I went to Kroger's a few weeks ago and saw a sign that the store was closed due to being remodeled. Wow, it only took a few days to do an entire store overhaul/remodel. How impressive that one may think. Well, surprise, surprise. In my opinion it was not remodeled. Hey, right off of the produce section where you used to be able to find the healthy type of products was now replaced with shelves of wine. Across from the wine you will find more wine and, in the coolers, where you used to find the healthy choice refrigerated items you now see apparently shut off coolers and it appears they store bags of tortilla chips. Maybe from the deli type of tortilla chips. Looks the same as when they were filling it up like that on the grand remodeling day event. Oh, I had the ears of a few executive staff type of people that were in the store that day for the event. No sooner did I notice when entering the store there were no new floors laid, same old flooring with the apparent cracks still in the floor. When I spoke to a contractor that said he was working on the floors he told me they were getting all new floors. Can you see my shock and disappointment when I walked in and there were no new floors. Apparently, they just brought in a company to clean the floors already there. Oh, they may have updated a few displays in the produce department but let's now fast forward to the other day while @ the newly, supposedly remodeled Kroger's if I may.
I went in there specifically to purchase brussel sprouts, avocado and a red pepper. Their produce department in my opinion was disgusting. Same old, same old open bins where fresh produce is placed still looking unkempt. Who in the world would want to purchase items from those bins. Now, I begin to look at produce a bit more. Old looking fresh green beans in the open; wilted and shriveled up brussel sprouts; colored peppers that had no smooth surfaces, but you could tell they were not fresh because they began to get the soft, wrinkled look to them. Very few avocados that were featured on sale, maybe a handful if even that and none of them looked good and they were punny in size also. I then began inquiring are there any fresh brussel sprouts & avocados. I then asked to speak to a manager on duty. This was the evening store manager, and I pointed out all the unkempt looking, no longer fresh produce to them. They said no truck came in to replace some of the produce. I questioned the not so clean produce bins and further pointed out this was no remodel and pointed to the cracked flooring. This manager did agree to give me for the price of regular brussel sprouts a bag of organic ones. Even at that we had to sort through to see which bag was less wilted looking. Needless to say, I picked up a few items about 25.000 worth and then went to Publix, where it is always a clean store, and their produce gives the appearance of being fresh. Oh, I did let the store manager know how unfair it was for the day crew to not address these produce situations and leave it for the night crew to have to deal with. That is not acceptable to push things off onto other employees to have to deal with their lack of going through and pulling items not fit for consumption during the day when I would guess there may be more staff on hand as opposed to night shift staff.
Let's compare the 2 stores when it comes to customer service if I may. During the Kroger's event I spoke with 2 others who looked like executive management. One in the meat department and I inquired why I cannot get the duroc pork at this store, they said they would put in a request for some to come to this store, but it may not be stocked at this store because it does not sell too good. Oh, I am guessing a healthier choice of meat doesn't sell to well but hey let's stock up the wine selection. Then while in the dairy inquired why they haven't had the Simple Truth smaller sized half/half and just the larger size and for 1 person that size spoiled faster. That gentleman showed me there is actually a label in the cooler for that item and it was empty. I have checked on both items and guess what, they are not in stock to purchase at this store. Was that just lip service given to me that day or the grand remodel event?
Publix is most efficient when it comes to customer service, in my opinion that it is. I inquired with the grocery manager 1 day about getting Aloha protein bars in the store. She actually walked me over to the checkout end cap where you can buy a few individual bars they had. I asked if they could get possibly 2-3 more flavors, and could I purchase 12 count boxes? I received a phone call, and she was able to order 2 of the 3 flavors but you cannot purchase them by the box. That is okay, for 2.69 a bar it will do in a pinch. That is about the same price as Sprouts Market sells them for. I then inquired about a certain type of pretzel that other stores carry; she was going to look into that for me also. They are I think called Unique brand and they are only the pretzel shells. Great concept. The crunch and saltiness of the exterior of a pretzel with no pretzel filling. Great to serve with pimento cheese when I make it.
I will keep you posted on any updates since I also reached out to the store about these concerns. I saw a bluebird early this morning and heard the cooing sounds of mourning doves the other day. Do you think springtime is just around the corner in my area.
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