We are really looking forward to the new HEB (and impressed so far with the car wash and gas station). But I have a question for Kroger management that my wife brought up to me:

It seems that Kroger decided to change their layout about a week before the new opening of HEB. We now have to 're-learn' the layout of Kroger. Isn't this poor timing? Wifey said that if she is going to do this, then it makes just one more reason to not go to the Kroger once she learns the new HEB. I thought it was a good point.

I hate learning a new layout and it takes me 2x as long to find stuff. However, it won't matter since I'll only be shopping at HEB now.

p.s. It's KROGER. Not Kroger's. Or Krogers.

Kroger will definitely be feeling the pinch. The timing of the new layout seems inconvenient, but I was happy to see all the organic and health foods moved next to the produce section. It never made sense that they were in opposite corners of the store.

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but I was happy to see all the organic and health foods moved next to the produce section. It never made sense that they were in opposite corners of the store.

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yeah its just ashame for you to have to walk the 50 yards to the other side of the store

No more kroger. Too little too late. The produce section at HEB is enough for me to never shop at kroger again, even if it is closer to my house.

Competition

I heard a woman in Kroger complaining to a stocker about Wal-Mart changing things around and now Kroger doing it. He looked up at her and said that all the changes were being made directly because of HEB.

Not that anyone didn't know that already...

It seems that Kroger is trying to become more upscale with all the remodeling they're doing in the produce section.

When I was in there a few days ago, all the meat smelled horrible, and I walked out without buying any.

If they want to compete with HEB, they're going to have to lower prices which means removal of the stupid discount card and increase the quality of their merchandise.

Moving the organic/health foods did help. It's not about the fifty yards, it's about saving time. I went in yesterday and it was much quicker than normal.

The prices will have to change. I do a modified version of The Grocery Game and i have lists of what I buy and how those items are priced at each store. HEB is lower on most of the items we buy.

Kroger has a bulk section now, by the organic and produce section. They are just trying to convince their loyal customers to stay.

[This message has been edited by luvmydoc (edited 9/27/2010 11:32p).]

Honestly, I like both stores - they have their pluses and I am thrilled to have both close by.

I wouldn't go to the HEB CS - quit after it was open about a year because it was just too much hassle.

The one thing that irks me about HEB and Wal-Mart both is that the prices are different store to store. I will have to do some comparisons on the items I buy regularly once this store is open.

The Kroger card doesn't bother me - of course, I get $$ off coupons regularly which makes it seem more worthwhile (and you don't have to have it on hand, you can just enter your phone number).

Last time I compared prices, it was pennies difference so it came down to convenience, we'll see what happens now.

I will, however, take advantage of grand opening specials - did the same at Kroger.

Remember - it was very exciting to get the Kroger signature store back in the day (that corner was cow pasture) and that was around 2000. Thus, it's time for an update and competition does a great job of making everyone work on a higher level.

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The one thing that irks me about HEB and Wal-Mart both is that the prices are different store to store.

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I talked to FIL about this and he was surprised. Said there shouldn't be much (if any) price fluctuation within/around the same market.

In the end it doesn't really matter. The biggest complaint about HEB is always "the store is too crowded". Every time. So you either choose the hassle of people or the hassle of cards/coupons/shopping specials, etc. to come out close on price.

[This message has been edited by Nom de Plume (edited 9/28/2010 7:55a).]

I'm thrilled to see the changes at Kroger!

The old HEB on TX is always overrun with students and they're usually out of what I want (or only have the HCF equivalent), and I won't ever set foot in the revamped Walmart after the awful experiences I've had there.

Thank you Kroger for offering new products and making my shopping experience more efficient and enjoyable while STILL keeping your prices low with the discount card! The new HEB can offer all the free food they want... I'll still be shopping at the Rock Prairie Kroger!

I used to always always always shop HEB. Then I had a baby and although the distance is relatively small, Kroger being just that much closer, and a smaller store, became my new usual. EXCEPT for when I was out of yogurt - I have talked to the dairy manager AND organic/natural foods manager at Kroger at least 3 times begging them to carry Cascade yogurt (my favorite and most-purchased brand - I usually buy 15-20 at a time) and they still do not stock it. HEB has a fantastic yogurt selection, so they get my business at least 1x a month. Now, they will probably ALWAYS get my business unless I head over to Kroger for an advertised special that can't be beat.

My only apprehension about the new HEB was learning a whole new store when i already knew Kroger so well.
I went in Kroger last week to grab some fruit and noticed all the changes they were making and realized I will be learning a new layout no matter where I shop....so HEB wins for having lower prices and the largest selection of Bolner's Fiesta Seasonings!

The Kroger in CS was poorly laid out anyway. It's not designed like every other Kroger that I have shopped at. The one on Boonville is the standard layout. When Imoved to CS, i couldnt find anything in Kroger. Wasted my time running back and forth across the store to find things. Aggravated the heck out of me. I still think they should have the canned veggies and fruits relatively close together but it wont happen i am sure.

HEB is ok but i will tell you, when I lived in San Antonio and that was the only choice i had, I didnt like it. HEB doesnt always carry everything you can find at other grocery stores. They have some great stuff too, but when i search all over the store for something i am used to buying and cant because they dont carry it, I will have to shop elsewhere.

I see myself sharing grocery duty between the two stores. There is no way to get everything you need from one place.

HEB hands down, don't care how you slice it.

I never understood some of the layout that Kroger had. I've never seen a store put cereal and tampons on the same aisle.

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HEB doesnt always carry everything you can find at other grocery stores.

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Can you give an example? HEB seems to have everything I'm every looking for.

It may be worth it to pay a few extra cents to shop at Kroger after the crowds have moved on to HEB.

Too bad you folks live so far south that you can't shop at Village Foods.

Tailgate - They do have Starbucks and now they offer Prepared foods. (I was very impressed with all the new changes)

I still go to Village because there are some things I get there that nobody else carries, or Village carries it at a greatly reduced price.

While Village Foods has some unique items, I found that my day-to-day stuff was much more expensive there compared to either Kroger or HEB. For example, both strawberries and blueberries were priced significantly higher and it was the exact same brand/quantity.

I had the same experience, MiMi. Lots of things I buy on a regular basis - milk, yogurt, cereal, bread, etc. was terribly high the few times I visited Village Foods. Frozen convenience foods were also quite pricey. It's ok - I rarely travel north of University Drive, so it's not like it's the closest option and I get stuck shopping there. I can WALK to the new HEB!!

As for Village Foods, it isn't only about price. It is convenience, Service, buying local to help pay speeding tickets, selection, friendliness of staff, etc.

However, Kroger remodeling right when HEB is opening has to be the dumbest thing I've heard of. I don't know how many people have stated they would have continued shopping at Kroger but since they have to learn where everything is, might as well transition to the new HEB. Kroger should have remodeled a year ago, then everyone would have been somewhat forced to learn the new layout and could have stayed.

I'm with Spike. Village Foods is ridiculously expensive on most items just like Albertson's. Luckily I live in south College Station so I never go to Village Foods. How is Albertson's still in business?

To answer the OP's question, I am done with'em unless they carry something HEB does not.

I don't even bother food shopping at walmart, their selection is poor.

This doesn't quite relate to the HEB vs. Kroger debate, but why don't Krogers in this area have pastries? Both out east and out west, Kroger (or King Soopers) had pretty good turnovers, bearclaws, danishes, etc. Here all they pretty much have is donuts. Don't Texans like pastries?

Ack! I agree with paintrain!

I grew up near San Antonio and only had an HEB. I am thrilled to death to have this new store within walking distance from my house! Prices are better at HEB. Only complaint I've noticed about HEB (the one on Holleman) is they tend to push their store brand more and more to the point that the name brand isn't always available.

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p.s. It's KROGER. Not Kroger's. Or Krogers.

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THANK YOU! Talk about pet peeve. I constantly hear people call it Krogers.

I was in Kroger late last night and they were painting the walls in the produce/milk section. It smelled HORRIBLE and I apparently inconvenienced the mean up on the ladder by trying to get a gallon of milk out from the cooler.

We have always preferred HEB to Kroger, but, like many others, didn't want the hassle of going "all the way into town". We are SO excited about the new HEB and will be shopping (and getting gas) there from now on! I love how the gas at the Exxon dropped $.10 per gallon as soon as the HEB pumps opened!

I have shopped at Krogers since 1995 because they had the store closest to my house in Houston and in CS. Now that HEB is opening a store that is closer than Krogers that is where I will shop.

I will learn the layout, find foods to replace what I normally buy and enjoy it; I welcome the change and the shorter drive.

HEB very rarely puts Blue Bell on sale. Kroger does about every other week. in addition, there are occasional deals on various specialty items that we buy (non-dairy milk, for example, and we always check out the 'manager special' items table in the bakery area). if you pay attention to the circulars, limit your impulse buys, and are efficient with your errand-running, you can maximize your savings. grocery stores make money by counting on you buying 'regular'-priced items in addition to the sale items, and the one-store-only type persons play right into that.

Kroger vs. HEB Marketing 101: Convenience is 90% of the decision. Profit margins are too small.