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Post by cookiemomAUNTBEE on Nov 12, 2014 10:34:40 GMT -6
www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/us-walmart-memo-idUSKCN0IW1J520141112(Reuters) - Wal-Mart stores Inc (WMT.N) issued an "urgent agenda" memo to its store managers across the United States last month, laying out guidelines to boost sales of "chilled and fresh" food, the New York Times reported. The memo, marked "highly sensitive", asks Wal-Mart marketing managers to make sure they discount aging meat and baked goods to maximize chances of selling them before their expiration dates, according to the report. (nyti.ms/1v1YwHO) Wal-Mart, which has posted six straight quarters of flat or declining same-store sales growth, has been battling a stronger dollar and a reduction in U.S. food stamp benefits, which has eaten into the budget of the retailer's core customer base. The Times said the memo calls for comprehensive markdowns across 32 departments, asks stores to find creative ways to sell clearance items and to keep "complete records of daily throws" of meat and poultry. Walmart spokeswoman Deisha Barnett confirmed the memo's existence. "Our CEO has been vocal about our need to improve in this (fresh foods) category. We know it's very important to our customer and ... to us as the largest grocer in the U.S.," she told Reuters. The memo, which the Times said was leaked for public use by a Wal-Mart manager unhappy about understaffing, urges managers to reduce inventory and warns them not to exceed budgets. For meat departments, the report cited the memo as saying markdowns should start at 7 a.m. and be executed multiple times daily. The memo also advises stores to be sure to "rotate" dairy products and eggs, which means removing expired items and adding new stock at the bottom and back of display cases, the Times said.
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Post by bankingonit on Nov 12, 2014 13:11:30 GMT -6
Walmart sells "fresh" food?? It all looks a little sad at my local stores.
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Post by wewsrw on Nov 12, 2014 17:36:57 GMT -6
Walmart throws away so much food its not funny. They won't even donate.
A few weeks ago, I was working in the cc hills wm. Their power went out and the backup generators immediately kicked in. They pulled the curtains for the produce and dairy. They were throwing all the foods away in the coffins. Dips, salsas, salads etc.
I asked why not call a food pantry. They said they can't. Its against corporate policy.
I always see them compacting perfectly donatable food.
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Post by charlieq on Nov 12, 2014 18:27:42 GMT -6
Walmart throws away so much food its not funny. They won't even donate. A few weeks ago, I was working in the cc hills wm. Their power went out and the backup generators immediately kicked in. They pulled the curtains for the produce and dairy. They were throwing all the foods away in the coffins. Dips, salsas, salads etc. I asked why not call a food pantry. They said they can't. Its against corporate policy. I always see them compacting perfectly donatable food. The food is not donate-able, it is potentially bad. They are throwing the food away because the do not want the liability of selling potentially bad food. The liability is the same if they donate it.
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Post by mashupmom on Nov 12, 2014 18:41:27 GMT -6
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Post by reporter20 on Nov 12, 2014 19:14:10 GMT -6
A lot of places donate to pantries - Dominicks, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Jewel - used to donate expiring meat, salsas, guac. Veggies, fruits, packaged goods etc. to the pantry we helped at our church in Evanston
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Post by charlieq on Nov 12, 2014 21:20:25 GMT -6
The Act would not apply to expired or mishandled food, it applies basically to overstock situations. The Act states "donates in good faith", which they would not be able to claim because their reason for not offering it for sale is that it may be tainted.
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Post by charlieq on Nov 13, 2014 0:58:16 GMT -6
I detest Walmart and hate defending a lot of their actions just because of their tactical business decisions.
Given our sue happy society, putting it in the trash compactor is their safest bet.
I worked with a guy whose relative (don't remember if it was a cousin or ex-bil) used to garbage pick produce from Aldi's dumpster. The stuff wasn't necessarily bad, it just was (mostly) no longer presentable for sale. He also knew their schedule so it wasn't in there for very long. He ended up getting really sick one time from something he ate and threatened to sue Aldi for it. They settled out of court for $10,000 plus medical expenses.
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Post by Lauri on Nov 13, 2014 5:16:47 GMT -6
A lot of places donate to pantries - Dominicks, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Jewel - used to donate expiring meat, salsas, guac. Veggies, fruits, packaged goods etc. to the pantry we helped at our church in Evanston My DH picks up a ford escape FULL of this type of stuff 4-5 nights a week. Probably 75% of it is in perfect condition. If there is 1 bad apple in a bag the store can't sell it, but I can wash up the remaining 5 apples and were good on apples for the week. It is sad how much food gets wasted...and how many hungry people there are
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