “grabbing milk”).

I’ve got 1 Market Basket in driving distance and I’d rate it a 6/10. I’ve got 4 Price Choppers and it’d be an 8, a 6, and a couple 5s. That being said, the “8” where we get the best experience is even just for 90% of the groceries only because they have a wider variety of stuff we are used to buying but we will do occasional meat/produce runs to the coop because it’s better still in those regards.

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deadowl t1_iz7e6x5 wrote

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_Basket_protests

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WikiSummarizerBot t1_iz7e8h2 wrote

Market Basket protests

>On June 23, 2014, the Board of Directors of DeMoulas Super Markets, Inc. (led by Arthur S. Demoulas), the company that runs the Market Basket chain of supermarkets, fired President and CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. Demoulas's dismissal resulted in protests from the company's employees and customers. The protests ended on August 27, 2014, when the company's shareholders, including Arthur S. Demoulas, agreed to sell their shares to Arthur T. Demoulas.

^([ )^(F.A.Q)^( | )^(Opt Out)^( | )^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)^( | )^(GitHub)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)

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HappilyhiketheHump t1_iz4nwfp wrote

I’d welcome any and all options. An Aldi in NW Vermont would be great.

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LurkyTheLurkerson t1_iz4rf94 wrote

They're planning on putting an Aldi's in Williston, near Hannaford I think?

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WantDastardlyBack t1_iz55fq0 wrote

Editing to add I looked again since it had been a while. The info I could find says construction isn't due to start until November 2023 at this point.

I've been watching that. They put in the design, but the permit wasn't granted without changes. I haven't seen any update since then.

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doxamully t1_iz5njqk wrote

I’ve been to the one in Bratt, but they don’t accept WIC and the selection is limited. But for what they do have the price is right and I’ve been happy with the quality.

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Otto-Korrect t1_iz4z8od wrote

There's an Aldi in Brattleboro. Not a fan myself.

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stoweman t1_iz51h6p wrote

Aldi is part of the Trader Joe’s family and while some think of it the bland white bread supermarket there are often times some real nice items to be found at a good price. Allot of overlap with traders but in different packaging in many cases. There’s a couple lines of vino that get good marks.

More supermarkets the better in my opinion.

I really dig the good scene in VT but sometimes just sometimes the wallet wants a good price point.

4

njpanther t1_iz53z6a wrote

Actually, the Aldi in the US and Trader Joe’s are owned by separate companies! There’s a long story, but in Europe, Aldi is actually two different companies, depending on the country: Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Aldi Nord owns owns Trader Joe’s in the US, Aldi Sud owns Aldi in the US.

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deadbalconytree t1_iz6axfy wrote

Aldi is ok. Now if we got a Lidl with their bakery, I’d be in heaven.

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njpanther t1_iz4re32 wrote

Not sure what happened, but there was a proposal going to the Williston select board for an Aldi near Hannaford.

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Cyber_Punk_87 t1_iz73b57 wrote

Aldi has the best dumpster diving options. I'd definitely welcome one anywhere in northern VT.

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DanceWithGoats t1_iz766cx wrote

Market Basket isn't a significantly better grocery store than the other regional store chains. But it is a family-own business that treats their employees and customers well, and it has a pretty good inventory overall.

But the big thing for me was back in 2015 when greedy members of the Demoulas family tried to take over and screw employees with reduced pay/benefits in the process, employees went on strike with the full support of loyal customers. We boycotted the place and some even joined the picket lines. Some truckers and suppliers loyal to the CEO also contributed, gumming up the supply chain to stores. It was a remarkable thing to experience. And justice was restored.

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mmac1011 t1_iz4snlz wrote

Every Market Basket I’ve been to was always ridiculously busy with long lines to check out (even with every single register open). But they’re produce was always good.

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21stCenturyJanes t1_iz56q8j wrote

Their selection is good, the prices are good, the prepared foods are pretty good. We go to the one in Warner NH sometimes when we're in the neighborhood. Much better than Shaw's or Price Chopper, which both totally suck.

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Smirkly t1_iz6x849 wrote

The reason they are always busy has to do with good pricing.

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doxamully t1_iz5n95k wrote

My mom who lives in Mass usually shops there because the prices are the best and according to her it is always busy there no matter the time or the day.

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random_vermonter t1_iz5d3ov wrote

Why? We have local markets that are better.

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td241 t1_iz6tvo2 wrote

The local markets with high prices, small selection, and crappy hours are amazing

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random_vermonter t1_iz6u2vo wrote

I've been in a Market Basket in Mass. It's nothing special either. I don't see what your point is?

0

td241 t1_iz81q17 wrote

My point is that Market Basket has lower prices, a bigger selection, and more convenient hours.

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random_vermonter t1_iz81tco wrote

We have that. It’s called Hannaford.

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td241 t1_iz823hy wrote

Hannaford is no more local than market basket. Just more expensive.

0

suzi-r t1_iz513im wrote

For people really pining for a MB, there’s one right off I-89 in Warner, NH, and another someplace north, maybe Plymouth.

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samantha802 t1_iz52qn1 wrote

There is also one near Keene, NH for people in southern Vermont.

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Lower-Blackberry-716 t1_iz5uu6e wrote

Thanks, I'm in Brattleboro and didn't realize that!

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No-Tomorrow1576 t1_iz7cwqi wrote

There is one in Claremont NH, one in Swanzy (sp?) NH, and a few others

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MargaerySchrute t1_iz51lk6 wrote

VT is Golub territory: Market 32 will dominate.

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mkultra0008 t1_iz77k1t wrote

Be careful what you wish for...cheaper isn't always better.

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Nobes1010 t1_iz7c2d7 wrote

Where the hell is our Wegmans???

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jonnyredshorts t1_iz4o6xt wrote

Yes! Would instantly be the best supermarket in the entire state.

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wiltingphilodendron t1_iz5239a wrote

Originally from MA and I miss MB every day. Shocks me how much I spend at the grocery store up here compared to MA.

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blsmth t1_iz56yhm wrote

We moved from Worcester, MA (5 minutes from MB, 20 minutes to Wegmans) to Randolph and our grocery bill has doubled. More expensive for lesser quality food from the Shaws in Randolph. Almost 2 years in and it still kind of shocks me.

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Allabouttheexhale t1_iz5n5zv wrote

Gross. No. MB can stay in MA. Their produce is always so busted. Give me a Hannafords in Central VT or a Wegmans. Anything but MB.

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canadacorriendo785 t1_iz6oehh wrote

This is such a bad take. Market Basket is miles ahead of Hannaford and has much better produce and a wider selection at lower prices. I drive right past the Brattleboro Hannaford on my way to Market Basket in Keene once a week.

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ReasonableLiving5958 t1_iz6ksz3 wrote

I don't know what Market Basket is like but it couldn't be any worse than those rat den Shaws.

I am a truck driver and deliver to 40 different grocery stores total throughout the week in Vermont and New York. I walk into a Hannaford and I'm greeted with open arms, the loveliest people and an extremely clean receiving area (and sales floor).

Obviously I can't judge every Shaws I've been too because they also have some nice people, but last week I walked in on an employee shooting up in one Shaws and a Gian rat running across the floor in another.

Anything is better than that.

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jakefrommyspace t1_iz6n3zq wrote

I'd love to see a Wegmans. They get their produce and meats locally to each location, and they hire A LOT and pay well with great benefits.

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illusivealchemist t1_izmn40d wrote

They don’t give two shits about their employees and show highly illegal anti-union videos to all their new hires. Source: i worked there sadly

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jakefrommyspace t1_izpk6eo wrote

Wow I had no idea. They always make the "best places to work" lists and the people I knew that worked there in Rochester seemed to love it. I guess because their benefits are robust they think they can treat their workers poorly?

1

Aceholio t1_iz7myjd wrote

Speaking for every independent grocer, nah.

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Ergotnometry t1_iz509ll wrote

No. I'm fine with the local grocery stores. The last thing Vermont needs is national chains sucking money out of the state.

The lack of awareness about how local businesses sustain local economies while chains remove money from local economies is astounding. All you have to do is go across the lake to see what something like Walmart does to small towns.

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vwturbo t1_iz56rw0 wrote

MB is not a national chain though. It's headquarters are in Mass and they only operate in the New England area.

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kswagger t1_iz55hbe wrote

I definitely appreciate having a local market in my town, when I'm in a bind for milk or something I need its great to not have to drive 20 miles round trip to get it from a larger supermarket. But that said, I couldn't afford to just shop there for my weekly groceries, nothing is ever on sale.

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suzi-r t1_iz51hyl wrote

Claremont has one, too.

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stoweman t1_iz54a46 wrote

Definitely allot of collaboration then. Either way, still an Aldi fan

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KingfisherC t1_iz5eag0 wrote

Market Baskets are always very depressing inside, like Shaw’s or the DMV

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reidfleming2k20 t1_iz5lb9i wrote

Paying far less for the same groceries is pretty much the opposite of depressing to me

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cpuenvy t1_iz76ed3 wrote

I just love how Market Basket slices up fruit, then puts it onto a Styrofoam board and wraps that in plastic.

​

Aside from their gross Styrofoam, I like how they give locals jobs and how the employees have a raging boner for Artie. He must be doing something right because they went to bat for him big time.

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Sporin71 t1_iz7go7c wrote

Thankful to live right on the NH border so I can do my grocery shopping at the Claremont store. 👍

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IrukandjiPirate t1_iz846ps wrote

I’ve lived in a few other states before returning too NE and the Aldis and the Market Baskets were the kind of stores where you walk in, take a look and a sniff, and leave. The quality just isn’t there (did try a few trips) MB’s Market 32 is better quality, but less selection.

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illusivealchemist t1_iz6bnix wrote

Fuck no. We had those in NH and they are worse than half the walmart groceries i've been in. the price isn't anything to write home about either.

​

Aldi or more local markets (more consistency all year for that, too).

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mrmiffles t1_iz6m9o9 wrote

Omg hoping so hard!

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KristoforC t1_iz75gla wrote

I'd be happy with anything more affordable. It's 8 bucks for a conventional head of Cauliflower at the Brattleboro co-op. The prices are insanity.

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gmgvt t1_iz9ormk wrote

I gather that people in Boston love it, but when I lived down there years ago, the combo of Stop & Shop and (when I wanted to be slightly more fancy with a local twist) Roche Bros worked fine for me.

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Traditional_Lab_5468 t1_iz5e9ln wrote

I lived across the street from a Market Basket when I lived in MA, that place was always filthy. I'm not sure if that was an outlier or not but I've never cared for them.

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raqnroll t1_iz6yags wrote

Hands down, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the best Italian sub you are gonna get for your money. Fugettaboutit...

If I'm taking a trip to NH/ME/MA, I'm stopping for 2, One for now and one for later. So good...

We don't need another market up here though.

1

No-Tomorrow1576 t1_iz7cq4g wrote

I just went there on Friday in NH and got a whole basket full of stuff (not fridge or freezer stuff, too far of a drive for that stuff) for $289

1

TwoNewfies t1_iz9pcnh wrote

And, you can get to the MB without going into strip mall Keene! MB, Cheshire Horse, Fire Dog breads, and Toadstool bookstore are my reasons for making the nasty drive to Keene. Plus the MB has plastic bags that we can use for giant dogs' poop.

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Abbot_of_Cucany t1_izd9nta wrote

The Market Basket in Claremont NH is only 6 miles from the border. Not too far out of the way if you're in Windsor or Springfield.

1

1DollarOr1Million t1_iz4qhtr wrote

I literally could care less. It’s not like there is a shortage of grocery stores.

−2

takecaretakecare t1_iz4vcd6 wrote

Idk why you’re being downvoted lmao. We need better infrastructure if we want stable prices, not another fucking chain. There’s plenty of grocery stores and honestly it’s cheaper to pick up your produce and meat from area farms. Y’all are Vermonting wrong if you need another big box grocer. Goddamn Flatlanders.

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sad0panda t1_iz54ii2 wrote

This is the answer. All this grousing about price increases and how much the cost of eggs has gone up this week. My prices have stayed relatively stable. Why? I buy local.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_iz7j762 wrote

This is the new VT. My hope is that it stays in chittenden county and the extreme NIMBY in most of the rest of the state will prevent this.

I’ve seen local lumberyards keep out Home Depot, local hotels keep out chains, locals who wanted to look down their nose keep out chain restaurants and local “concerned citizens” keep out housing developments.

I hope it all continues that way. If you want the shit you left behind, go back to where you came from.

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Vermonter623 t1_iz4xhd1 wrote

This is underrated here. People flood here from New Jersey because it’s different. But then a week later say ‘you know what this state needs?’ Well I’ll tell you what it doesn’t need. More flatlanders

1

I_producethis t1_iz5pkmh wrote

Do they have a great bulk food section? Are they better at reducing plastic waste than any other grocery chain? If not then no.

−2

WheezeThaJuice t1_izntsu9 wrote

This resonates way more for me than everyone bitching about how expensive the out-of-season produce they insist on eating is.

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I_producethis t1_iznw0up wrote

I'm with ya - and the fact that this comment got downvoted just shows that people dont understand how huge a problem plastic waste really is, and how much more retailers can and should be doing about it.

1