Does anyone know why with Waco's growth we don't have more options for grocery shopping etc, like a Kroger etc..HEB has been slowly but surely eliminating great products and brands and replacing them with their brand....not their central market brand which is good but HEB..I can't find hardly any of the items I used to buy reguraly there...It is obvious they have quite the choke hold on Waco except for Walmart which really sucks....I refuse to buy the replacement HEB brand crap...who would I talk to to get information to get more legit competition into Waco and stop the HEB monopoly?

Even with the presence of Wal-Mart, HEB owns over 82% of the Waco market.

I accept that Walmart is not everyone's cup of tea, but depending upon location, and the time of day you are there, it can provide a better shopping experience than does HEB.

Certainly their aisles are wider than those at HEB and I find the customer density in the grocery area is lower than it is at HEB at the same time of day.

I've also found that, generally speaking, their prices are slightly lower than are those at HEB, but not significantly so.

On the downside, though, is their relentless shift to requiring self-checking. For a small number of items, that is certainly no big deal. If, however, you've got many items, that can be a bit tedious and inconvenient.

Also, if you're looking for the freshest meats and seafood, Walmart isn't your place, I'm afraid.

As with most other things, your mileage may vary.

Visit "People of Walmart.com".

That's why I don't go to Walmart

Waco needs a Whole Foods 365.

joseywales said:

---

Does anyone know why with Waco's growth we don't have more options for grocery shopping etc, like a Kroger etc..HEB has been slowly but surely eliminating great products and brands and replacing them with their brand....not their central market brand which is good but HEB..I can't find hardly any of the items I used to buy reguraly there...It is obvious they have quite the choke hold on Waco except for Walmart which really sucks....I refuse to buy the replacement HEB brand crap...who would I talk to to get information to get more legit competition into Waco and stop the HEB monopoly?

---

probably never, heb has driven out piggy wiggly, albertsons, safeway to name a few

hoping for a trader joes someday

I guess that if you cover the chips with chili, it doesn't make that much difference. But right out the bag, HEB generic doesn't match the original Fritos.

HEB puts Fritos on the bottom shelf and their own corn chips at eye level. IMO, It's worth reaching down to get the real thing.

CammoTX said:

---

Waco needs a Whole Foods 365.

---

Whole Foods is great, but the 365 concept was a disaster. They're closing them all down.

joseywales said:

---

Does anyone know why with Waco's growth we don't have more options for grocery shopping etc, like a Kroger etc..HEB has been slowly but surely eliminating great products and brands and replacing them with their brand....not their central market brand which is good but HEB..I can't find hardly any of the items I used to buy reguraly there...It is obvious they have quite the choke hold on Waco except for Walmart which really sucks....I refuse to buy the replacement HEB brand crap...who would I talk to to get information to get more legit competition into Waco and stop the HEB monopoly?

---

I would LOVE to have an HEB. We have what my daughter would call a ghetto Kroger, a Brookshires, and a Walmart. Brookshires selection is limited, and I haven't been inside Walmart in 5+years and don't intend to start, so I shop at Kroger. Forgot Aldis, which is fine if you want to go several times a week to see what they've got, but it's not what I would call a full service grocery store here.

Grass is always greener.

joseywales said:

---

Does anyone know why with Waco's growth we don't have more options for grocery shopping etc, like a Kroger etc..HEB has been slowly but surely eliminating great products and brands and replacing them with their brand....not their central market brand which is good but HEB..I can't find hardly any of the items I used to buy reguraly there...It is obvious they have quite the choke hold on Waco except for Walmart which really sucks....I refuse to buy the replacement HEB brand crap...who would I talk to to get information to get more legit competition into Waco and stop the HEB monopoly?

---

But to answer your first question: H-E-B is kicking Kroger's as up and down the field. Kroger cannot compete with them in any capacity, so that's why other chains are afraid of coming to waco, because H-E-B will beat their brakes off.

I like HEB, but I want a Kroger in town just to keep them honest. The stores HEB stores in the Houston area are better because of competition. I am not a fan of the elimination of brands and replacement with house brands. Just about the time I find a product I like, its gone. If I wanted nothing but store brands I could shop at Aldi.

Walmart is ok for household/cleaning products, boxed/canned stuff but never, never, ever produce or meat.

If HEB is going to be a monopoly they need to get it in gear and replace the ghetto 19th street store with the long promised store at Lakeshore and China Spring Highway. I can't help but speculate that our city government is involved in keeping a store from opening there. They are openly (it's an announced goal with related tax and permitting policies) seeking to stymie growth outside the "core" of Waco. A new HEB at the corner of CSH and LS would be the focal point of a retail boom in the area and make additional residential development even more attractive.

As someone who works closely with every major grocer in the country it's not going to happen. Just look along I35 south of DFW there's nothing but HEB... Austin/Williamson County would be more likely if Kroger or Albertsons ever decided to compete in the region.

As for 19th and Lakeshore that's an HEB decision to not build, just a land grab that keeps smaller comp(Brookshire's/Brookshire Brothers) from building in China Spring area. Could change in 5-10 years of demo keeps trending to the area.

Weston Rogers said:

---

As someone who works closely with every major grocer in the country it's not going to happen. Just look along I35 south of DFW there's nothing but HEB... Austin/Williamson County would be more likely if Kroger or Albertsons ever decided to compete in the region.

As for 19th and Lakeshore that's an HEB decision to not build, just a land grab that keeps smaller comp(Brookshire's/Brookshire Brothers) from building in China Spring area. Could change in 5-10 years of demo keeps trending to the area.

---

HEB has recently announced a remodel of the Wooded Acres store, which is now over 20 years old. My guess is a more "home delivery " geared store model..as the trend to that model is strong..( covid was a real accelerant) ..As more and more major retail groceries become self checkout oriented, I'm also wondering if they will cut jobs? Even unloading and stocking in major markets are becoming automated. With Amazon on the horizon in Waco, will HEB feel a little pinch from them if Amazon Prime grocery delivery comes directly out of their new Waco distribution facility? Lots of moving parts in play now....

The HEB at Wooded Acres was a great store when it first opened, Central Market-esque in many ways. Now it's difficult to find premium brands, the meat and produce are not as good and it seems to be in a race to the lowest common denominator. In my opinion none of the other HEB's in town are as good as Wooded Acres at its former peak.

There are better HEB's out there. I'd like just one here.

Are we going to be getting some of the Whole Food same day delivery options when our Amazon distribution center opens?

Uh, because HEB dominates all of its competition. Pretty simple.

CorsicanaBear said:

---

The HEB at Wooded Acres was a great store when it first opened, Central Market-esque in many ways. Now it's difficult to find premium brands, the meat and produce are not as good and it seems to be in a race to the lowest common denominator. In my opinion none of the other HEB's in town are as good as Wooded Acres at its former peak.

There are better HEB's out there. I'd like just one here.

---

I agree with this. I believe the problem is us. HEB over time accommodates its locations to match the market. Welp.

CorsicanaBear said:

---

I
Walmart is ok for household/cleaning products, boxed/canned stuff but never, never, ever produce or meat.
.

---

You don't need a Kroger's. You need a Meat Market. Way better than any grocery store.

Edmond Bear said:

---

CorsicanaBear said:

---

I
Walmart is ok for household/cleaning products, boxed/canned stuff but never, never, ever produce or meat.
.

---

You don't need a Kroger's. You need a Meat Market. Way better than any grocery store.

---

Actually our Kroger has very good meat, although some cuts you're limited to the days you can order.

Edmond Bear said:

---

CorsicanaBear said:

---

I
Walmart is ok for household/cleaning products, boxed/canned stuff but never, never, ever produce or meat.
.

---

You don't need a Kroger's. You need a Meat Market. Way better than any grocery store.

---

We've got a pretty damn good meat market here.

HEB is great but I'd love a Sprouts or something similar.

I've been to the meat market on Lake Air several times. Prices like Central Market in Dallas (or more), but in my opinion, not as good. Does not look as good in the case either, it looks dull compared to CM meats. Nobody in town, that I've found, can sell me a really good NY Strip.

"Hey, this ain't bad for Waco" only goes so far.

A good supermarket should have a great meat case too.

Quote:

---

I believe the problem is us.

---

Correct. Not enough people demanding quality products.

lrwells50 said:

---

Edmond Bear said:

---

CorsicanaBear said:

---

I
Walmart is ok for household/cleaning products, boxed/canned stuff but never, never, ever produce or meat.
.

---

You don't need a Kroger's. You need a Meat Market. Way better than any grocery store.

---

Actually our Kroger has very good meat, although some cuts you're limited to the days you can order.

---

I grew up going to Kroger. It was kind of the HEB of the area. My parents still live there. Whenever they come in town they rave about how good HEB's are. I think it often depends on the individual store. You can have superstar stores with both brands. My experience has been that HEB is more consistent than Kroger overall. HEB is great grocery company overall. I think sometimes Texans take them for granted.

I also agree with the posters that have said that the issue is that HEB runs everyone out of business.

CTbruin said:

---

Stranger said:

---

Even with the presence of Wal-Mart, HEB owns over 82% of the Waco market.

---

Wal Mart? I'd rather buy groceries at PetCo

---

I can recommend the Doggie Donuts. After accidently eating one in 1976, I've been a big fan ever since. Seriously, shop at Aldi to supplement your big box store shopping. They beat the competition on most staples and actually have some decent one-time specials on overstock items.