Kroger stock down

Interesting for me...after giving them ~$200K in business over the past 20 years, I've basically quit shopping there because they require me to download specials using some "app." No thanks. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way.

Shop there every week and long from the low 21s, so agree to disagree. I don't really use the specials but have the app. Think it's the way most stores are going so they can track consumers and set up the shopping experience better. I like their cheap generic Kroger brands especially.

They are seemingly struggling vs HEB here in Texas. Theyve built several new stores around me and just from observation it appears that they do not have the traffic as the big HEB nearby.

It is also obvious that they do not have the same quality meat market/seafood market that HEB does. Will be interesting to see how they do with the recent expansions..Hopefully there arent empty buildings around...

Kroger missed the mark. HEB has it figured out.

I love HEB, and go there over Kroger unless it's too packed.

However, Kroger operates in 33 more states than HEB, so it's not exactly a zero-sum game.

HEB blows Kroger away in organization, cleanliness, and presentation. That's makes all the difference

Shop at Kroger for everything but beef and seafood.
We save $100/month more shopping at Kroger over heb. And the Kroger online store pickup much easier to use.

Doesn't include the savings we get on gas at shell, that heb doesn't offer. Also heb is a YUGE supporter of sanctuary cities in Texas.

"We don't have an HEB/Trader Joe's/Publix/Hy-Vee/Wegmans where I live, so our only options are Kroger and Wal-Mart" - everyone that is forced to shop at Kroger.

Kroger used to have good beef, but it looks like they sell mostly Nolan Ryan now. Very high-priced. I do like their store-brand organics.

HEB is usually higher priced, but they do have a nice quirky selection. One problem with HEB is that I can't find product info easily because the packaging is covered in Spanish, since it takes 3 times as much space to write in Spanish.

94chem said:

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Kroger stock down

Interesting for me...after giving them ~$200K in business over the past 20 years, I've basically quit shopping there because they require me to download specials using some "app." No thanks. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way.

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I left a cart of groceries at the checkout stand when I was told that I needed to download an app.

**** that.

redag06 said:

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Shop at Kroger for everything but beef and seafood.

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We have a Kroger and heb across the street from one another. We mostly shop at Kroger but sometimes venture to heb. I'd agree that the heb beef and seafood is better but I think the produce is better at Kroger. Heb is always a zoo and their prices seem higher than Kroger. I like that the heb is more Texas focused but unless I need a lot of beef and seafood going over there generally isn't worth it to me.

Also, didn't really think the Kroger app was a big deal. My wife uses it all the time to get coupons on stuff we buy frequently. Seems to make sense to cater coupons to the individual/family consumer specifically.

Eminus6 said:

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redag06 said:

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Shop at Kroger for everything but beef and seafood.

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We have a Kroger and heb across the street from one another. We mostly shop at Kroger but sometimes venture to heb. I'd agree that the heb beef and seafood is better but I think the produce is better at Kroger. Heb is always a zoo and their prices seem higher than Kroger. I like that the heb is more Texas focused but unless I need a lot of beef and seafood going over there generally isn't worth it to me.

Also, didn't really think the Kroger app was a big deal. My wife uses it all the time to get coupons on stuff we buy frequently. Seems to make sense to cater coupons to the individual/family consumer specifically.

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At HEB you just buy whatever brand has the yellow coupons hanging in front of it.

Haven't noticed the app. Can't you still use your loyalty card?

Diggity said:

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Haven't noticed the app. Can't you still use your loyalty card?

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Some of the sale items required a digital coupon

Kroger is the closest market to me. I love HEB but they are not as convenient.

Kroger hires a certain type of person.....

Gotcha.

Target is pulling crap like that now. Pretty obnoxious.

Whole Foods wants you to use their app as well, but you can just give them a phone number.

You can still give Kroger your number for your loyalty card, just the app lets you load digital coupons. They have some sale items that are extra cheap with digital coupon.

Our HEB seems to always be out of half the items you went there to buy, so we stick with Kroger and Aldi. HEB has also gone nuts on prices once you are used to sale prices elsewhere.

Long @ 22.

Missed sales but beat earnings. Rough.

Old Buffalo said:

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Long @ 22.

Missed sales but beat earnings. Rough.

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What am I missing with that stock? Ie why are you long? Genuinely curious.

HEB garners a lot of TX loyalty- Dr. Peper, Blue Bell, Bucc-ee's. Kroger is getting left in the dust here.

Nearest HEB is 45 miles from me. That's kind of a problem.

Grocery is cutthroat low margin - do not invest.

94chem said:

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Eminus6 said:

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redag06 said:

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Shop at Kroger for everything but beef and seafood.

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We have a Kroger and heb across the street from one another. We mostly shop at Kroger but sometimes venture to heb. I'd agree that the heb beef and seafood is better but I think the produce is better at Kroger. Heb is always a zoo and their prices seem higher than Kroger. I like that the heb is more Texas focused but unless I need a lot of beef and seafood going over there generally isn't worth it to me.

Also, didn't really think the Kroger app was a big deal. My wife uses it all the time to get coupons on stuff we buy frequently. Seems to make sense to cater coupons to the individual/family consumer specifically.

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At HEB you just buy whatever brand has the yellow coupons hanging in front of it.

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kroger has this too. But digital coupons take even more off.

For Labor Day they had Cap'n Crunch for $2, down from $3 something, using just your loyalty card/phone number and it has that price on the hanging yellow tag. But digital coupon took it down to $1. You can only use it the one checkout (can buy 3 items) where's hanging tag can be used over multiple trips.

Lots of businesses have low operating margin, that doesn't mean they are not good investments.

For most beef I go to heb but Kroger usually has the better deals. Recently I've got choice packer briskets at Kroger for $1.64 a pound and choice bone in tbones or ribeyes are often $4.99 a pound. Usually hard to see HEB get that close with select. Both the HEB and Kroger are right across the street from each other and both seem equaly busy. This is in Granburg.

Deceptive to view traditional margin for retail.

I typically focus on any and all working capital metrics, ROA, operating cash and coverage of fixed cash costs.

Randall's has 2 nice stores in Kingwood. One of them flooded. I was shocked that it re-opened. There's never anybody there. Their prices are the highest of all, but their sales are the best. I go there if I want to avoid the zoo across the street at HEB.

I wish Aldi's and trader Joe's would go public.

Duncan Idaho said:

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I wish Aldi's and trader Joe's would go public.

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never been in an aldi

Duncan Idaho said:

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I wish Aldi's and trader Joe's would go public.

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Will never happen with that family (one brother owns Aldi and the other owns Trader Joe's - there's two Aldi's in Germany). Their competitor Lidl is also family owned.

It's a tough business, but it's going to be around a long-time. Basic necessity.

I'd also say while not the top operator, it's a middle of the pack quality - which is going to appeal to the target market. Albertson's is low quality, Wal-mart isn't there yet, and other competitors (Target, Tom Thumb) are higher price points.

My general investment thesis was there was an over reaction to the Amazon news. Probably won't hold past 30 again.

Quote:

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competitors (Target, Tom Thumb) are higher price points.

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Walgreen's is probably cheaper than Target.

Ragoo said:

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Duncan Idaho said:

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I wish Aldi's and trader Joe's would go public.

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never been in an aldi

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Trader Joe's is Aldi Nord.

I bought Kroger stock maybe 3 years ago abs sold it maybe 2 years ago at a loss. I tried to catch a falling knife.

The Kroger nearest to me seems to have pretty good specials; not Aldi cheap but the specials are pretty good and my local has a discount section with some decent finds.

I've bought a gallon of milk for 0.59 to $1.39 with a week left on the expiration

I've always been a loyal Kroger person. Could never get into HEB when we lived in TX - seemed like a slightly nicer Walmart in some ways. But I do agree the seafood and some meat cuts are better. That's not a very big part of my shopping experience, however.