Amazon plans new chain of grocery stores

[mystery-ak]

Amazon plans new chain of grocery stores
By John Bowden - 03/01/19 01:57 PM EST

Amazon Inc. is planning to launch a chain of grocery stores in the U.S., with the first location set to open before the end of 2019.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the online retailer plans to move full-scale into the grocery store business with an inaugural location in Los Angeles by the end of the year and then plans for dozens more across the country.

The company is also making plans to open stores in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, according to the Journal.

Reuters reported that shares of other grocery store chains including Kroger, Costco and Walmart all dipped upon the news. Amazon's stocks surged 1.4 percent, according to the news service, while its competitors dropped between 1 and 4 percent.

more
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/432227-amazon-plans-new-grocery-store-business

[Applewood]

Interesting.  Just read the other day that Amazon was launching its own line of dairy products.   Feels like Amazon is taking over the world.

[berdie]

Hmmm..wonder how they will use the Whole Foods name?

[Applewood]

Hmmm..wonder how they will use the Whole Foods name?

From what I've heard, Amazon is keeping Whole Foods as a separate entity.  Since WF caters to a more upscale clientele, it presumably will not compete with the new chain as the new stores will be for us poor folks. 

Honestly, I would welcome some competition where I live.  At one time, my town had five grocery chains.  Now we have just Giant Eagle. Except for Aldi, Giant Eagle is a monopoly here and it knows it.  Overpriced products, poor customer service -- all the  hallmarks of a monopoly.

[Dexter]

Feels like Amazon is taking over the world.

That can't be good for free market competition.

 

[berdie]

Thanks @Applewood for that info.  I was wondering. Even tho I have read that WF has had to drop their prices.  I wouldn't know...the closest one to m is 60 miles away.

[Applewood]

That can't be good for free market competition.

 

It might force the complacent competition to get up off their duffs and innovate.  Adapt or die.

[mountaineer]

It might force the complacent competition to get up off their duffs and innovate.  Adapt or die.

Absolutely.  Don't know whether this is convenient for you, but I got some nice deals at Fresh Thyme in Pleasant Hills today (also in Bridgeville).

[Applewood]

Thanks @Applewood for that info.  I was wondering. Even tho I have read that WF has had to drop their prices.  I wouldn't know...the closest one to m is 60 miles away.

I don't know about the prices either.  The only time I get to a Whole Foods is when I visit a friend of mine who lives in Pittsburgh.  She has it nice -- a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Giant Eagle and an Aldi.  Competition which Ii don't have.

[Dexter]

It might force the complacent competition to get up off their duffs and innovate.  Adapt or die.

I don't think the competition is complacent. It's probably pretty hard for a startup to compete with an international corporation worth billions of dollars.

[Applewood]

I don't think the competition is complacent. It's probably pretty hard for a startup to compete with an international corporation worth billions of dollars.

I was referring to the established chains.  I mentioned Giant Eagle which is a longtime supermarket chain in my neck of the woods and is now a virtual monopoly here.  If Amazon comes to town, G.E. will have to fight for the shoppers' dollars. 

[Dexter]

I was referring to the established chains.  I mentioned Giant Eagle which is a longtime supermarket chain in my neck of the woods and is now a virtual monopoly here.  If Amazon comes to town, G.E. will have to fight for the shoppers' dollars.

Is there a point at which you would think something has to be done about a monopoly? Like what if the competition can't hack it for whatever reason and these giant corporations start swallowing everything? Is that just okay?

[mountaineer]

No giant corporation is consuming grocery stores.

[240B]

Is there a point at which you would think something has to be done about a monopoly? Like what if the competition can't hack it for whatever reason and these giant corporations start swallowing everything? Is that just okay?

When you get on your computer connected to electric utility company using your mouse and monitor to order your food which will be delivered by delivery using automobiles running on gasoline, then you might realize that there may be a problem.

That day is closing in fast. And if anyone is depending on the feckless retards in Congress to do anything about it, well...good luck with that.