Report: Ukrop’s seeking potential buyers
DEAN HOFFMEYER/TIMES-DISPATCH FILE PHOTO
Ukrop’s has 28 stores statewide—25 in the Richmond area and one each in Williamsburg, Fredericksburg and Roanoke.
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A grocery trade publication reported today that Richmond-based Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc. is in discussions with potential buyers for the 28-store chain.
Food World reported on its Web site that family-owned Ukrop ' s had issued a prospectus "detailing vital Ukrop’s store data and seeking interest in a potential sale." It cited multiple industry sources.
Jeff Metzger, publisher Maryland-based Food World, declined to comment on the story yesterday afternoon.
Potential buyers responding to the prospectus included Harris Teeter, Supervalu and Netherlands-based Ahold, Food World reported.
Ukrop’s did not respond to several requests for comment.
A spokeswoman for Harris Teeter would only say it was the company’s corporate policy "not to comment on rumors." Ahold and Supervalu did not return requests for comment.
The Food World report came amid widespread discussion in Richmond-area blogs and online chats of the possibility of Ukrop's being sold, including reports that Harris Teeter had applied for state licenses to sell alcohol in the same number of locations that Ukrop's has stores.
A spokeswoman for Harris Teeter said the North Carolina-based grocery chain had not applied for such licenses and a spokeswoman for the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said no such applications had been filed.
Ukrop's has 28 stores statewide -- 25 in the Richmond area and one each in Williamsburg, Fredericksburg and Roanoke.
Reader Reactions
I don’t understand what your trying to get at when you say that they stopped treating their customers with respect?? The Ukrop’s store is open from 7am-10pm. If that isn’t enough hours a day, then what do you want, 24 hour service. As stated in the last comment, Ukrop’s is cheaper on some things and Kroger is cheaper on other things. I’d say it’s about equal.
I understand that the family wants to get out while they can, it’s a harsh economy and people need to do what they need to do to stay successful. I’m not sure what you mean when you say “As a cashier, you’ll see Chapter 11 down the road.“ I’m a college student working part time, so I’m not trying to make cashiering my career. I’m working now to pay for my gas/school/other needs.
Anyways, I’m going to miss the 10k run that Ukrop’s does, the Ukrop’s parade, the awesome bakery, and the people. I’ve met a lot of great people through Ukrop’s.
Regarding Uppy’s being the higher priced gas stations comment earlier, today the Kroger closest to me in Atlee is selling regular for $2.55, among the highest in Richmond. The closest Uppy’s to me is $2.49. So even with that meager 3 cent discount, I’m still paying more at Kroger for gas.
I looked at this weeks ads janet just like you said, and here are some of the similar items they had on sale and how Ukrops and Kroger compared, and the clear winner given a *:
Pork Chops
- Ukrops: $2.48/lb
- Kroger: $1.99/lb on one page but $3.79/lb on another, so what the price is, I don’t know.
Chicken Breasts
- Kroger*: $1.99/lb
- Ukrops is $4.88/lb
Tomatoes
- Kroger: $0.99
- Ukrops*: $0.88 (Hanover tomatoes at that)
Pepsi 12 pack cans:
- Kroger: 5/$12
- Ukrops*: 5/$11
Gatorade 8-packs
- Kroger: $4.49 only if you buy 10 other certain items, otherwise it’s $4.99.
- Ukrops: 2/$5
Cheese:
- Kroger: 2/$4
- Ukrops*: 2/$3
Mayo:
- Kroger*: $1.88
- Ukrops: 2/$4
Cauliflower:
- Kroger: 2/$5
- Ukrops*: $1.98
Grapes:
- Kroger: $1.38 (red only)
- Ukrops: $1.48 (red, green, and black)
So like I’ve said before, Kroger beats them on some things, but not all things, and certainly not all the time. And Kroger is famous for their strings-attached sale prices (aka, the Gatorade), which can easily fool their customers. So we can put that argument to rest.
And for my money, Ukrops produce beats Kroger any day. We picked up some sweet corn from Kroger the other day and it was the worst corn we’ve had all summer. Haven’t had that problem with Ukrops at all.
711
They are not rumors, dear, they were rumors 2 years ago. Today it’s a fact. The trade pubs have reported that Ukrops is actively soliciting for bids to find a buyer. Only the employees are clutching at the straws.
The Ukrop family is not made up of the saints the Richmond community has made them out to be. They don’t sell groceries so they can be good citizens who provide jobs and make charitable contributions. They do it to make money. They do what is in their best interests like everyone else does. Selling is what they see is in their best interest today.
I agree with them.
They will not change with the times.
They will become less and less competitive over time.
They thought they could exist as a Richmond icon that customers would never forsake.
They were hubristic and they stopped treating their customers with respect. They talked the respect talk but they stopped walking the respect walk. They have insulted the desires of the Richmond grocery customer too many times (pricing, open hours, beer and wine). Other grocery stores respected the grocery customer by changing with the times and meeting the customers’ needs. ALL the customers, current, and potential. They have taken market share away from Ukrops because the grocery customer saw them responding to their needs while Ukrops stagnated.
Now you employees will pay the price. The family has got theirs and they will now get more by selling you out. They’ll mouth the standard right words all right, but they’ll just be words.
Ukrops is different from Circuit City only in that they are not waiting until they must go Chapter 11. As a cashier, you can see Chapter 11 down the road. Your stores don’t do near the volume they did 2 years ago.
There’s Ukrops closer to my house than a Kroger is. I run in and out from time to time when I’m in a hurry. Every time I do, I am shocked at the lack of customers compared to several years ago, before Kroger came in and before WalMart opened their superstores.
Customers who compare Ukrops to a national or regional brand are not comparing apples and oranges. Groceries are a commodity like oil or copper or lumber. Pricing is king for all commodities, even moreso during a recession. Pricing is king in the grocery business.
Yes, I think it is unfortunate that they are probably going to be bought. I am biased, but honestly you are comparing apples to oranges. When comparing prices from a nationwide store to a local store, of course the local store will be a bit more expensive. Although, I still feel like if you watch the sales at Ukrop’s, it really isn’t this drastic amount more that you are claiming. When I say sales, I don’t mean what is in the ad, I mean the plethora of additional sales going on throughout the week.
Well, I guess if the rumors hold true none of this ridiculous argument means anything anyways. I’m sure you’ll be comparing Kroger to whatever store may take over Ukrop’s.
“Ukrop’s doesn’t cost much more than Kroger”
Utterly wrong. I’ve given examples galore. Ukrops prices s/b an embarrassment to them. I see more and more Ukrops employees shopping at Kroger every week. Look at today’s ads.
“I’m a Ukrop’s cashier”
So you’re a completely unbiased observer, right?
Look, I hope you can keep your job, but chances are MASSIVE in favor of Ukrops selling out and downsizing/cutting costs a lot. That means cutting salary costs and that means laying off staff. You cashiers won’t have anything to say about it so polish up your resumes and move on. Ukrops is done. The family has made their money and none of the younger ones want to work in the grocery business. Sad but true. Things change. Ukrops can’t compete because they chose not to and they are too hidebound to change now.
Look, you are just comparing apples to oranges. Kroger is a national store where-as Ukrops is a local store. If you want great customer service, better hot foods/bakery items, and a variety of specialty items, you go to Ukrop’s. Really, Ukrop’s doesn’t cost much more than Kroger. If you watch the specials/sales, you won’t break the bank just like anywhere else.
I’m also going to say that fuelperks is way better than Kroger’s gas program. I’m a Ukrop’s cashier and have seen people recieving .35-.40 cents off per gallon each week. It just stacks up and is good for 3 months. So I have actually seen people with $2.50-$3.00 off per gallon. AKA FREE GAS! If the gas is anymore expensive, then it’s only by a maximum of .10 more. What does it matter when it’s FREE anyways.
Oh, and on Saturdays you get .10 of per gallon per every $50 spent. Kroger give’s you .10 cents off for spending 100 dollars and that’s it for the month. If you spent $100 at Ukrop’s on Saturday, you’d get .20 off that you could use that same day. Then you could go back and do it again the next Saturday.
Ukrops fuelperks v Kroger Fuel Saver Rewards:
When can I redeem fuelperks!?
fuelperks! may be redeemed immediately.
Once you choose to redeem your fuelperks! (20 gallon limit), your fuelperks! balance will be fully depleted.
KROGER’S PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE A PER GALLON LIMIT! WE’VE FILLED BOTH CARS AT THE SAME PUMP - OVER 35 GALLONS ON THE SAME $100 CREDIT.
Can I carry forward my fuelperks! if I fill up with less than the 20 gallon limit?
No. Once you choose to redeem your fuelperks!, your account will be fully depleted no matter how many gallons you choose to purchase.
NOT SO WITH KROGER. IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN $100 ON YOUR CARD, ONLY $100 IS SUBTRACTED FROM OUR TOTAL CREDIT!
May I fill up more than one vehicle when redeeming fuelperks!?
No. For safety reasons customers are not permitted to fill more than one vehicle.
THAT SAFETY THING IS TOTALLY BOGUS!
Ukrops fuel program is only for SOME area Uppy’s BP and EXXON stations. We have used our Kroger points to save on gasoline in West Virginia and Ohio.
I’m not picking hairs. I’m giving you this week’s examples of lower prices at Kroger.
If you prefer to pay $6.98/lb for chicken breasts on “sale” instead of stocking up at $1.99/lb, it’s your money to waste.
For my money I’ll stock up on Coke at .49 instead of buying Pepsi at $1.00 or the reverse, Pepsi at .49 instead of Coke at $1.00 whenever the opportunity arises.
Ukrops fuel program is a joke. They partnered with higher price stations to take pennies off per gallon. My Kroger card takes .03 off the Kroger price and when I’ve bought $100 in a month, I get .10 off.
We have to use $200 a month in grocercies without fail. That’s two fill ups or we can fill up both cars twice a month back to back without turning off the pump. If I filled up today at my Kroger I’d pay $1.22/gallon.
I noticed that Ukrops abandoned their CLP (“consistently low prices”) program really quickly. They were getting laughed at by their own employees, many of whom I regularly SEE shopping at Kroger. They tell me Kroger beats their Ukrops employee discount!
That should tell you a whole lot about Ukrops’ prices!
I agree 23230. I shopped at Kroger for 4 years when I lived in Blacksburg. I always felt like they focused more on carrying national brand items than more local items. Yeah, they did have some Virginia and regional items, but not a lot. Ukrops does carry a lot of local brands. A lot of times in Blacksburg I’d have to go to Food Lion there to get things that Kroger didn’t have but Ukrops always did.
Me, I don’t pick hairs on subtle price differences. Pennies can mean a lot sometimes, but it isn’t everything—I also like to be assured I’m getting good stuff. Ukrops has always taken groceries VERY seriously. I like to think of them as specialists. This is why I continue to trust them & go there. I hope Ukrops does the right thing & at least keeps a few stores around here.
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