It's official - Jewel-Osco doesn't like the President...

No, not that president...I recently contacted Jewel to see why my favorite off-brand brand is slowly dissapearing from the shelves. After several very odd emails from customer service (which, in very Roadrunner-cartoon fashion, come from "Acme Markets Customer Care",) I finally got this response:

Thank you for contacting Jewel Corporate Customer Care. We are responding to your Case #482680 regarding the telephone number provided you for President's Choice.
The reason that telephone number was provided to you, was because we are discontinuing the President's Choice brand at Jewels stores. President's Choice may be able to let you know where else they carry the product in your area.
We do apologized for the misunderstanding and any inconvenience it may have caused.
Again, thank you for contacting Jewel Corporate Customer Care. If we can provide any information or be of service to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or by calling 1-877-932-7948.
Sincerely,

Geri S.
Jewel Corporate Customer Care Representative

Bummer. Many of the PC products were staples at our house, being both cheap and good quality: most notably, it was our favorite coffee. It would appear from the PC website that their products will no longer be carried elsewhere in the US, either.

Ironically, President's Choice have nothing to do with politics. It's a Canadian brand owned by Loblaw's, and the name refers to choices made by the president of the company at the time it was launched. Jewel got a regional exclusive deal while it was owned bt American Stores, and kept it after Albertson's took over. Now that Supervalu owns them, they're clearly going in a different direction.

Generally, if you can determine who produced the PC products, you will find THAT brand available in the US. For example, the famous PC cookie line is produced by Dare Products in Toronto, ON.

At one point, PC products were sold at Schnucks in teh St. Louis area. That occurred AFTER the National Supermarkets division of Loblaws, LTD. was acquired by Schnucks.

Shucks, corn shucks that is. PC shepherd's pie was the last food item that could get me through J's doors.

Darn. I really liked the PC Soy Sauce.

I'd forgotten - Sparky is addicted to their Garlic Mayo and I use the Horseradish Mayo for maki. Double Damn!

There is some hope. Roundy's owns Pick N' Save in Wisconsin. Maybe they will still carry what you are looking for. That's yet one more reason for a trip up north of the border.

For once my local supermarché can shine: PC everywhere!

Loblaw's, btw, is pretty good supermarket, all things considered. Prices in Canadia (as W calls it) are considerably higher than in the States, but Loblaw's does a decent job on prices, and has very good loss leaders.

Geo

Geo wrote:Prices in Canadia (as W calls it) are considerably higher than in the States, but Loblaw's does a decent job on prices, and has very good loss leaders.

Geo

Why are food prices considerably higher in Canada?

Cogito asks: "Why are food prices considerably higher in Canada?" and my best response is: That's a good question.

Altho' the federal and provincial sales taxes (in effect VATs which together equal 15%), don't apply to supermarket food per se, they apply to everything, and I mean *every*thing, else. Consequently, manufacturers, service providers, etc. raise the cost of food items provided to the retail market in order to recover these taxes.

Secondly, according to 'informed sources', much of Canada's food supply must be imported, which raises costs.

Thirdly, "we're a small market, nationally, consequently economies of scale are not available", so say knowledgeable friends and colleagues.

Fourthly, there's a not-so-well-hidden food protectionism. A guy I know runs a tortillaria. I asked him why he has no Mexican cheeses. He said that Quebec has import duties on cheese so high that the prices to him would be at least double, and in many case triple, what the cheese would cost in the U.S. This sort of thing is found in all niches of the market, and has a devastating effect, as you might well imagine. If I go down to Plattsburgh NY and hit the grocery store, they'll allow me—or my Quebec buddy— to claim c. $50 of stuff before they make us pop the trunk to be inspected.

It's a closed market, a high-tax relatively socialized economy, and NAFTA doesn't really apply.

Other than that, I can't think of any other reasons...

But, tell you what, if you were to ask me where I'd rather be a frail elder person, US or Canadia? I'd choose Canadia quicker'n you could count. So, in the end, I guess it all evens out.

Geo

Yeah but with all the money you'd save on groceries and taxes here, you could probably afford health insurance.....maybe.

Geo wrote:Cogito asks: "Why are food prices considerably higher in Canada?" and my best response is: That's a good question.

Altho' the federal and provincial sales taxes (in effect VATs which together equal 15%), don't apply to supermarket food per se, they apply to everything, and I mean *every*thing, else. Consequently, manufacturers, service providers, etc. raise the cost of food items provided to the retail market in order to recover these taxes.

Geo

When I straddled the US/Canada border (and made weekly trips to Windsor, ON for shopping), I would notice that there were a number of items that were SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper in Windsor. Items imported from the Commonwealth (Australian/New Zealand lamb) and certain seafood products were generally cheaper as was local produce from SW Ontario.

Sad news. The PC cookie line was a major enticement for me - not that I ever bought them, as I am an expert at denying myself, but I loved the idea that if I so desired, I could buy reasonably close Girl Scout Cookie analogs at any time.

Hi j01--be glad you're in temperate NorIL/SoWI! It's STILL snowing in Montreal this morning, and a week after the blizzard, my street is still full of huge drifts of snow... we're closing in on the all time record: another 20cm and it's a done deal!

The price difference on Commonwealth stuff no longer holds: in the last couple of months I've bought both racks of lamb and lamb rib steaks in both the Price Chopper in Plattsburgh and the Loblaw's on Ave. Parc here. Same price. Fresh fish is slightly cheaper in P'burgh, plus I can buy bags of Maine clams there, which are never available up here. Which is odd, isn't it? There's no restrictions on bringing seafood from US to Canada, so I regularly bring fresh fish/shellfish back with me.

Those Maine clams are fabulous! $5 gets you c. 4 doz. Steam those babies up and enjoy!

Geo

Geo wrote:The price difference on Commonwealth stuff no longer holds: in the last couple of months I've bought both racks of lamb and lamb rib steaks in both the Price Chopper in Plattsburgh and the Loblaw's on Ave.

I have to confess that it has been at least four years since I have made a border crossing in Detroit/Windsor. When I lived in Cleveland, I was heading up to D/W for meat purchases every quarter or so. With the favorable exchange, I was doing a lot better there than in Cleveland, especially on beef products.

No more snow. One more snow storm and I will make good on the threat that I made last month - moving to McAllen, TX.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:Sad news. The PC cookie line was a major enticement for me - not that I ever bought them, as I am an expert at denying myself, but I loved the idea that if I so desired, I could buy reasonably close Girl Scout Cookie analogs at any time.

I love the Chocolate Chip Cookies! It's probably better for my figure that they will no longer be available to me, but I'm still disappointed.

Kim3 wrote:

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:Sad news. The PC cookie line was a major enticement for me - not that I ever bought them, as I am an expert at denying myself, but I loved the idea that if I so desired, I could buy reasonably close Girl Scout Cookie analogs at any time.

I love the Chocolate Chip Cookies! It's probably better for my figure that they will no longer be available to me, but I'm still disappointed.

Sounds like time for a road trip to Detroit ....

Is Detroit a magical land where old food products go to die? If so, can you pick me up some Swiss Cheese crackers please?

Fake edit: I was about to post my outrage that the Swiss Cheese crackers were discontinued while the gross Bacon crackers were allowed to live, but a quick Google reveals that whole line - also including Chicken n a Biscuit - seems to be in the land of memories now.

I suspect j01 is thinking of Detroit as the portal to Canadia, Home of President's Choice! One of their full-line-carrying stores is about 2 km from my house. I *might* just be bribed into picking up a little this 'n that, and putting it in the mail! Depends on the bribe, of course!

http://www.presidentschoice.ca/

Geo

If my memory serves me right, you can get PC products at the Real Canadian Superstore and the Zehr's Supermarkets in Windsor, all within five miles of the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit.

There are no "Loblaws" branded stores in Windsor due to labor problems in the early 90's.

I don't remember the name of them, but I loved the butter cookie sandwiches with the hole in the center that had a little dab of buttery cream in the middle, topped with raspberry or lemon goo sprinkled with coarse sugar. And I think they also made a giant, sugary sweet butter cookie shaped like a fan dipped in dark chocolate. Guess I'll have to stock up if there are any leftovers at my branch. Thanks for the warning!

I believe the raspberry and lemon sandwich cookies you speak of are called "Temptations" and boy were they ever. Haven't picke them up in ages, but MAN they are good. The raspberry ones, with the coarse sugar kind of sprinkled on there. MMMMM I feel like sneaking out to Jewel right now to see if there's a secret stockpile I can get my hands on.

amykate76 wrote:MMMMM I feel like sneaking out to Jewel right now to see if there's a secret stockpile I can get my hands on.

Let me know if you find any and I'll go next.