Fareway South Ankeny

[Three4Cy]

It is a chip display, probably Frito Lay who has contracted with the University of Iowa to do a marketing campaign specifically in Fareway stores. Since Fareway is statewide, they have to do it in all stores, with maybe a few exceptions (Ames). Fareway is getting a lot of cash to do this as long as they give Frito Lay a prime end display / display space in each store and keep the display up for a certain time frame and front page placement in their newspaper ad. It also wouldn't surprise me if there aren't some sales incentives behind the $$ too. Believe me I know what Frito Lay pays to be on the front page of a newspaper ad and it's pretty hefty.

A few other things - there is not a lot of margin in true grocery items in a store. The old theory we worked off of was - the grocery department pays the bills, and the departments (produce, deli, bakery, meat, etc.) put the profit on the bottom line.

Each HyVee store director can carry whatever he/she wants in their store as far as product selection. There are some items that all stores have to carry, but as far as items like ISU/UI/UNI - that is at the discretion of each store director and his/her management team. So, when you are in a HyVee in Des Moines, they probably carry both, whereas in Cedar Rapids, it was only Iowa merchandise and Ames only carries ISU stuff. 15 years working in retail grocery and retail marketing, and you learn a lot of the inter-workings of the business and the politics of retail grocery.

I'm not going to let a display sway where I shop, if that were the case, I would have to quit shopping at Target because right now all I see in the DSM stores is Iowa merchandise. I shop with price and convenience in mind, not who has an Iowa display up in their store.

 

[mj4cy]

I like Hy-Vee better. Their meat department seems to have what I need as well. If you use copuons, they are just as good if not better than Fairway prices.

 

[ISUcy08]

I walked into the Hy Vee last year in Osky and they had a Hawk football game over the intercom! I was ******. The manager of Fareway is a huge Clone though!

 

[RING4CY]

I do as I don't want my money to go to a Hawkeye store.

Then I would look into online grocery shopping if I were you.

Something like this will not keep me from going to Fareway. I find the prices at the Cedar Falls Fareway are better than Hy-Vee. Even if Fareway cost more than Hy-Vee they are worth it as their service is far superior to Hy-Vee.

 

[ktownmafia]

i work at fareway!!

 

[LeSchmick]

Fail. You don't get to live in a 'burb and have a "south side".

yet the basketball practice facility is in WEST Ames.

 

[tube1]

Apparently, I do as I don't want my money to go to a Hawkeye store. I am ok if it is fair...that is all I want.

By the way, my dentist is even a donor of ISU...that was a little harder to find.

You chose your medical professionals based on what school they donate money to? Strange. How does that initial conversation go?

 

[dmclone]

Except for price -- Fareway usually is 20-50% lower than HyVee. Running 24/7, plus all those add-on services put a strong markup on prices at HyVee.

This is wrong on so many levels.

 

[CylentButDeadly]

Cyclonebax, I don't think you're being too petty about this at all. Just as you are, I'm proud to be an ISU fan and with that pride, comes consumer awareness about the products I purchase and where I choose to purchase those products/services. In central Iowa especially, I'm of the opinion that unless a business is specifically marketing itself with a Cyclone/hawkeye/Bulldog/Panther slant, it should go to all measures within reason to make fans of the four major state universities feel welcome, and give consumers the impression that their business appreciates the fans of those schools.

Now, you may be asking, where do you draw the line? There are plenty of Simspon fans in Des Moines, and shouldn't those fans deserve the same type of gratitude. I'm not arguing that they shouldn't, but I've never met a Simpson alum/fan that didn't also root for one of the larger universities in the state, so I don't think they take offense, or as least as much offense to not seeing their logo on display in businesses around the metro.

As for your situation, perhaps Frito Lay has an agreement with the university of iowa, and if that's the case, that's fine, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that store director/manager to compensate in other areas to make Cyclone fans feel appreciated and welcome in that store as well. A little effort can go a long way, and even though this may seem like a small matter, people do notice these things and it does influence their spending habits and decisions.

 

[CycloneErik]

I like Hy-Vee better. Their meat department seems to have what I need as well. If you use copuons, they are just as good if not better than Fairway prices.

I like most of your posts, but I'm offended at your spelling of coupons. There have been enough posts on the topic to raise your awareness by now.:smile:

We shop Hy-Vee every week, and we walk out satisfied with our food and the bill. I just can't imagine not shopping somewhere because of a display like that.

 

[CycloneErik]

Then I would look into online grocery shopping if I were you.

Something like this will not keep me from going to Fareway. I find the prices at the Cedar Falls Fareway are better than Hy-Vee. Even if Fareway cost more than Hy-Vee they are worth it as their service is far superior to Hy-Vee.

What if the people running the online grocery store were contributing to Iowa?

 

[ISU_REV]

So I go into the Fareway in South Ankeny tonight and they have a display with chips and Hawkeye crap all over it.

I have not known Fareway to be biased, as usually they have both ISU and Iowa stuff. I spend 600 a month at this Fareway and may be done.

What are others opinions of whether they are unbiased or not?

I will be glad when the Hy Vee goes in on the south side.

Do what we do. Every time we see any type of hawk displays we turn as much around so you can not see any wording or the dreaded herky crap. We feel if there is no sign stating "DO NOT TOUCH DISPLAY" we are free to help arrange it correctly.

Quick Wal-Mart story:
I made the mistake of buying sliced meat from the counter once. After I told the peopleofwalmart.com employee what I wanted she proceeded to open the bag by blowing in it. Needless to say I did not buy that loogie infested bag of meat.

 

[cygrads]

My opinion is who gives a ****.

You should - every business that puts in more UI stuff just promotes them even more and garners more fans - like that is all we need.

 

[Stormin]

Lets not get into this Hy-Vee versus Fareway thing again. I'll summarize the last battle solved.

Fareway's are usually cheaper but that is because they have cheaper items. If you stick to the food isles the prices are within cents of each other. If you want to save money, use coupons.

Fareway has a better meat dept. Hy-Vee has better everything else (seafood, produce, floral, non-food,etc)

On an item per item basis, same product, same company, Fareway is cheaper. Way cheaper. If you use Hy-Vee brands, you may narrow the difference some. But without a doubt, Fareway is much cheaper. At least where I live.

Fareway also matches the competitor's price. And Fareway does the research. So ALL Hy-Vee sale prices are automatically matched, with a small sign that notes "Competitor's Ad".

Hy-Vee is 24 hours, 7 days a week. Fareway is 6 days, and 14 hours per day. Our Hy-Vee has a bit more selection. But there is no doubt that Fareway is much cheaper.

 

[simply1]

That's it, I'm measuring display sizes, counting number of products available for purchase, and sabotaging any hawkeye display I run across. I'm also verifying hospitals allegiances, pre-determining a "safe" list of cyclone medical professionals, and letting my dog hump any other dogs with hawkeye leashes or collars.

Learned a lot here this week!

 

[simply1]

It's stupid to just stop going without even talking with a manager at least, wth does that "help" exactly? Are they supposed to just become aware of your reasons for not shopping there via osmosis?

 

[BryceC]

I shop at that Fareway exclusively, and they generally have a display for both, at least in the last 4 years it's been the case. I'd say don't worry about it too much.

 

[CylentButDeadly]

Weighing in on the which place is cheaper debate, Fareway may in fact have cheaper prices, but I also find that when I go to Hy-Vee, I buy more simply because they have more. I haven't cross-referenced prices, but could it be possible that some of us buy more at Hy-Vee and that leads us to believe that their prices are higher?

 

[cygrads]

Any time I see a display like that I ask where the ISU display is and there was one time an employee actually said there is no plan for an ISU display and I said I have no plans on shopping here either and walked out. I know this is somewhat extreme but unless they know people have a problem with it it will continue. And yes it doesn't happen very often.

 

[KeyserSoze]

That's it, I'm measuring display sizes, counting number of products available for purchase, and sabotaging any hawkeye display I run across. I'm also verifying hospitals allegiances, pre-determining a "safe" list of cyclone medical professionals, and letting my dog hump any other dogs with hawkeye leashes or collars.

Learned a lot here this week!

Don't forget to measure the store manager's *****. You wouldn't want to shop at a store where you were made to feel inadequate.