tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post5994428749313748745..comments2024-03-22T00:35:19.082-07:00Comments on Casual Kitchen: If Big Food is So All-Powerful, Why Aren't They Increasing Prices More?Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-89780121908578459732017-06-07T13:17:49.663-07:002017-06-07T13:17:49.663-07:00Consolidation and automation. Agriculture account...Consolidation and automation. Agriculture accounted for ~3 percent of jobs in 1985, and about half that now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-80398457523969312582017-05-31T09:50:18.720-07:002017-05-31T09:50:18.720-07:00You'd really have to delve into the history of...You'd really have to delve into the history of the various individual industries, and of the grocery companies, to make a good comparison. And also look at competition.<br /><br />As an example - I'm a former grocery store worker myself. It was fairly common, back in the mid-1980s, for *most* grocery store employees to work full time and have benefits. There were few exceptions. The manager usually had a certain number of full time jobs to work with. But it was well known that you start as a bagger. Then you can move on to stocker, or produce, or checker, or deli, or bakery - and that's when full time hours and benefits kick in. Also, the wages were decent - once you moved off bagger, you were no longer minimum wage.<br /><br />What percentage of Walmart employees work full time and get benefits, I wonder?<br /><br />Then look at the living conditions of the animals being sold. Eggs, chicken, etc - there have been huge changes in the industries (and not for the better) - in order to increase supply and keep prices low. Also a lot of consolidation.<br /><br />The comment above about downsizing is a good one. Who remembers when a can or bag of vegetables were actually a full pound! Me!<br /><br />Finally, what percentage of items on that ad are processed, compared to today (a small fraction) - the "food industry" is pretty vast nowadays. 30+ years ago, the options for boxed and bagged were a lot fewer and further between, than they are now. (Not necessarily busting on that, we eat our fair share of frozen pizza!)Marciahttp://frugalhealthysimple.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-85018989565886259702017-05-31T07:19:56.489-07:002017-05-31T07:19:56.489-07:00The price comparison is fascinating! I can still g...The price comparison is fascinating! I can still get a dozen eggs for that price - or less - at my local Winco. And the meats and some of the produce have barely changed. I'm really surprised.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12439733116558336290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-54275879061088124002017-05-31T05:17:03.096-07:002017-05-31T05:17:03.096-07:00When people complain about the "food industry...When people complain about the "food industry," they usually mean the makers of heavily marketed processed products, rather than farmers producing primary foods like meat and vegetables. And, there are other ways to increase profit besides directly raising prices -- downsizing packages and substituting cheaper ingredients. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com