An article on the front page (bottom) of the business section of today's Chicago Tribune reports that the Dutch-based corporation, Royal Ahold N.V., the owners' of Peapod, are considering buying at least some of Albertson's chain of stores, which in turn includes the Jewel/Osco chain.

Albertson's has been feeling squeezed at both ends (bulk, discount stores on the one side and high-end places such as Treasure Island and Whole Foods on the other) and is looking for a way out.

Clearly, at least if you shop at a Jewel with any frequency, they've been looking for a way out for some time.

Antonius

Ahold May Be Interested in Parts of Albertson's, Moberg Says

``We are very focused. We will stay on the East Coast. We are not in a situation where we can go out for a huge acquisition.'' Albertson's owns the Shaw's and Acme supermarkets in that region.

Other recent Jewel gripes:I'm not too happy about the new manner of selling Romaine, leaf,etc. Lettuce Jewel has started using. They're selling it by the head instead of the pound. Why they feel the need to cut every piece of meat the same(small) size is beyond me. Sometimes (quite often really) the butcher case is stuffed exclusively with these mini-steaks and chops , so asking there does no good. Really, I can afford and eat a Filet larger than 6oz, please don't ruin all of them.

I almost always shop at Fresh Farms now (sometimes Market Place, third place Lincolnwood Produce) with a stop at Jewel after for toiletries, housewares, and occasionally canned goods. The other day I ran in because I needed detergent, chickpeas, sandwich fixin's and bread; I figured it wasn't worth the stop at two places. So I went to the bakery section for the bread, assuming it would be better for me to pick up some Whole Wheat there instead of in the prepackaged section. WRONG. It's blanket soft and loaded with all the unpronounceable crap that Michael Pollan warned about, and I tried to spread softened butter on it but it still ripped. Clearly they don't make the bread at that store; is all that equipment for show?

JoelF wrote:
Costco's stock can be baffling. Milk prices are usually OK, bu Walgreens is often cheaper. Butter comes in, what 4 lb packages, I think... but only in salted. Baking season, we can go through 4 pounds pretty easily, but not salted.

The Lincoln Park and Oak Brook Costco stores carry both salted and unsalted butter.

s4shon wrote:

JoelF wrote:
Costco's stock can be baffling. Milk prices are usually OK, bu Walgreens is often cheaper. Butter comes in, what 4 lb packages, I think... but only in salted. Baking season, we can go through 4 pounds pretty easily, but not salted.

The Lincoln Park and Oak Brook Costco stores carry both salted and unsalted butter.

and the prices of costco butter are very reasonable, even if they've skyrocketed in the last few months. justjoan