BOGOs and penny pinching at the grocery store

And so it goes in Shreveport's Pat hit the nail on the head Monday when she noted that trips to the grocery store have become far more expensive the past few years.

Last week I was looking for round steak for my beef teriyaki, a snow-day goody that can easily be cooked on the wood stove or fireplace. Round steak used to be the cheap stuff. Last week it was around $8-9 pound. I ended up substituting the less-appealing stew beef chunks that were $5 a pound.

That's why I religiously shop sales and look for markdown items. We are able to grill ribeyes, pork chops, t-bones, and other cuts of beef by buying from the markdown shelf and watching for sales at Martin's. Chicken continues to be a good bargain when bought on sale. In fact, I have a roaster in the oven today that was a BOGO.*

This morning's news that the price of milk is going up approximately 60 cents a gallon because of the ongoing drought in California made me wonder why because most dairy farms, I thought, were in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, it's yet another staple that's rising in price. All those years as a one-income homeschool family taught me how to pinch a penny and shop the bargains. Looks like it was good training for now.

* BOGO = Buy One Get One Free

H/T Fishersville Mike

Wounded Warrior Project and Martin's Food Markets

Martin's Food Markets has joined the USO and Wounded Warrior Project to support men and women from our communities who are serving in the armed forces both here and around the world. With help from patrons, they are raising money to make a difference in the lives of veterans and active-duty servicemen and women.

By donating $1.00 (or more) at check-out, you help support the mission of the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness, enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

The USO's Mission is to enhance the quality of life of U.S. armed forces personnel and their families worldwide and create a cooperative relationship between U.S. military communities and involved or supporting civilian communities.

Many are happy to shell out a buck when checking out at Martin's to help support these worthy organizations.

Ukrop's Homestyle Foods wanted in Shenandoah Valley Martin's

Here's my personal plea to Robert Ukrop: "Please bring Ukrop's Homestyle Foods to the Martin's Food Market in Staunton."

I guess I should direct that more at Martin's owners since they would make the decision.

Irregardless, it's somewhat maddening to see two weekly Martin's ads ... one that advertises Ukrop's goodies and the other that doesn't.

The Sunday food ad in the Richmond Times-Dispatch has a Martin's ad that is peppered throughout with Ukrop's items. The Martin's ad in the Waynesboro News-Virginian has a regular ad ... no familiar green-backed "Ukrop's" emblems anywhere.

I had hoped -- wished? -- when Martin's took over a few months ago that they would ship some of those familiar Ukrop's foods to the Valley for those of us who know them, and for those who could fall in love with them just like generations of Richmonders did. So far, nothing.

Today's Times-Dispatch has an excellent article about the new Ukrop's Homestyle Foods and describes how the Ukrops hope to not only supply foods for Martin's but also expand into other markets.

Hey, Mr. Ukrop! Come to the Shenandoah Valley!

Anyone who reads this blog knows the long history my family has had with Ukrop's Supermarkets. Their lingering presence in Richmond is a good thing. Martin's has added "Ukrop's Homestyle Foods" signs on their stores and kept the "Ukrop's Cafes." It has made it easier for Richmonders to wean themselves from Ukrop's Supermarkets by providing the foods that made those supermarkets so popular.

Foods like chicken salad, White House rolls, triple cheese mac and cheese, rainbow cookies, cakes are still available in Richmond area Martin's. And therein is the rub.

Would people in the Shenandoah Valley learn to love the Ukrop's foods craved by those of us who grew up with it?

Hey, Mr. Ukrop! We have three Martin's stores in this area ... Waynesboro, Staunton, and Harrisonburg. We'd love to have some chicken salad! Oh, and don't forget the White House rolls!

Maybe one day....

UPDATE: Bob at The Journey has joined in on the request to have delicious Ukrop's goodies in Martin's stores in the Valley....

Ukrop's becomes Martin's ... and Tom White isn't impressed

Being a Ukrop's customer for years, the entire episode of selling their stores to Martin's Food Market has been front-burner attention for me.

So when I read the BNN headlines and saw Tom White's post, I Went to Martin’s. I Shopped at Martin’s. Martin’s, You Are No Ukrops!, I immediately clicked on it.

I began to read ... and then I began to giggle ... and then I laughed out loud. SWAC Husband wanted to know what was so funny. I mumbled that I was reading something by Tom White (they know each other) and continued reading and giggling and he asked again what was so funny.

I finished reading, started to give him a synopsis, and then asked, "You want me to read it out loud to you?" Sitting across the room on the sofa reading the morning newspaper, he said yes, so I began to read just as I used to read to my children. With inflection in voice and using my best "Tom White" immitation along with a higher-pitched feminine "clerk" voice, I shared Tom's adventure in MartinLand and we both laughed at his remembrance of the shopping trip from ... well, let's just say it was unpleasant.

In full disclosure, I've lived away from Richmond for a number of years and so had to find a Ukrop's wanna-be a long time ago, and two of the best were Harris-Teeter and Lowe's Foods.

Several years ago Martin's came to Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg so it has been my local grocery store of choice for a while. My hope now is that the Richmond Martin's stores will ship some of that yummy Ukrop's food to Valley stores. (Ukrop's food division will continue to provide chicken salad and bakery products that were always a trademark of the Ukrop family.)

Service, cleanliness, and quality products were what made me a Ukrop's lover even though, like Tom, I cook quite a lot so didn't necessarily need their ready-made foods. I loved the freshness of their produce and meats, and stayed away from the prepared stuff because, like him, price counts with me. No need paying someone else to chop all those salad makings when I can do it myself.

But when you needed a quick meal or lunch, there was no place better ... and a ready-made London Broil panini on sunflower bread was always a favorite.

I'll continue to shop Martin's in Staunton. I'll probably continue to shop the Martin's-that-took-the-place-of-Ukrop's in Richmond. But somehow I'm not sure Martin's can maintain a hold on 24 Richmond area stores especially with episodes like the one relayed by Tom.

Ukrop's was a destination. When you become like any other grocery store, then any other grocery store will do.

Richmond's Ukrop's stores to become Martin's Food Markets

The sale of Ukrop's Supermarkets has been finalized and they will begin transforming into Martin's Food Markets owned by Giant:

Many analysts have said that Ukrop’s long-standing policy of closing on Sundays and not selling alcohol caused the family-owned chain to lose its top place in the Richmond market to Food Lion, owned by Belgium-based Delhaize Group.

The rebranded Ukrop’s stores will sell beer and wine and remain open on Sundays. Giant-Carlisle said the Ukrop family will continue to provide kitchen and bakery products to the stores. The stores include 19 pharmacies, which will continue to operate with their current pharmacists.

Martin's is the supermarket of choice here in Staunton because it is the closest thing to a Ukrop's I could find in the Shenandoah Valley with quality fruits, vegetables, and meats. Their comfortable cafe with sofas, tables, and fireplace is a gathering place for friends and to hook up the laptop to complimentary Wi-Fi.

Thank you to the Ukrop family for their years of service to the Richmond area community. They will be missed.