Hooray, Genuardi's is lowering it's prices!

 
Grocery stores are feeling the competition everywhere and Genuardi's/Safeway is responding to the need to meet competitor's prices by working to stay competitive in more ways than one.

My trip to Genuardi's actually started at the YMCA where I was working out. One of the bulletin boards held healthy recipes and I saw an interesting, timely one for pumpkin lime soup. Since it was the week of Halloween, I knew I would have no problem finding a pumpkin but I wasn't sure about cooking versus carving pumpkins.

I headed to Genuardi's because, for total honestly and disclosure's sake, Genuardi's did send me gift certificates to shop in their store and to learn about their new pricing. They also allowed me to give away several gift certificates. I was quite happy to oblige because there is a Genuardi's grocery store on my way to my girls' school and I have always enjoyed the friendly atmosphere but felt the prices were higher than other local options.

Pricing aside, I was amazed at the level of customer service. What I found was that any question I had, if the person didn't know it, they went and found the answer. First, this related to the pumpkin. The produce guy wasn't sure if I could use the carving pumpkins to make soup and he went in search of a woman he knew who made pies. She said it was fine so I proceeded to buy all my ingredients for the soup. I even found 3 big fat leeks that I needed. While I was in the store, I asked where the prices had changed. One clerk said it was primarily in the processed foods in the center aisles that they had noticed a difference.

Another trip to Genuardi's found me looking for a ham hock for black bean soup. Can you tell I have been on a soup kick? A visiting butcher told me that he didn't think they stocked them but to use a smoked pork butt. On a later visit for another round of black bean soup ingredients, the store manager confirmed that they didn't stock them but that he agreed with using the smoked pork- which turned out pretty good, by the way. He also told me that he goes weekly to other competitors to make sure they are keeping their prices the same or lower. He monitors their activities to make sure this Genuardi's is giving just as good a deal as others even if the pricing does come from corporate. I am sure his feedback is valuable to their decision making.

I especially love how the store clerks always ask if you need help out to the car. I usually say no but it is nice that they ask. One time I did take the guy up on it.

As far as prices, I was not as thorough as the store manager and I didn't go down my list and walk through the local ACME or Giant or Redners to compare. From shopping for many, many years, I would say that I was happy with the prices I saw. Better yet, I liked the quality of the store brand options where some of the best deals could be found. I also liked the half-off meat section too when meat that needs to sell quickly gets marked down. I made out on some beef tips and several packages of chicken cutlets the other day on that deal.

No, Genuardi's is not the brand spanking new Wegman's with a bar and restaurant inside but it does boast enough regular and unique items that it's proximity will keep me coming back.