Downtown Grocery Store List (current + proposed)

[RGB_11]

The market here is growing rapidly, that Metro does very good numbers, I don't think it will phase them any.

I realize now, if they had any concern, they would have beaten No Frills to the punch by placing a Basics there when the chance came to be...

 

[ShonTron]

I realize now, if they had any concern, they would have beaten No Frills to the punch by placing a Basics there when the chance came to be...

Same with the No Frills on Shuter, which will compete with the Metro on Gould. It's badly needed, given how crowded and badly the Metro is stocked these days.

 

[Northern Light]

Something I'll be interested to see (re the discussion of cannibalization) will be the impact of T&T on Edward, and Eataly at TEC on the mini-Longos on Dundas.

Eataly may just be clogged w/tourists and we'll have to see how much space they devote to actual grocery; but that's a lot of new ft2 up against a very small and annoyingly laid out store.

 

[khris]

Same with the No Frills on Shuter, which will compete with the Metro on Gould. It's badly needed, given how crowded and badly the Metro is stocked these days.

I feel like the smart thing to do for both Metros (Gould and Front) would be to stock items that are more exclusive. Since No Frills will have the basics that will be cheaper than the basics at Metro for the most part.

 

[Richard White]

I feel like the smart thing to do for both Metros (Gould and Front) would be to stock items that are more exclusive. Since No Frills will have the basics that will be cheaper than the basics at Metro for the most part.

The St Lawrence (Front) Metro is alot more specialized than most stores.

 

[Northern Light]

I feel like the smart thing to do for both Metros (Gould and Front) would be to stock items that are more exclusive. Since No Frills will have the basics that will be cheaper than the basics at Metro for the most part.

Disagree.

St. Lawrence Market is literally across the street.

You can get every kind of jam, every kind of mustard, every kind of honey, baked goods from Blackbird, assorted fancy cheeses and real Kobe Beef.

Metro can't out-do that, and shouldn't try, its purpose there is to round out the market for locals, filling in the gaps w/pedestrian bread that lasts 3 weeks, and standard name-brand bacon, and laundry soap.

Do they need to differentiate from No Frills? Sure, but they do already. They're bigger, sell booze, have a dessert showcase, a deli, and a deeper product selection.

 

[ShonTron]

Disagree.

St. Lawrence Market is literally across the street.

You can get every kind of jam, every kind of mustard, every kind of honey, baked goods from Blackbird, assorted fancy cheeses and real Kobe Beef.

Metro can't out-do that, and shouldn't try, its purpose there is to round out the market for locals, filling in the gaps w/pedestrian bread that lasts 3 weeks, and standard name-brand bacon, and laundry soap.

Do they need to differentiate from No Frills? Sure, but they do already. They're bigger, sell booze, have a dessert showcase, a deli, and a deeper product selection.

The Front Street store is pretty good as far as urban Metro locations go - not too jam-packed (unlike Bloor/Robert), decent selection and well-stocked (unlike Gould Street), and it does carry the basics and bulk items you just can't get at the market, or pay a lot more for. The MLG Loblaws is still the best mainline grocery store downtown, but it's not nearly as good as it was when it opened or before the pandemic, and the prices are higher than the others nearby.

 

[Northern Light]

The Front Street store is pretty good as far as urban Metro locations go

Agreed.

- not too jam-packed (unlike Bloor/Robert)

That one is tiny, nothing to be done about the footprint there, they are going to sell. (store will be relocated nearby)

, decent selection and well-stocked (unlike Gould Street),

Rarely in that one.
.

The MLG Loblaws is still the best mainline grocery store downtown, but it's not nearly as good as it was when it opened or before the pandemic

Also agreed..........when they first opened, the store was overseen by a VP not a typical store manager, it had way more freedom to do its own thing. That has been curtailed.

Though, they did just boost the hell out of their international section...........added a huge number of net new SKUs (products)

, and the prices are higher than the others nearby.

That store is making mint................. mind blowing mint...........far exceeded expectations.

Literally they can't handle more traffic at peak times.............and its 80,000ft2!

 

[PL1]

.Though, they did just boost the hell out of their international section...........added a huge number of net new SKUs (products)

That store is making mint................. mind blowing mint...........far exceeded expectations.

Literally they can't handle more traffic at peak times.............and its 80,000ft2!

My brother lives right by the MLG Loblaws and doesn't like it. He find it always picked over and expensive with poor quality produce. They cater to the TMU crowd. I haven't heard of he's checked out the new section., though

 

[afransen]

I hope the trend of more affordable smaller stores gets some traction. Should help with food deserts and affordability of living in more urban, less car-oriented places that were previously captive markets for the more upscale chains that mostly just charge more for the same mainstream staples.

 

[khris]

Disagree.

St. Lawrence Market is literally across the street.

You can get every kind of jam, every kind of mustard, every kind of honey, baked goods from Blackbird, assorted fancy cheeses and real Kobe Beef.

Metro can't out-do that, and shouldn't try, its purpose there is to round out the market for locals, filling in the gaps w/pedestrian bread that lasts 3 weeks, and standard name-brand bacon, and laundry soap.

Do they need to differentiate from No Frills? Sure, but they do already. They're bigger, sell booze, have a dessert showcase, a deli, and a deeper product selection.

When I say more exclusive, I mean within their existing product range. Not competing with St. Lawrence Market. For example, instead of plain Vanilla Haagen-Dazs maybe have the flavours that are harder to get but are available in Canada. Or focus on always having product and not selling out when they have sales. That's one of my biggest pet peeves about Metro.

 

[RGB_11]

Re: Bloor & Robert Metro store, the notice of 30 storey building going in on the land is severely antiquated.
Yes, Metro will move down the street soon,
but is the plan to build 30 storeys still the same? Or has it changed? Old worn out sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6664065,-79.4050283,3a,16.7y,131.4h,80.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJP2NazdBfQFUbqLfXxaYw!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=9.20834954062542&panoid=rJP2NazdBfQFUbqLfXxaYw&yaw=131.40002495617176!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[Northern Light]

Re: Bloor & Robert Metro store, the notice of 30 storey building going in on the land is severely antiquated.
Yes, Metro will move down the street soon,
but is the plan to build 30 storeys still the same? Or has it changed? Old worn out sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6664065,-79.4050283,3a,16.7y,131.4h,80.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJP2NazdBfQFUbqLfXxaYw!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=9.20834954062542&panoid=rJP2NazdBfQFUbqLfXxaYw&yaw=131.40002495617176!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

Neither relocation, nor construction on the existing site is imminent.

 

[Northern Light]

When I say more exclusive, I mean within their existing product range. Not competing with St. Lawrence Market. For example, instead of plain Vanilla Haagen-Dazs maybe have the flavours that are harder to get but are available in Canada.

Two things.........

1) Where grocers have a choice.......they will almost always build out every product range they carry from the best sellers in that range.

This is why pretty much every ice cream line you see has a vanilla in it, and a chocolate, because those are the #1 and #2 sellers for pretty much every brand.

This, of course, results in there being 8 different vanilla ice creams on the shelf, if not more, instead of maybe 3, and then adding a greater range of flavours.
But its overwhelmingly how the industry works. I won't say which grocers, but I will tell you I've made the case for capping certain flavours in multiple categories and instead using secondary/specialty brands to add depth and variety......I've been shot down, every time. LOL

2) In the case of major brands, it would be wrong to suggest a grocer doesn't have some input in what's on the shelf, but its less than you'd think.
Nestle owns Hagendaaz and like the other big players, they pay listings fees to get their products on the shelf in grocers. They literally rent shelf space. This allows them control over eye-level placement, and yes, assortment too.
Grocers do get some input, as they control the overall amount of space in any store. But if you want a more obscure Hagendaaz, you can write to the former, or to Metro......

I should add freezer space is at a premium.

Store managers are sent planograms from head office when new products are added, and when there's a total re-line every six to twenty four months. They are expected to follow it, and typically have very little discretion to add different products.

Some chains, at some stores, do provide a small amount of budgeted space to store manager's to use at their discretion.

Or focus on always having product and not selling out when they have sales. That's one of my biggest pet peeves about Metro.

Now that is within the control of the chain / store management to a huge degree. The only thing I will say in their defense is that some of the smaller stores are very tight for storage space in the back, and have limited room for 'overstock' or bringing in more than they can fit on the shelf as it is normally laid out.

 

[khris]

Two things.........

1) Where grocers have a choice.......they will almost always build out every product range they carry from the best sellers in that range.

This is why pretty much every ice cream line you see has a vanilla in it, and a chocolate, because those are the #1 and #2 sellers for pretty much every brand.

This, of course, results in there being 8 different vanilla ice creams on the shelf, if not more, instead of maybe 3, and then adding a greater range of flavours.
But its overwhelmingly how the industry works. I won't say which grocers, but I will tell you I've made the case for capping certain flavours in multiple categories and instead using secondary/specialty brands to add depth and variety......I've been shot down, every time. LOL

2) In the case of major brands, it would be wrong to suggest a grocer doesn't have some input in what's on the shelf, but its less than you'd think.
Nestle owns Hagendaaz and like the other big players, they pay listings fees to get their products on the shelf in grocers. They literally rent shelf space. This allows them control over eye-level placement, and yes, assortment too.
Grocers do get some input, as they control the overall amount of space in any store. But if you want a more obscure Hagendaaz, you can write to the former, or to Metro......

I should add freezer space is at a premium.

Store managers are sent planograms from head office when new products are added, and when there's a total re-line every six to twenty four months. They are expected to follow it, and typically have very little discretion to add different products.

Some chains, at some stores, do provide a small amount of budgeted space to store manager's to use at their discretion.



Now that is within the control of the chain / store management to a huge degree. The only thing I will say in their defense is that some of the smaller stores are very tight for storage space in the back, and have limited room for 'overstock' or bringing in more than they can fit on the shelf as it is normally laid out.

Thank you for your very in depth response! Much appreciated.
When I went to Rochester, NY and went in their grocery stores, I couldn't believe the selection. They had an entire aisle of ice cream on both sides, with like 75% of each products flavour range. And don't get me started on the cereal aisle!