Local 'bargain basement' food stores save money By DAVID VAN HORN Daily Collegian Staff Writer Penny-pinching students with eyes for bargains can save money shopping at local "bargain basement" food stores. Todd's IGA, located beside Stocker Chevrolet on the Benner Pike, is a warehouse grocery store offering low prices on regular supermarket items. The basic mark-up price at Todd's is 15 per- , cent, according to the dairy and frozen food manager, Jon Watson (sth-DUS). Some prices, such as butter, are marked up less than 15 percent, he said. As of December 16, IGA sold butter for 39 cents/lb. Todd's has shelved merchandise and green tag specials around the perimeter`of the store. These , "super" buys, Watson said, are sold at a cheaper price than regular items because they are purchased by the store in large quantities. Green tag specials are not shelved in dividually, but are marked with a unit price. Some good buys are: Maxwell House coffee, 16 ounces for $2.89; a 16-ounce tub of Parkay ); .': &writhelait",c/4 , 14 . Aitter4vie Y 10424 - Vicee'2e, Me e_W-,41 Smart people read Collegian ads. lk I ATTENTION: . IF , . ,; 4(.,_ i x Applications now available for: Student Hearing Commission University Hearing Board ik University Appeals Board *ir On Campus: Coordinator's Offices Off Campus: HUB desk 34 AK Questions? Call Liz 865-2220 34 Due: January 9th, 1979 ARBY'S ISA... DINNER FOR 1.25 •An Arby's Sandwich piled high with Tender Roasted BeefeCrispy Potatoes• Cole Slaw Arby's announces a sale that's a change of pace and taste from your regular eating habits. Dinner for $1.25. The three-course meal for one price. ONE DINNER - FOR 1.25 - ONLY AT ARBY'S t e n Wednesday, January 3 ArbO° Good at both locations 111 Sowers St. 400 W. College Ave Margarine for 69 cents; a five-pound, four-ounce box of Tide detergent for $2.34 and a 20-ounce box 'of Life cereal for $l.OB. These special buys last as long as possible, Watson said. Todd's IGA became a warehouse in mid-1978 when the regular food market went out of business and the store superidsors wanted to try a new style to attract customers. Due to this new style, Todd's operates differently than other food stores. Customers mark the unit price on each item they purchase, using a crayon available at the store, Watson said. Customers also must bag their own groceries. "If they want to save some money, they (the customers' have got to work for it," according to Assistant Manager Dan Corman. Watson said the store's business is gradually improving. The location of the store is a hin derance for people who have no transportation, but more students are shopping at Todd's than ever before, he said. The philosophy of the supervisors is not to rely upon advertising, he said, but some advertising has been done in local newspapers and radio stations. Todd's has all the conveniences of a regular ,supermarket except a fresh-cut meat depart ment, Watson said. Todd's employs ap proxiinately 20 employees, many of them part time, to help keep overhead low. Watson said customers can save at least 10 percent over other stores by shopping at Todd's. "More or less everything is a bargain," he said. "We're doing everything possible to keep our prices down, and we're not trying to rip people off," he added. Our Store, a local co-op with fresh produce, staples and dairy products provides another economical means for students to save money. Run by volunteers, Our Store provides fresh produce in season from as many local farms as possible, according to coordinator Fred Ramsey. Most produce at this time is from Flroida and California. Oranges from Florida are 14 cents each, bananas can be purchased at ap proximately 20 cents per pound and other fruits, and vegetables are good buys, he said. Un in Oro yoar EN in Ok Oho Your railroading rest, has decided to ce by Decree of the Stationmaster and with enthusiastic consent of your friendly train crew, this month is hereby declared: Celebrate by taking a cup of our Onion Soup to lunch, to dinner or out for a snack Get to know Onion Soup better robust beef and onion broth topped with a round of french bread and heapings of melted cheese sensational! And remember the slogan: "Train Station Onion Soup does more good things for a person than Chicken Soup!' monaho utinat? 6 o Grain oGa Nalionot onion ooup au orlin monad Yours Truly, The Train Station Junction of College & Garner fortunately, prices on produce will rise, Ramsey said, because of frost in Southern California and Florida. "Our Store has a full line of staples, such as flour, beans, dried fruit, nuts and some package goods, like mustard, ketchup and fruit juice," he said. Ramsey said Our Store has "the best peanut butter in the world" from Laurel Brock Farms. The co-op receives staples from other local areas, such as Walnut Acres and Tri-Organic Farms near Lewisburg. Unfortunaterly, prices. on dried fruits and nuts are expensive due to high wholesale prices, but beans and flour are reasonably priced, according to Ramsey. Cheese is an exceptionally good buy, as much as 25 to 50 percent off the normal price compared to other stores, Ramsey said. Other dairy products such as yogurt and eggs are inex pensive. An eight-ounce container of plain or flavored yogurt costs only 30 cents. The co-op has fresh and organic eggs from local farms, but often supermarkets lower their prices on eggs to coax people into the store, he said. The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1979- Some items are reduced by supermarkets as "loss leaders," Ramsey said, to attract people: into the store. Usually people tend to not to buy. 4 items only on sale. Therefore, Ramsey said stores are willing• to take a loss on one item if they know they can make a big profit on others. Ramsey said co-ops are the most efficient way' to buy food, because the middle man is.' eliminated. The food chain in a cooperative: system goes from the farmer to the wholesaler to the store. A regular supermarket has mord , people vying for a profit, thus costs are higher. ." Like Todd's, Our Store does not depend upon advertisements, except word of mouth, to attract., customers. The co-op is predominantly student-. orientated, but plans to get more townspeople involved, Ramsey said. -,, New members must pay a $l5 refundable deposit to join, plus work a certain amount ac cording to the size of one's household, he said. Only people who are members may shop at the co-op, according to Ramsey.
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