How do grocery stores make a profit if a lot of their foods expire really easily but isn't purchased as much as they order?
For example... milk usually lasts a week... probably three at most. They almost never sell out and they have to be replaced at least a week before its expiration date.
And what about the more sensitive foods like meats?
2006-07-06 19:35:27 · 6 answers · asked by Wai 5 in Food & Drink ➔ Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Most expired/damaged product is credited by the vendor. That out of date milk is picked up by the supplier and given credit. Store brand is usually absorbed by the grocer. Believe me...they do not lose money...even when its 'cheap' they still make a lot of money. How else would they stay in business?
2006-07-11 11:22:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The majority of the food that has "expired" is returned to the supplier for credit...and much of it that does not have expiration dates..such as produce...is thrown in the dumpsters behind the grocery store. Sad, but true. This is the type of thing that should be donated to soup kitchens for the homeless..arrangements made where they pick it up or it is delivered once or twice a week. But America has become a throw-a-way society and it's too much bother to actually do anything with it and so much easier to toss it away.
2006-07-06 22:56:40 · answer #2 · answered by trivia buff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most grocery stores DO NOT donate their food.
Most food banks would not take the food even if it was offered.
Besides proper inventory management grocery stores also rely on you purchasing items with higher margins. (Ever notice that the dairy case is normally in the back corner so you have to pass by all the other goodies?)
2006-07-06 19:58:36 · answer #3 · answered by Poutine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big grocery chains use statistics based on prior purchases. They know how much to buy and they do inventories regularly. Unfortunately a lot of food does get wasted. Sometimes past due date food like day old bread is given to shelters and other agencies.
2006-07-06 19:40:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We were just talking about this same thing the other day.
Most stores GIVE their OLD/Out dated products to Food Banks, Churches and the like. Then they distribute it to the needy and poor.
If they can't they receive CREDIT from the supplier.
Some even go to Animal Farmers - Pigs mostly!
2006-07-06 19:44:12 · answer #5 · answered by jennifersuem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of it gets donated to food banks senior centers and such. Sometimes I wonder if the homeless and poor get sick from some of the food given to them. I now from experience that milk and bread are almost always out of date
2006-07-06 19:42:17 · answer #6 · answered by Susie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋