Wegmans Bows Winter Price Freeze
In the depths of winter, Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has once again introduced a price freeze for more than 50 products that shoppers buy most often during the season. “Our seasonal list has been our way of helping families find value and plan meals on a budget,” noted president Colleen Wegman. “Employees and customers stop me in our stores to say how helpful it’s been. They especially like that the list is not random, but is made up of products they need to buy every week.”
Prices for the products, which, counting all flavors/varieties, number 245 SKUs, will remain in effect through April 6. Even if costs go up for these items, Wegmans won’t raise the retail price during the freeze. The complete list of products is available online.
The list features selections from the meat, seafood, produce, grocery, dairy, bakery, frozen food and deli departments. Examples are the return of Wegmans peanut butter to the roster, now reduced from $1.99 to $1.69 as the result of a good peanut crop last year; a Club Pack of Boneless Chicken Breast for $1.99 per pound; a Club Pack of 80% Lean Ground Beef for $2.19 per pound; a Club Pack of Pork Tenderloin for $2.79 per pound; an 8-pound Club Pack of Navel Oranges for $4.99; Red Grapes for $1.99 a pound; and a 2-pound bag of Clementine Tangerines for $2.99.
The items are almost exclusively Wegmans brand products, because the grocer can be more aggressive in pricing its own brand. One exception, however, is a 12-pack of 2.4-ounce Clif Bars for $9.99.
Beyond the regular price freezes, the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer keeps prices “consistently low every day on the items families buy most,” said Wegman. “We believe that our customers should not be forced to buy what’s on ‘sale’ this week. Instead, they should be able to buy what they want, when they want it.” She added: “We check our competitors’ prices every week to be sure our prices offer the best value. We match or beat club store prices, and that’s without charging a membership fee.”
Additionally, Wegmans has extended its free prescription program, up to a 90-day supply, for Atorvastatin (more commonly known by the brand name Lipitor) through the end of 2013. The program went into effect on Aug 26, and was originally slated to end on April 27, 2013.
Family-owned Wegmans operates 81 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.