Publix creating their own version of Trader Joe's?

In the quickly changing world of organic / health food stores, it seems Publix, the largest conventional grocery retailer in the southeast, has decided to enter the fray. According to Business Week, Publix is opening a series of GreenWise stores with private label products and convenience foods, not unlike Trader Joe's.

Zac Bissonnette, over at BloggingStocks--a site I have been enjoying recently, notes the apparent similarity in approach, and suggests, "If Publix can come close to creating the Trader Joe's atmosphere, Whole Foods better look out."

A particularly entertaining quote in the Business Week article from a Mintel International Group market research analyst, Marcia Mogelonsky, appears to take a not so subtle jab at Whole Foods (commonly known as 'Whole Paycheck' to those unimpressed by their prices): "Prices really draw in consumers. Most consumers can't go out and spend their whole paycheck on natural products."

Publix appears to be testing the waters in Florida with one 39,000 square-foot store opening in Palm Beach Gardens and plans for at least 3 more in the works.

Whole Foods might not be the only one who should be worried. Might I suggest to Trader Joe's that you make your entrance into the Middle Tennessee market before GreenWise gets here? We're desperate for you now. We may not feel so forlorn if we have other options.

We're in the Top 25 Petitions, again!

Our petition is in the top 25 petitions at Petitions Online, again!

Also, I don't know if it means anything, but I thought it was interesting that the blog had a visitor from Germany this morning. For those who don't know, Trader Joe's is owned by The Aldi Group, which is based in Germany.

Might be nothing, but it is fun to speculate.

Austin--You Know You Want to Beat 'Em!

OK folks, we are SO CLOSE. We are less than 200 (update on 9/29/07: make that less than 30, now) signatures away from surpassing Austin in their petition gathering.

They have been gathering signatures since 2006. We have been doing this for 5 freakin weeks!

A big shout out to the Tennessean for helping us garner a TREMENDOUS number of signatures in a short time (over 400 today!) Having the link to the petition in the article was very helpful. THANK YOU!

Nearing 2000!

Last night, I took a look at the petition and was like, "Hey, we are up to 1700. Cool."

This morning, I took a look and was like, "Whoa, we're over 1800. What happened?"

Then, I took a look at my email and my sister had written to let me know there was a screenshot of the petition on the front page of the Living section in the Tennessean. Having just gone to the website, we are also on the homepage of the online version.

[Update: As of the afternoon, it was moved to the the living section online.]

THANK YOU, TENNESSEAN!

Now, a few hours later, we are approaching 2000!

I was recently considering cancelling my subscription to save some bucks, since we get it at the office, too. You've just saved yourself at least one subscriber!

Petition Stats

200 signatures in first 12 hours
300 signatures in first 24 hours
400 signatures in 4 days
500 signatures in 5 days
600 signatures in 6 days
1000 signatures in 9 days
1200 signatures in 2 weeks
1400 signatures in 4 weeks

(update on 9/26/07)
1700 signatures in 5 weeks
(Thank you for the bump, All the Rage!)

(update on 9/29/07)
2300 signatures in 39 days
(Thank you for the bump, Tennessean!)

All the Rage "breaks the story"

So, this petition is almost one month old now and I have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised at the results. I certainly never expected to get over 1450 signatures in one month.

I have been lame about promoting it. I never got around to writing a press release, but one reporter found me and did a little piece on it: Will Trader Joe's Pick Nashville?

I hope we can get some more coverage. Maybe, I'll get off my butt and write that press release. Maybe...

What's Your Favorite TJ's Product and Does it Travel Well?

It's been so long, I'm not going to remember the cutesy names for them, but here are some of mine:

Travels well
Lemon Curd (I just tried this for the first time)
All the great marinades (we have a full pantry of them-Thai Yellow Curry is most excellent: mix it with an instant peanut sauce and I can almost make massamun curry without effort)
Garlic Mashed Potato Mix
Macaroni & Cheese (maybe that sounds crazy, but our little 3 year old connoisseur can most definitely tell the difference and often eschews other brands, even Annie's)
Dishwashing and laundry detergent

Not appropriate for long hauls
Cilantro and Chive Yogurt Dip (I guess this could be done with an ice chest, but we are usually asking a relative to bring things to us, and getting them to add an ice chest into the mix seems a little beyond the call of duty)
Frozen shu mai
Frozen quiche -- including 3 yummy flavors (Prelude to a Quiche, I believe)
Frozen Chicken Enchiladas
Frozen Chicken Burritos
Frozen Steak Burritos
Frozen rice and noodle bowls (there were a variety of these)

Yeah, I like convenience foods. Devoting time to cook and clean up a bunch of pans is just not something my family can/will deal with right now.

The unfortunate part is that most of them are frozen. Which is what is so frustrating about not having a TJ's close by. If I could just road trip and stock up several months supply of my favorite foods, it wouldn't be intolerable. But am I supposed to bring a freezer with me?!!

Is there anybody out there?
How about you guys? I'm sure I have forgotten a lot of the things that I used to buy. I'm not sure being reminded of it will be good for my mood (sorry about the recent negativity, folks), but I would love to come up with a topic that people would respond to!

No, They ain't Wegman's

In the few weeks since I started this petition, I've heard a lot about Wegman's. A grocery store chain based in a handful of Northeast and Midatlantic states, it apparently makes people swoon even more than TJ's. You can go to this Nashville Scene blog for a little more of the local conversation.

They have been rated one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For EVERY year since 1998. This year, they were named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Magazine (quick poll--how many of you have heard of this magazine?--I mean, I like to think I keep up on social justice publications, but I guess not).

One thing that I will say about Wegman's, they COMMUNICATE, which is something I wish TJ's would master. You can go to Wegman's website and see their UP TO DATE expansion plans. With one little sentence, they make things very clear: "Today, we have stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland, with no plans at the moment to expand beyond those five states."

While I know this may dash the hopes of those wishing for Wegman's, at least you know what to expect. With TJ's there's this constant rumor mill that, as far as I can tell, is only fueled by conversations with their corporate offices or their staff at other stores. One person will be told that a store will open in Cool Springs or Franklin in 2008. Another will say that Middle Tennessee isn't even included in their long range (5 year) plans, and that maybe we will get one in 7 years. One person will be told it is the liquor laws that's keeping them away (based on their stores in other states with similarly ridiculous liquor laws, I know this to be a falsehood). Another will be told that has nothing to do with it, but that there isn't an adequate distribution set up within one day's drive (even though they can manage distribution 4 hours away in Atlanta).

Now, I understand the need for secrecy when you are concerned with competition. Let's get real, though. TJ's doesn't have any true competition in most parts of the US, and as we have seen, Wegman's expands at an even more leisurely pace. Whole Foods is rightly concerned about TJ's, as they charge astronomical prices in the absence of such competition. But what does TJ's have to fear?

If I seem a bit impatient, well, I am. It has more to do with not getting the straight scoop than waiting for the store to come. Having been told by another TJ's fan last night that she spoke with corporate yesterday and was told we might be waiting 7 years, when they neglected to mention that to me when I talked to them 2 weeks ago, is a bit irritating.

So, while I have never set foot in a Wegman's, I am already a fan of their quality of communication, something TJ's appears to need to work on.

Promises, Promises

I admit it. I broke my promise. I said I would post here at least once a week on Fridays, but last Friday it didn't happen. My apologies to anyone out there who might have actually noticed. I will blame it on extenuating circumstances and leave it at that.

But hey, it's not like I'm running for Mayor or something. Seriously, I will make an effort to keep up the minimum weekly post.

And if you haven't done so already, GO VOTE TODAY!