Wednesday, January 05, 2005

The Kosher consumer always comes last

The Washington Post reports on a struggle in Chicago between small, Jewish owned Kosher food stores and the brand-new Kosher section of a local supermarket. Apparently rabbis have sent out letters to the community urging them to carry on shopping at the old Kosher stores, in order to protect their business. On the one hand, the paper quotes customers who actually tried the new supermarket marveling at its range, accesability, and lower prices. On the other hand, as one Kosher consumer told the paper,
She worries that Jewel will drive away its more vulnerable competition. She also believes that something more important than profits are at stake.
"I try and maintain my old shopping habits," Margolin said. "We have a responsibility."
The thing is, you don't. I know nothing about the specific situation in Chicago (other than what's been reported), but this is a battle which is replayed in city after city, and I see no reason why tens of thousands of Kosher consumers should continue paying higher prices, have to shuffle from store to store to do a week's shopping, and suffer from crowded (and often dark) aisles in order to protect the business of a handful of business owners. Why do a few shop owners' rights come before those of thousands of consumers?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Albertson's certainly has the economics to undercut everyone in the area and put them out of business. What will your Kosher cheese cost then?