Opportunities From The Supermarket Apocalypse
Editorial
Oh, the signs are everywhere.
 
It's The Endtime.
 
It's Supermarket Apocalypse.
 
Two of the largest supermarket chains in Huntington are in limbo. Another retailer is poised to enter this troubled arena. We don't know what in the hell is going to happen. We do know that the simple act of shopping for food has become a needless adventure.
 
It's a hassle, man.
 
In the midst of a month-long strike by Kroger employees comes word Tuesday that two local Big Bear stores may close, as early as Dec. 3. Big Bear's parent company is in financial purgatory.
 
Strangely, this talk comes as striking Kroger employees tell us workers at other grocery stores are complaining about the enormous increase in business as loyal Kroger customers scramble to shop.
 
Big Bear employees say they've receive dword, in a letter from the company, that two area stores will close by Dec. 3
 
Penn Traffic, the parent company of the Big Bear supermarket chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. The company has asked a federal bankruptcy court if it can sell 11 Big Bear supermarkets in Ohio to Kroger. Other companies will have the opportunity to outbid Kroger at a Dec. 3 auction.
 
Kroger employees have been on strike for a month, angered their company wants to change their health insurance benefits. The two sides last met at the negotiating table two weeks ago, and there have been indications the strike will be long and costly, to both the company and its employees.
 
Meanwhile, the monster Kroger officials point to as the reason they have to cut costs to remain competitive is ready to take a big swipe at the local market: Wal-Mart plans to open two supercenters in the Huntington area
 
Despite the chaos and mayhem and long check out lines, we see a real opportunity here.
 
We see an enormous opening for local entrepreneurs to open grocery stores and broaden the options for local consumers, options for the everyday demand for food.
 
It's a folly for food-buying decisions to be made through corporate headquarters in Columbus, Cincinnati and Little Rock, Ark. Local residents are clearly ill-served by a monopoly controlling what they get.
 
We encourage local entrepreneurs like Saad's and other chains such as Foodland and Aldi's to seize the moment and extend more options to the area. Perhaps some of the neighborhood mom-and-pop stores that were buried by the chains could enjoy a renaissance. It's a good time for one.
 
Huntington stands to lose big time if the Big Bears disappear and the Kroger strike goes on and on. The city's South Side, in particular, stands to lose its grocery stores. And where will Marshall students be able to walk to shop?
 
Yep, it sure looks like The Endtime. But, we think local entrepreneurs and other national chains have a wonderful chance to stretch the market and provide local consumers more options, perhaps better choices, to buy milk, bread and eggs.
 
The sooner the better.