The key phrase in my previous message was "If you're in an area where
there's a spectacular grocery chain". :-)


"NOYB" wrote in message
link.net...
If you count only grocery products, and you combine Sam's Club and
Walmart's
sales, total sales in 2002 were $30 billion...that's $1 billion behind
Albertson's and $12 billion behind Krogers. They're expected to surpass
both of the others this year.



"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"NOYB" wrote in message
news

... the number one grocer in the country.


...only regionally. Their grocery impact is not consistent. Depends on
the
competition. If you're in an area where there's a spectacular grocery
chain,
Wal Mart will suck away some business initially, due to curiosity, but
the
effect doesn't last long. The Wal Mart here carries vegetables which
appear
to have been driven over. Since 1/3 of my shopping cart gets filled with
produce, I won't shop at Wal Mart because it would mean having to shop
AGAIN
at the real grocery store, just to get produce. Not worth the trouble.

Finally, if you do a long-term comparison of costs, you'll find that
groceries are NOT cheaper, on average, at Wal Mart. Due to the nature of
the
grocery biz, it's impossible for WM to consistently command lower prices
from the manufacturers.