Grocery Wars: Which store is winning the battle in Richmond?

Well, apparently adding beer and opening seven days a week doesn't quite win over the Richmond shopper. Actually, it only made Martin's "just like everyone else".....

Food Lion took over the market share lead in Richmond from Ukrops back in 2009, mostly because they have double the amount of stores in the area. This brick and mortar advantage kept Food Lion ahead in 2010 as well.

A few thoughts....

1) This market is up for grabs. Even with the remodeling of many of their stores, Food Lion is nothing special. There's no personality, and no driving force product-wise that makes me think, "I want to go to Food Lion". I think about going to Martin's because of the salad bar, or the Ukrops fried chicken. I love Kroger's macaroni salad. Food Lion? Eh.........

2) Martin's, as I mentioned on this blog a year ago when Martin's came to town, is Giant with another name. And Giant died in Richmond once before.....they may have some "Ukrops" products, but they have the charm of.....well, Food Lion.

3) Kroger is expensive as crap.

4) Walmart has cheaper prices. But I hate Walmart. I go when I HAVE to. Keyword: HAVE.

5) It's funny watching these other guys fighting for the 3 to 6 percent market share (CVS, Walgreens, Target, etc....). For all the talk about organic foods, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's barely make up two percent of market share. Yes, I know they have hardly any locations, but the way I hear people talk, you'd think there were lines out the door of those places constantly....

6) Farm Fresh needs to pack it in.

Click on the title link, see the numbers broken down, and tell me what you think, where you shop, and has it changed in this "Post-Ukrops" Richmond....

But I'm Not In Bed Yet!

A different take on the classic line from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".

"Bring out yer dead!"

"But I'm not dead yet!"

I am happy to announce that both yesterday and today I was stirring by 11a, and up and running not much later than that. :)

Right now it's appointment city, as we go to the doctor, the dentist, etc. to catch up on checkups and cleanings now that we have some copious spare time. :)

Tuesday was walk Harry, take out the trash, take Rachel to dentist, pick up Mom and Robbie, go to Rachel's parent-teacher conference, stop by school book fair, and, finally, take Dad to the new Target to give him the grand tour.

Today? Get up, take Robbie to school, come home, lie down (never went to sleep), get up, go to dentist for my checkup, go to Dollar Tree for my Crystal Geyser Water (they didn't have any), then back home for awhile.

Coming up? Rachel gets home, Harry is happy, Harry is walked, Mom gets home, Robbie gets home and I have no clue as to what else.

I'm new to this "being at home on a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday" deal, you know. :)

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In closing, I will say, now that it's standard time again, I'm thinking a midday nap is useless....when it's dark before 6pm. :)

The day is here!!

Leaving later this afternoon for the Filene Center at Wolf Trap.

I have an appointment with the Moody Blues.

It will be "Lovely To See You" again, my friends.....

(Complete details come Monday) :)

Two, Two, Two Races in One!

With apologies to Certs' classic ad slogan....

The IRL came to town Saturday night (I can't get that "I Am Indy!" song outta my head, though...) and I watched the Indy cars live for the first time. Fascinating experience. They run so fast on the 3/4 mile track, they almost go too fast to follow.

Now the actual race, on the other hand, was pretty much a bore. Dario Franchitti led 242 of 250 laps and won. Yawn. Very little excitement.

Danica pretty much stayed about 1/2 lap behind Dario all evening and finished sixth.

Dario had the car; no doubt about it, though the two Target cars were looking to spoil the party near the end, but they couldn't.

Time of the race: One hour, 24 minutes.

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We head out, I call a friend on my cell who also attended and we swapped reviews. He was already in his car heading towards the exit. I would later wish I were, too.

Uncle Frank and I start the van at 930pm. Songs played on the radio, conversation came and went, and, for a little over an hour, I kept my cool really well.

Usually you would think they'd empty the parking lot from back to front. About 1:10 into the wait, I look to my left and see almost an entire row of cars gone...and they were near the very front of the lot.

What??!?? That was my thought. Finally coming to the end of the grass row to hit the road leading out of the place, I watch the parking person let alot of the row to my left go out (wait, they're closer to the front, too!), and out, and out. Finally, we get to move a few feet.

Quandry. That aforementioned row was directed to the left lane, which hopefully allows one to turn left onto Carolina Avenue, which I needed to do in order to, well, go home. We were being placed in the right lane. In front of me, in between the rows, is the parking guide and a police car.

"As soon as I pass the police car, I'm heading to the other lane", I said.

And I did. Worked out well; didn't put anyone in danger or tear out in front of anyone at the last second.

Finally we make it to the gate, get out of the lot.

Time of the parking fiasco: One hour, 31 minutes.

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Lesson---I never dreamed it would take 90 minutes to leave RIR since only, maybe 45 or 50,000 people were there, if that. Remember, Nextel Cup Races bring well over 100,000 people there.

Thus, RIR's less than stellar job in getting fans out Saturday night will affect my future decisions as to whether to go back. You'd think with all the years of experience, they would do better. Oh, well.

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Another birthday in the Witham Nation--tomorrow! Wifey!! No confirmation given on new age. And I ain't asking either!

And, P.S.---less than six days now before the ladies take their big trip.