Good article but there isn't a grocery war. That's just something that the media and stock market have made up. It is a stock market/investor war. All these companies that are basically ruining their brands (Kroger is one) and running their companies into the ground because you have to do better than last year or better than you predicted, etc. It isn't just grocery stores. So many companies have to come up with something new, acquire more, cut costs, etc. to get the investors excited. It doesn't matter how much profit you made last year, it has to be more, more, more.
It is so sad to me that, we have companies in this country that are making profits (a lot) but they are still considered failures on the stock market. They aren't losing money. Yet, they cut, cut, cut, in the most crucial areas to appease or do stupid stuff just to get investors excited so the people at the very top can get huge bonuses.
The worst thing that can happen to any company (other than being bought by private equity) is to go public on the stock market. Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching, but I'm so tired of people losing their jobs from "failing" companies when these companies are actually making millions or even billions in profits. In real life, most people would be very happy with those kinds of profits and I don't understand how a company has to cut jobs, hours, etc. when they are actually making a lot of money.
do You know anything about the stock market? Kroger would be a regional grocer, 1/10th the size it currently is if it wasnt public. Going public opens the door to money which lets companies grow and expand.
Yes, I know a lot about the stock market. I know a lot about hedge funds and private equity. I know going public gives you the investment money needed to expand and grow as a company.
I also know it has gotten to the point where corporate greed at the top and the people being placed on the boards only make decisions based on the stock market and investors. They are making decisions that keep investors happy and investing but are destroying the companies they are running.