What amazes me is the size of the gap. It isn't like they are just a little bit better then everyone else, they are significantly better. Not only significantly better, but they also have much better prices and selection. Other chains have to recognize this so why wouldn't someone else determine how they do it and try to follow their model.
Why wouldn't a chain like Publix send ever store manager to a Wegman's and spend a week there. Come back and get a meeting together of those managers and find a way to improve their brand.
Wegmans is expanding and moving slowly South. And everywhere they go they put the others out of business. I lived in Northern Virginia and watched as they moved in. If I owned this type business and saw their model working, I would sure start now to try and fix my product. I wouldn't wait until they get here because then it's to late.
Some of the things I found I liked about Wegmans.
The web site. I could build my shopping list online, add recipe ingredients with one click, and get a store map of where everything on my shopping list was located.
Labeling. Every Wegmans brand product is labeled with all the different things people may need to know. Gluten, lactose, lean, low fat, vegan, etc for a total of 12 different labels.
Produce. So much better quality then anyplace I have shopped. They last longer when I get them home.
Pricing. I have taken my publix sales slip and gone to the Wegmans web site and made the same list. It is always 20% to 30% less.
Selection. In almost every department you have more and better choices.
Employees. The train their employees well. You can ask anyone in the store where to find something and they will take you directly to it.
Their food court is great, wine store excellent, cheese shop, meat department, seafood all have excellent selections.
The food court is so big you will see tour buses stopping there for lunch.
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Life is to short to drink cheap wine.
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