Ukrop’s will close Roanoke store Oct. 24
UKROP’S
Closing the Roanoke Ukrop’s is “painful for many reasons,“ said Robert S. Ukrop, chairman and CEO.
Ukrop’s Super Markets will close its Roanoke store Oct. 24.
“We wished it had worked out differently. It’s painful for many reasons, not the least of which is the we will no longer be able to offer employment to associates who have diligently served Ivy Market customers,“ said Robert S. Ukrop, chairman and CEO of the chain.
Earlier this year, the chain closed one of its two Williamsburg stores.
The Richmond-based company opened the 58,700-square-foot grocery store in 2007 at the Ivy Market shopping center on Franklin Road.
Ukrop’s has recently been in discussion with potential buyers for its chain, according to published reports.
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All things being equal, most people would shop at the grocery store that is closest to them. The fact that Ukrops is not the closest store for many of their customers is a testament to the Ukrops brand name.
With the emergence of the organic food fad, stores like Whole Foods are drawing some customers who otherwise would have shopped at Ukrops. If you want to see high prices, go shop at Whole Foods.
It is very difficult for institutions in one market to break into another market. Ukrops is a first class operation no doubt. In Richmond. Wawa is an institution in the Philadelphia area. All coffee for an entire large city population is purchased daily at a Wawa in metropolitan Philadelphia. Wawa in Richmond has the same stores, same coffee, but a rather unsophisticated coffee population.
That does not mean Wawa is an unsuccessful venture. It just is taking a little longer to break into a new market.
Ukrops is a fine store, and I enjoy the excellent service and congenial atmosphere that Ukrops provides. Regrettably, however, many people now make purchase decisions on the basis of price alone. My opinion is that the cheapest price is not necessarily the best value, but in today’s world I may be in the minority.
David you are correct, as I should have clearfied this…. what I meant about being small is the size of the store and their limits on what they have. They carry on the average of 2,800 items whereas a regular grocery chain carries over 60 thousand items… Thanks for bringing it to my attention…..
Trader Joe’s is a “new, small grocery chain”? Hardly.
They were founded in 1958, have 328 stores and are owned by a trust for members of the Albrecht family of Germany, who founded the Aldi chain of supermarkets, which has over 8,000 locations worldwide, including 1,000 in the USA. As a chain, Trader Joe’s does over $7 billion in sales annually.
They’re hardly small or new, except maybe in store size and limited selection.
As of lately, Ukrop’s prices have gotten very competitive. Compare the weekly grocery ads and you will see this to be true. As for customer service, Ukrop’s is still way ahead of its competition. And their Fuel Perks program is a great incentive. So, by selective shopping, a family can save money by shopping at Ukrop’s. That is not to say that ocasionally one might have to shop at Krogers or Food Lion to save on certain products.
Thanks GP for your post. That’s exactly how I believe about the situation, too.
Kroger IS NOT cheaper. Do you know your math?
BTW, now that you’ve spent your last dollar on your BMR or Lexus, your $500 thousand on your McMansion, sent your kids to Collegiate or St. Chris/Cath, or sent them off to George Wash Univ or Wake Forest Univ in their BMR, I guess you are looking to spend 50 cents on a can of soup. I guess that’s how you wish to live in your lap of luxury. Well, your sense of money is way off course and that’s why we’re in the fix we’re in now—living beyond your means.
I find it really funny that people think Kroger is a cheaper place to shop than Ukrops. They are either only kidding themselves or not paying much attention. And while it’s true that Ukrops dropped to number 2, they still hold that position with fewer stores, selling in fewer days and without a huge profit maker like alcohol. For years now, Ukrops has been the benchmark for the industry nationwaide. To make statements that they are selling now because of their “shrinking wealth” is just moronic. If they are selling, it’s because it is a smart business move and free’s them up for other things. Anyone who has lived here more than 15 minutes knows how involved the family is in so many different areas. So, for all of you Ukrop haters, go back to your Macs, blog about how evil Microsoft is, and feel better about yourself. Because when it get’s right down to it…IT’S JUST A GROCERY STORE!! Sheesh!
thank you Badger…. however I am not some some old angry person who goes off half cocked. Recently or several months ago, I was in a new small grocery chain which just opened here in Richmond. the Trader Joe’s seems to have a name which some people fall to their knees for because it is, “Trader Joe’s”.
Anyway, my point is… I have been in the store on several occasions and the management in there bad mouths Ukrop’s especially. I know Ukrop’s is high in costs… but to me, Ukrop’s has done a lot to bring many many good things to Richmond. It also forced many other grocery chains to change for the better. Otherwise you would have been shopping in some third world market.
I asked the manager at TJ’s, where are you from and of course they are from Tim Buck Two, but they know what is best for Richmond and the glee in their negative talk about Ukrop’s disgusts me.
I stopped going into Trader Joe’s as they are limited on what you need, and their customer service is not good. When you feel you haveto bad mouth a traditional company which has done a lot of good towards Richmond… than I would like to see you leave.
The day Ukrop’s closes it’s doors… will be a sad day for Richmond. The Ukrop’s family are traditional family which have done a lot for Richmond. I feel many have forgotten this. Back in the early 70s, it was just a “Mom & Pop” store on Midlothian… and look where it has come in just a few short years. So when I see people who move here and talk about a wonderful company in a negative tone…. personally, I feel Richmond is MY home and if you do not like living here and shopping in our stores, than move back to wherever you came from.
Rf2lite, You mean to say that you NEVER buy something kinda pricey, when you could opt for a cheaper alternative? Car? Eyeglass frames—Anything? C’mon…..
So tell me why spending a tiny bit more at Ukrops is any diferent than that. No, on second thought don’t tell me. Won’t e back. We have to hit Ukrops before they lock the door.
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