Say goodbye to Bloom - the upscale grocer's Charlotte-area stores will convert to Food Lion locations in the next few months, the company said Monday.
Both Bloom and Food Lion are banners of Delhaize, a Belgian conglomerate that operates supermarkets in the United States, Europe and Asia.
"We appreciate the loyalty of our Bloom guests; however, we are confident our Food Lion banner will best meet the needs of our customers at these locations," said Bloom's vice president Tammy DeBoer in a statement. "Our stores will remain open as we transition into Food Lion stores as quickly as possible."
Bloom said the decision to convert its seven stores in the Charlotte-area market was made after "thorough analysis and careful consideration for the customers in these markets." The company will also convert its eight Bloom stores in the Greenville, S.C., area to Food Lions and close a location in Mauldin, S.C.
There are currently some 65 Bloom stores, mostly in the Southeast. The company said that it will focus its energy on developing Bloom in southeast Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Bloom stores converting to Food Lions
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They just lost a shopper. Food Lion's are disgusting...the meat is literally rancid. I shopped at Bloom regularly and loved it. What a shame.
What does this mean for double coupons? Varying selections? Cleaner, brighter stores? I am missing Bloom already.
I guess I will start having to go to Harris Teeter or Lowes Foods. This is a horrible decision.
Bloom lost me months ago. The staff would rather make personal phone calls then help customers. The self-checkouts never work and the produce is Food Lion quality anyway.
I really wish they would bring back Hannaford.
I'm not sure what's worse - "southern Virgina" or "Maudlin, SC". Nice copy editing.
Anyway, Bloom would routinely leave products on the shelf MONTHS past their due dates, they had ridiculously high prices and were basically just Food Lion with excess markup. I'd say good riddance, but they're just going to be Food Lions anyway.
Food Lions needs to convert their dirtiest, oldest stores - which would be most of them - into the lower price Bottom Dollar format. There is no reason to ever walk into a Food Lion, since Walmart and Aldi are cheaper.
@Anonymous March 14, 2011 11:07 PM
You do know that Bloom is simply a Food Lion with a different name on it, right? (And, higher prices). They use the same meat and the same store brand products (in fact, many Food Lions are now using the Bloom store brand). The meat you buy at Bloom is probably the same meat they are selling at the Food Lion down the street.
Marketing is a powerful thing, and they had you hook, line and sinker.
I was at a Bloom in North Charlotte twice. The first time they had nothing I needed or would want - no brands I buy, no selection of options, sizes/prices/brands, organic, etc like for instance Teeter does, and the "points" card or whatever they call it was a joke. The second time was an emergency and we had to pick up food for someone immediately on the way to them nearby. The stuff we bought was not good quality and overpriced, the deli counter was staffed by slowpokes who acted like we were bothering them, no one could tell us where to find hummus ("what now? is that a beverage?") and it was like playing musical chairs with the cashiers. As soon as Trader Joes opened that's where we started shopping - love it!
I grew up in Salisbury and refuse to shop at Food Lion. Bad food, bad stores, and we never could keep a competitor around (back in the 80s-90s).
Wish FL would do something with the nasty Johnston Rd store. A few nice employees, but the store seems dirty to me.
Passed by that place everyday on the way home from work. The bread was better than most, but that's about all you needed it for. Oh, but I don't eat much bread.
They couldn't make it work in Charlotte, but they are going to develop their market in Southeast Virginia? Yeah, like that area is so "upscale". Reading that actually made me laugh.
Food Lion stores are disgusting. Bi-Lo stores aren't much better. I can't believe Food Lion is still in business. They pretty much threw them out of Florida years ago.
Can't wait until Publix opens in Fort Mill.
I'm so glad to hear you people can afford to buy ALL your food at Harris Teeter. Most of their BOGO is still more than ALDI regular price. I'm glad to see Bloom go back to Food Lion. YIPPEE.
No big surprise here. Overpriced Food Lion is exactly what I got from it. I switched to shopping at the Compare Foods on Arrowood road this year and have not only cut my food budget in half, but their beautiful produce department has inspired my family to eat an increasingly vegetarian diet.
Idiots. Bloom and Food Lion are the same stores, its called marketing. "We'll call it Bloom's and place it in a certain demographic, they're not smart enough to realize that its just the same old Food Lion. Based on most of these comments, they were right.
If I want garbage I'll sift through your trash - or go to Food Lion.
What makes America great is choices..
If you don't like one particular store, you have options.
Whether you shop at Food Lion aka Food Town, at least give them a thank you.
They are one of the biggest factors for overall lower food costs in the southeast and midsouth and have been for decades.
All chains have core consumers, some don't mind paying a little more for groceries, some want the lowest price, etc.
Arguing over grocery stores is like arguing over who has the best BBQ.
this is gonna be so weird. we have a food lion .4 miles from our home. there is a bloom 1 mile from our home. so now no matter which way we turn, there will be a food lion. and btw, you could always swipe your food lion MVP card at bloom, and bloom carries the hannaford product line.
I live in an area that has only one grocery store. Crude Lion. It is DISGUSTING! It is one mile from my home... but I drive 20 minutes into the city to go to Harris Teeter. I have petitioned HT many times to build in my area. No luck yet. But I am hoping.
Bloom, Food Lion, both are awful! Bloom is overpriced and buys it's food from Harris Teeter when it's about to expire. We have one on Brawley School Rd with inferior produce, meat and bakery. Harris Teeter, Target and even Wal Mart beat their products in quality and price!
I call Food Lion Swill Kitty.
Bloom was a joke.
Good bye and good riddance.
Publix could blow them out of the water.
Low: Aldi, WalMart, soon to be Target.
Mid: Teeter, soon to be Publix, Lowes
High: Fresh Market, soon to be Whole Foods.
No need for the Swill Kitty, thanks.
When Blooms (Food Lion) opened on Mt Holly Huntersville Rd, I was a little leary. I'd had nothing but bad experiences with Food Lion -- molded bread, molded cheese, bad meat...But the store was well lit and clean so I shopped there occasionally. Now I will never go back.
The only time I bought meat at the Bloom on Park Rd, the shrimp was so rancid by the end of the day it stunk up our whole kitchen. Never went back. It's best they convert it back to Food Lion, b/c the quality is Food Lion and the prices are HT or even higher. Good riddance.
Bloom has no turnover on their products. Most of the time milk is half price because its sell-by date is tomorrow. Bread and produce were always pushing the limit between old and way too old.
The only good thing at Bloom was/is the coffee, probably because Bloom had no opportunities to mess it up. Everything else, good riddance.
Translation: They (Bloom) can't compete with Harris Teeter in the Charlotte market and other primary Harris Teeter markets. End of story.
Even Michelle Obama is preaching the benefits of "healthy eating" ... and I'll even agree with her and buy into her schtick. That begins with "better food" right off the bat .... and that also eliminates most Food Lion products. Have YET to walk into a Food Lion that didn't smell bad. Produce has never drawn my attention; their meat is worse.
Bloom impressed me. I enjoyed shopping there. I'll miss them. But if Food Lion thinks a re-badged Bloom automatically gets me back in the same building, they have a second think coming ...
Many times I found expired food still on the shelves at the Sugar Creek Store. They often don't have what I want. Not many choices,very little variety (never seem to have the low fat version of something). Recently they made some changes and since then I pretty much wont shop there, except the occasional milk, bread or cat food. They had awesome baked chickens before, now pitiful overcooked carcasses in a bag. Even tho HT is more expensive I have always preferred to shop there, coupons and my VIC card and watching the specials keeps my bill down and their store brand is not as questionable as Food Lions.
All the Bloom locations use to be Food Lions anyways! They still carried everything that Food Lion did! I agree Bloom's meats were better, but other than the store looking a bit different inside, it was just a glorifed Food Lion! They were still owned by the same people that owns Food Lion and Sweetbay Supermarkets which are found in Florida! They should have just saved their money and left them Food Lion in the first place and used the money they spent on better quality meats! LOL
Haven't set foot in a Food Lion in at least ten years, ever since I got food poisoning from eating some of their potato salad. Wouldn't feed my dogs with stuff from Food Lion, but they probably wouldn't eat it anyway.
Terrible move!!! Food Lion stores are disgusting.
When I moved here in 1988 to attend UNCC, I had 2 grocery store options - Food Lion in University Place and HT across 49 from campus. I always went to Food Lion. But ever since this Dutch company bought them, they have slowly descended into the dregs of grocery stores. I stopped going once all the stores in my area became so dirty I couldn't stand it. We shop Wal-Mart now - Wal-Mart isn't much cleaner, but at least the milk doesn't turn into cottage cheese 2 hours after you buy it. These former Bloom stores will see more of that.
Rude employees at the Mauldin, SC Bloom, but I will miss having a store so close to home.
At least bloom stores didnt smell bad, and the employees were friendly. I can't wait for stinky stores and rancid meat. I always liked Bloom, I don't know why they need to change to Food Lion. I'm going to the Super Target or Lowes Food. I hope with enough complaints, they will change there decision, or better yet, rename it as Hannaford.
Love the Bloom store in my neighborhood -- I call it the Happy store cause everyone that works there is always happy! :) It's clean and well stocked. Not a F.L. fan :(
If Publix is truly coming to Fort Mill, the Food Lion on Gold Hill Road and the Bloom on U.S. 21 which will convert to FL will not make it.
Good. Bring on Publix!
Ironically, our FL was always clean and all the employees were great. Then they turned it into Bloom, and got rid of almost all of the full-time employees who were friendly and had been there for years. They replaced them with a bunch of part-time employees who didn't care about their work. So we got higher prices and lousy employees.
We've been switching to Lowes more and more, since they're the only other game in town. We may be 100% there soon.
Didn't go often to the Bloom on Mt. Holly-Huntersville road because the Harris Teeter is closer to my house... but did go every now and then. I'm sure I'll go even less.
By the way, Harris Teeter has gotten us back. It seems they've lowered prices a bit. I'm willing to pay a few cents more to avoid the Wal-Mart at Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road. At first there was a huge price difference between HT and Wal-Mart... but thankfully that gap has closed.
Bloom is nothing but the "polished turd" version of Food Lion. The same prices, same products (except for Bloom actually doubled coupons). Delhaize is not a great company and Food Lion is bad.
Miss the old Hannafords stores-too bad Delhaize bought them. Good selection, prices, nice stores.
That's a real shame for BLOOM!!
Food Lion has always been a horrible place to shop. My bet is they brought Bloom because of the competition.
And what's worst...FOOD LION'S customer service is AWFUL!!!
Some of those posting don't get it:
Bloom = Food Lion
Food Lion = Bloom
same food sources
same management
same prices
Bloom is a Food Lion with an overly fancy aisle arrangement.
Hannaford was the only serious Harris Teeter direct competitor and was stupid for Food Lion to buy them, shut them down, then open up Bloom stores.
We buy canned and boxed foods from Super-Walmart or Food Lion and fresh foods from HT anyway.
The Bloom on Park Rd (Dilworth)will fail miserably as a Food Lion as did the crappy Bi-Lo dump that it replaced.
Although not a big fan of Bloom it was for me, an occasional alternate to HT. Pricing isn't much better and the HT store brands are of much higher quality. If they keep the FL at least somewhat clean and upscale I will give it a shot.
Very cool about Publix coming to Ft. Mill though. Maybe the gentleman's agreement is off!
food ghetto lol
Dalhaize only closed the Hannaford stores in Charlotte. They still exist in the Northeast. Dalhaize saw them as a threat so bought them and closed them around here.
I never understood how changing the name made it different than a regular Food Lion.
I buy allmost all of my food and Harris Teeter and Bi-lo using double (and sometimes super double or triple coupons). It works out way cheaper than Aldi, because you can't get anything for free at Aldi. I can often get juice at HT with fruit grown in the USA for free. The Aldi's brand apple juice is $1.50 a bottle and it's made with apples come from China.
You all crack me up! Bloom better than Food Lion? They are one in the same. Same owners, prettier window dressing. To say you will no longer shop Food Lion because you miss Blooms? Really?!!!
Just opened a Bloom where an old and dirty Bi-Lo was for years in Dilworth - love shopping there! Although the selection is not as varied as the Teeter down the street, I save almost $100 in coupons and Bloom card deals in a months vs. shopping at Harris Teeter. Would hate to have to go back to HT.
Sorry to say this but this should have been done a long time ago. I've read many comments from upset customers on hear saying that they will not shop at the converted Food Lion and that they lost a customer. The real problem was that they were one of the hand full of loyal customers. Most times the stores were completely empty.
Their concept was a great one and I applaud their innovativeness. That will surely be missed.
They will need a lot of luck, money, and time to successfully penetrate the very competitive market of Northern VA / DC.
They already have several Bloom stores in that area some of which are doing a great job. I wish them all the luck in the world but in my humble opinion the Blooms brand will not be successful.
just my 2 cents.
You guys know Bloom is the same as a Food Lion? Right?
The meat and seafood was better quality at Blooms than Food Lion. I know they are the same ownership but Bloom had seafood and certain cuts of meat you could not get at other supermarkets.
To say "Bloom" and "Food Lion" are one and the same is to be blind to some significant subtleties, or at least, not caring about them. If that's the case neither is an option for you. Bloom, however, had some important differences from FL: far more pleasant shopping experience, more convenient lay-out, consistent pricing, greater opportunity for freshness (despite individual experiences stated above). I continued to hold out hope that one of the THREE FL stores within a mile of my home would be turned into a Bloom, just for that more pleasant experience and to give HT a run for its money. Delhaize has made a horrible decision, and it will likely result in the closing of stores, since FL is such a horrible shopping experience. They knew they couldn't keep up the quality of Hannaford in the area, and that FL couldn't compete with it in quality OR pricing, so they closed them. The same is true with Bloom. They could not maintain the quality to keep good customers at those stores. This is less a statement about BLOOM as a concept, and more a statement of how poorly run a company Delhaize is. I'll switch back from Bloom to HT before the name changes.
well... that didn't last long.
You can really tell the trashy soccer moms from Ballantyne are out in force. You have no idea what you are talking about, as usual. Food Lion is a leader in teh grocery industry. In other cities their stores are top notch and shopped heavily. In Charlotte, who knows!
Figures that a bunch of racists from Southpark would keep going to a place like Trader Joes or Harris Teeter. Everything is over-priced and parking is a nightmare. Food Lion/Bloom are just fine and are in no danger of folding because of your tiny little opionions echoing from your SUVs!
I love Food Lion and their prices. To hell with Harris Teeter. They are condescending and snooty and price gouge constantly. I am more than happy with Food Lion. Thank God.
I'm so sick of hearing about eletists that think they are better than everyone because of where they shop. All of you will split Hell wide open for this.
Harris Teeter in Plaza Midwood now tows and boots cars, and leaves customers no where to park. The cop inside walks around staring at the ceiling like he sees a UFO. There are 3 Food Lions surrounding us and it's much more affordable there with less headache and sense of eletism.
There has not been a decent food market in Charlotte since BIG STAR closed @ SouthPark & Park Rd SC years ago.
Bring on Publix; it will put H-T on the endangered species list quickly.
Trader Joe's is nothing more than a store for white racists. Overpriced and full of republican waste. That's what is wrong with this damn city already.
I'd love to see a number of stores in Charlotte that I've experienced in other areas - Publix, Genuardi, Giant (PA), Ingles. But for now, I do a combination of Harris Teeter, Trader Joes and Costco.
I will never shop at a regular Food Lion. The one on Park Rd will die slowly and they will replace it with something else.
Bloom's Life Cereal knock-off tasted just like Life Cereal. It is the best cereal knock-off I have ever had. So they had that going for them.
That Publix ain't happening I'm afraid. The site is too small and if you notice those rumors were about a year ago and not one foot of dirt has been turned at the site. I'd say give up on that dream at least at the first site they proposed on Gold Hill.
Trader Joe's is for "white racists" "republicans"? LOL. Are you serious? Are you a Martian? You certainly don't understand that company or its clientelle very well. But clearly you shouldn't shop there if you don't like it. I'm not white, republican, a soccer mom, nor rich, but the fact remains that most Food Lion stores are dirty, trashy, and poorly lit. Food Lion and its parent company need to clean up their act before they are deserving of any more positive comments than they've gotten on here.
To the commenter above about wanting grocery stores you love from PA and other northern towns: Give it up. It will not happen here.
Your comments about the Food Lion on Park Rd. dying is nothing but a lie, and likely a sad wish on your part dear. Food Lion is a giant grocer that owns and controls a large part of the industry. They will not be closing stores, no matter if you think you are just 'too good' to go in them. That won't get you far, sugar.
To the woman who finds it funny about Trader Joe's clientele: For you to say those things about Food Lion shows you are indeed misinformed and certainly not a minority. Perhaps you are the dirty, trashy one. Food Lions are just as bright as the Harris Teeters. Food Lion is doing just fine.
There goes the neighborhood. Just what it needs; another Food Lion to become as nasty as the rest of them in the area. Nice move!
Bloom - I never heard of it. Where were they located in Charlotte?
Harris Teeter lies about their discounts. They overprice so they can claim to offer a discount through the VIC card. It's all a deception. I won't ever go in there again.
You can really tell the rich southpark mothers in here, going off on their sick little tangents about how dirty Food Lions are and how they are an eyesore to the neighborhood.
For God's sake, keep yourself down in your gated neighborhoods so you can only shop at a grocery store because it 'looks the best'.
Real people living in the real world care more about fair prices than all that trash.
Well some people must think that kraft boxes up special mac and cheese just for Harris Teeter and cambells soup uses special ingredients in the cans for HT, or maybe Smitfield raises different pigs to be sold at just harris teeter.
The suppliers are the same for both stores. Around thanksgiving Harris teeter ran out of a few items and I applaud their customer service, instead of just telling customers they ran out they came to Food Lion and bought cases from us. Their prices are higher because of this customer service. If you need to be pampered while you shop HT is a good place to be.
If you want the same items for less then try Food Lion.
I will say this Food Lion does not the variety of HT, you can not find 20 different types of mustard on the shelf, they only have the ones that sell well. FL added the variety a couple of years ago to a few stores as a test but they did not sell well and most of the time ended up on a clearance rack to sell before they expired.
To 12:44 above: ummm...not a woman here. Not rich. Maybe seen the "just as clean and bright as HT" Food Lion twice in my life, none of the three in my neighborhood (near the corner of Eastway and Central - so, um hardly SouthPark either!). Not misinformed, but perhaps not as experienced a connoisseur of various Food Lion locations as you. Not interested, unless you show me one within a mile of my house that's not a trash heap. Name-calling makes you look very bright dear, about as bright as the Food Lion stores you're defending (sarcasm btw, in case that went over your head :)).
Sorry, but your little diatribe missed the mark - again. Only a fool would condemn all Food Lions based on the worst example of them all. I know the location you are referring to, and it is far from a 'trash heap'. Apparently you need to be 'pampered' while you grocery shop, as the above FL commenter stated. I agree with them 100%. We don't need that crap, but just good prices in tough times. All of that HT and TJ trash: Well, you can have it.
Not a fan of either Harris Teeter or Food Lion. Or frankly many of the grocery stores around here in the first place. We need somewhere better to shop!
@1:50 - LOL. You're a gem! It's nice to see such passion (no matter how displaced). As far as "having" the HT and TJ "trash"? I'll happily take it thank you! :) Get over preachy self and try to enjoy life
I arrived in Charlotte about 7 months ago (from Chicago). I have no loyalties or long histories with any of these stores. I have tried all of them except Aldi; for some reason have never gone in one of those. Here is how I rank them:
1. Costco. The one holdover from my Chicago days. Great meat. Great breads. Great produce. Great store brand. Best price/quality ratio. Go around noontime, especially on a weekend, and you can have a pretty big lunch just on the delicious samples they give away. Unfortunately, if you don't have a big family, you can overspend/waste pretty easily because of the sizes of stuff they sell. Now that my wife and I are empty-nesters, it's not easy to eat 4 big ribeyes before freezer burn sets in!
2. Lowes. Clean, well-laid-out and carry some products others in town don't. Upscale feeling. Pricey for non-sale items, though. Also, not enough stores around.
3. Trader Joe's. I am white, so I guess shopping there makes me a racist according to some earlier posters. Republican? Have any of these critics actually stepped into a Trader Joe's? If anything, their aim is to be kind of like an old hippie co-op. They promote green living and have lots of organic stuff. Very limited selection and some prices are outrageous. Not nearly enough stores. Still, it's hard to resist stopping in for bananas at 19 cents each if I'm going past.
4. Harris Teeter. Don't love 'em, don't hate 'em. I do hate the prices, so I shop there as infrequently as possible.
5. Walmart Supercenter. Hard to argue with their prices overall, but their meat/seafood dept is awful. They put tenderizers and other chemicals in beef - ugh. Produce isn't the best. For staples and frozen food, though, it's probably the best overall deal in town.
6. Bloom. The only one I have experience with is the one in Dilworth. Very clean and the employees are very friendly. Their deli carries Dietz & Watson meats and cheeses, which are very good. They have my favorite kind of salsa (Chachi's), and I miss that one product since I moved to Matthews a few weeks ago! But I do agree that they mostly are a dolled-up Food Lion. Too expensive for what you get - can only go there for sale items.
7. Harris Teeter. They want to be Publix but they aren't. Badly overpriced. Decent store brand and mostly clean stores.
8. Super Target. I've had bad experiences in their meat dept and there aren't enough stores. Similar to Walmart SC but more expensive. Now that the company is beefing up grocery depts at regular Targets, I'll be curious to see what that means.
9. Walgreen's. OK, it's only like a little pantry compared to the real stores but it usually has great sale items. CVS is similar.
10. Food Lion. I've been inside three of them and came out feeling I needed a shower each time. There probably are a few good ones, as some posters have said, but I haven't happened upon any.
My bill for this independent research and analysis is in the mail.
Ooop. Rated Harris Teeter twice. Kind of like being charged double -- as HT might do compared to same product at Costco. Lower rating is correct.
Then keep your bloody bill and your analysis when you go back up north. Your credibility was shot when you mentioned Harris Teeter twice then tried to defend republicans and that sorry Trader Joe's.
Guess you all feel like you are celebrities in L.A. and need to be treated like royalty when you go to buy a loaf of bread? May God Have Mercy on your lying, sad souls. Charlotteans are a sick lot.
My family goes to Food Lion because the prices are much better than HT, period. I could care less about being pampered or a sense of self worth while pushing a stupid grocery cart. Wow!
The Harris Teeter in Plaza Midwood has terrible customer service and there is no parking. The women at the sandwich counter are mean and could care less about helping anyone. There are always one or two self check out lanes going out of service at any given time, and I am always propositioned by a beggar at the corner of the store on nearly every visit.
Commissioner Leake said she would never go back to the Harris Teeter and I don't blame her. Food Lion has better prices and no one has ever treated me bad because I may not be in the same class of citizenry as they are. There is enough hatred in this town already.
What wonderful memories the comment on Big Star conveyed! Clean and beautiful stores, incredible cheeses and breads, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh peanut, hazelnut & cashew butter, fresh bulk honey in all kinds or varieties, live trout... even gorgeous jumbo brown eggs you could pick and choose to make your dozen not to mention the tremendous variety of bulk items and seasonings. Truly a world class food market that Traders Joe's & the Whole Foods still cannot touch. That SouthPark store was a cooks paradise.
Wow, this subject really brings out the class hatred in people.
Bring back KROGER!!!!!! They are the best of all worlds and cater to everyone with great prices and produce.
Where are the Albertson's? The Smith's Food King? The Hy-Vee? The Intermountain Grocers?
For goodness sakes just bring back Winn-Dixie...they were the Beef People!
Apparently a lot of the foods that are sold in Charlotte are filled with hate and anger...oy vey...I'm k-kinda scared to go shopping now...
I live .5 miles from the only Bloom that will be closing; the same town as Bi-Lo corporate headquarters. Nobody shops at either. The winners in this market are Publix, Ingles, Aldi & Wal-mart. Harris Teeter left town 10 years ago.
My Mom taught me that if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything. Therefore, no comment on Food Lion and Bloom. Harris Teeter rules along with Lowes Foods.
Anon 2:10...
Coming from Chicago and you're analyzing stores in Charlotte?
You have one of two choices up there - Jewel or Dominick's and ever since Safeway took them over from the family, the stores have gone downhill, many have closed.
Ever since Jewel went coporate SuperValu, they have declined as well.
Most chains in Charlotte are equal to or better than Jewel or Dominick's.
Wow, people are really jaded about their grocery stores. How about some realism? I might like Trader Joe's cheese section, Harris Teeter's deli, and Food Lion's low prices, but the bottom line is 90% of the time I just go to the store closest to me. I'm sure that's true for most people and goes double for young, active people who have better things to do than drive around looking for who has cereal 20 cents off this week or who carries the most obscure organic items.
LOL.....as an employee of Bloom I find all these comments hilarious. Almost 80% of the people who hate the store on here are wrong about all of your suspicions. Point blank period, Delhaize is saving money by converting them to Food Lions. I mean its the smart thing to do because you dont have to pay for marketing. Im sure the quality of the stores will stay the same. If you don't like Bloom/Food Lion. Guess what???? You can shop somewhere else! problem solved
Coming from a person that has actually worked at Food Lion and Bloom.. you all need to realize they are the same store meaning they get the product from the same place.. secondly it is Bloom..singular not plural.. and the associates are great people.. the food is great.. yes we are not Harris Teeter..But Bloom still has the same quality of food.. and I dont know what Food Lions you are shopping at but not all are dirty..
To Anonymous March 15, 2011 12:36 PM
Just watch...the Park Rd store will join the same fate as the Bi-lo before it. It doesn't belong there and it's never busy whenever I'm in there. It will Die. Maybe not right away but I'd give it no more than a year.
Now go back under your hole.
Why don't you shut your damn mouth. The store will not close and it belongs there just as any other grocery store! Figures some sorry teabagger who lives high on the dollar wants something closed because it doesn't live up to your elitist standards. If people are not going there it's only because of sorry people like your and your kind.
Now get back to your damn soccer game before Glen Beck tells you what to do next!
Update October 22, 2010
Ken Elkins with the Charlotte Business Journal reported on October 21, 2010, The York County Council approved zoning changes that will allow a Florida developer to build the area’s first Publix near Tega Cay. In addition, Publix is eying a second south Charlotte location around the hwy 521 location in Lancaster County SC.
Working for Hannaford in Rocky Mount, NC was my job in High school. It was awesome. We used to walk to aisles during break to look at the exotic hard to find foods. Honestly, I thought all jobs would be like that!
Until, Delhaize bought it out (Food Lion). We where all transferred to the local "new" Food Lion...let's just say that you will not find this country boy shopping at Food Lion.
All of you complaining about price should be grateful you don't live out West.
Prices in California are much higher overall than here. The reason is the lack of EDLC chains like Food Lion, Wal Mart and Target.
Safeway has a 40 share of the NORCAL market, with the nearest Wal Mart Supercenter to San Francisco being about 50 miles away and there are very few Supercenters in northern California.
I don't really understand accusations like "apparently you need to be 'pampered'". We all leave quite some money at supermarkets, so fresh produce, good quality meat, and a clean and light store is not too much to ask.
I live a stone's throw from Dilworth's Bloom and I quite like the store - especially for products like yogurt (Liberté and Wallaby are superb), tea, some of the produce, and Asian specialties. Also, the staff is very friendly.
I didn't realize people were so passionate about the stores where they bought their food. High comedy
"Commissioner Leake said she would never go back to the Harris Teeter and I don't blame her."
Sounds like the highest recommendation Tweeter has gotten yet!
Avoid political parasites; shop at Harris Teeter!
;)
High Comedy? Yes, High Comedy when looking at it through a third-world perspective. But not as an American.
Harris Teeter, Trader Joe and Lowes Food are premium. Bloom was an excellent attempt at a Food Lion re-branding.
I often condescend to shop at Bloom.
From now on I shall remain at Harris Teeter and Lowes. And this fella spends a $hit load of money at the grocery store.
This was all funny to me. What happened to shopping where the sales are? That is how we do it. I will shop any and all of them for the right sale and good price. Especially when I can use a coupon to make it even a better deal.
I have never had any issues with any food at any of the stores and I shop them all.
I spend a lot of money on groceries, I have two teenage boys and another who is in middle school, so I spend a lot of time at the supermarket. I recently moved here from Upstate NY, and have grown accustomed to Hannaford. I found that Bloom was almost a mirror image of Hannaford, especially since they used the Hannaford brand. The employees at my store (Brawley School Rd.) are friendly and helpful and the food is fresh. I enjoy their large selection of natural and organic food. My husband and I went to Food Lion for the first time the other day, and when I walked in, there was this smell that reminded me of spoiled food. The shopping carts were filthy, and I felt like I needed a shower after I left. I notified an employee who rolled my eyes at me, and went back into a conversation with another employee that was not related to his job.
I'll miss Bloom, and its a shame that Food Lion didn't keep the Hannaford brand. I spend a lot of money at supermarkets, so and I feel like deserve more than a dirty store and grouchy employees.
And it says "Charlotte-area stores". Does that include those in downtown only, or all of Metrolina.
I loved the portable scanners and how the milk was in front of the store. I can't believe they are leaving Charlotte. After all, Charlotte was where bloom was tested, and it was a success.
Get ready to see moody employees, smelly stores, and rotten meat.
Delheize America just lost a customer, and I'm sure there are thousands more.
I know that Bloom and Food Lion were the same company, but I disagree with the comments about Bloom being a bad store. I shopped at the one in Mooresville (HWY 150 location) and always had a pleasant experience. The gentlemen in the meat/seafood department were always eager to help. The sales they had on their fish were awesome and the meats were always better than Food Lion. I do most of my shopping at WalMart just for the money savings, but went to Bloom for fish, meats and their deli pizza.
Harris Teeter is just too expensive as well as Publix, but I don't think Publix is coming this way as Ingles has a "deal" with Publix about locations. Oh, well.
In the early days of the Park Road Shopping Center, the "Colonial Store" was at the Park Road end (now HT), and the "A&P" was at the Woodlawn end (now Michael's). Later Hannaford's opened across the street on Woodlawn. There was something for everybody
I heard somewhere else that they are only closing 7 charlotte area stores. they have 8. which one stays bloom?
or do they include the one in fort mill as the charlotte area?
what about the people that are going to be out of a job. not all the worker will get there jobs with foodlion. gus you people do not give a ___!!!
"I didn't realize people were so passionate about the stores where they bought their food. High comedy"
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Welcome to any medium-to-large city in America, 2011.
Store #1351 9323 N. Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28262 67.5 mi
Store #2585 6430 W Sugar Creek Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28269 63.6 mi
Store #2748 8138 Mt Holly-Huntersvill
Charlotte, NC 28216 57.5 mi
Store #2772 2226 Park Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28203 61.3 mi
Store #564 4226 Hwy 49
Harrisburg, NC 28075 73.5 mi
Store #1438 6275 Wilson Grove Rd
Mint Hill, NC 28227 72.6 mi
Store #531 516 River Highway, Ste 10
Mooresville, NC 28117 59.3 mi
Store #2760 1088 Brawley School Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117 57.2 mi
Store #2701 3750 Hwy 81 North
Anderson, SC 29621 83.9 mi
Store #2747 1046 Regent Parkway
Fort Mill, SC 29715 58.6 mi
Store #2700 1332 S. Pleasantburg Dr.
Greenville, SC 29605 61.9 mi
Store #2727 3093 S. Hwy 14
Greer, SC 29650 51.2 mi
Store #2728 1207 W. Wade Hampton Blvd
Greer, SC 29650 49.5 mi
Store #2702 1085-D Old Clemson Hwy
Seneca, SC 29672 94.3 mi
Store #2729 901 Holland Rd.
Simpsonville, SC 29681 57.8 mi
Store #2746 1004 W. Georgia Rd.
Simpsonville, SC 29680 62.3 mi
I worked at the Food Lion corporate office in Salisbury. The Bloom closings is a failed strategy. They failed to distinguish the brand enough to draw meaningful number of consumers, and had the balls to put a store in Bi-Lo's backyard. This is nothing more than a failed expirement.
Bring on Weggmans!
I'm bummed. I have grown to love the Bloom in Dilworth. Bright, clean store with a nice staff. Good food (I get my meats from Reid's) at Food Lion prices with the Harris Teeter shopping experience.
When did lowe"s start selling food? ours has gatorade and snacks but mostly hardware and lumber
How is Aldi? They just opened up near me. I think I'll check it out.
guess i cant shop happy no more. i too remember the first bloom stores being in charlotte.
Bloom was the only supermarket that from time to time would put lobster on sale for $8.99 lb. That was the best price I have seen advertised. I'll miss that.
Wegman's please open up down here.
one would think with all the wealth in north meck and in mooresville (the point, the penisula), these stores would be able to sustain themselves.
This is the most laughs I've had all day...Thanks
I wonder if when Food-Lion takes over, they will keep some of the Bloom features. (Portable Scanners, Info Kiosks, Large Natural Foods Section).
When will these stores be converted?
Jeez, someone from Bloom/Food Lion headquarters should look at these comments.
Here's the simple truth of the matter. Food Lion has lower prices than just about anyone except Walmart. Yes, the stores may not be as clean or as bright as others, but would you rather pay for cleanliness and brightness, or would you rather pay for groceries? I've not been in any Food Lion that was ever excessively dirty or ever gotten rotten or bad meat of any kind. And I've bought plenty of meat there over the years.
Those of you who dislike Food Lion are most certainly entitled to do so. As for me, I'll continue to shop with them and use the money I save for other things.
People can shop wherever they want...
If you like quality fruits and vegetables, quality meat, clean stores, great selection and friendly employees, shop at Harris Teeter.
If you like poor quality fruits and vegetables, poor quality meat, dirty and dusty stores, poor selection and rude employees, shop at Food Lion.
I know what I'll pick...
im off to the harris teeter
Guys, if you think Food Lion has the lowest prices after Wal-Mart, think again. Their prices are generally on par with Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter. WRAL in Raleigh tracks the grocery costs of local grocers there (they have Kroger, but don't have Bi-Lo)... anyway you can check out the trends here: http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/flash/2603702/ ... Among the traditional grocers, Kroger is generally the lowest.
I live in an area where we have Trader Joe's , Publix, Food Lion , Whole Foods, Ingles , Aldi , The Fresh Market along with Bilo. The Food Lion and Bloom stores are newer than the Bilo's which tend to have out dated stuff so I avoid them. I get things from Bloom that I am just unable to get at the other stores so I am going to be lost with out those items. I will try to stick with Bloom's after it converts but I will probably just learn to stick with my Publix stores since they are closer anyway just not convenient :(
Delhaize America has been active in recent years improving its Bloom and Food Lion stores. Even with 15 stores converting, both brands need to strengthen themselves. They can start adding pharmacy departments across several hundred stores where there is no drug stores within miles.
don't know what a lot of these people are talking about. Delhaize is a Belgium company, When they bought Hannaford's to get the deal to go through the government's regulators they had to close those stores. Also Delhaize first started investing in Food Lion in the early 80's it was around the time that Food Lion changed it's name from Food Town.
True. When Delhaize bought out Hannafords when I was in high school, we had to close our new store (2-3 years old) because there was a Food Lion within a 1.5 mile radius(At least that's what our manager told us).
Probably, a good portion of these stores will close if they are within a certain distance to a Food Lion.
On another note, I think Ingles (which is BIG in WNC) is going to continue to push it stores east. They are the closest competition to Publix in my mind (I loved shopping at the one in Brevard, NC...awesome).
Most of these people talking about Bloom being the same as Food Lion, just overpriced, are completely WRONG. Bloom has some of the lowest prices I have seen. The store is also very well kept and clean. Bloom is a much nicer version of Food Lion, with great prices that almost always beat Harris Teeter or Lowes Food. They might not be as cheap as Walmart, but who wants to go to Walmart???
I've got friends who work for Bloom and what nobody is talking about is the amount of people who are about to lose their jobs. Food Lion runs on a much smaller labor force which means a lot of the people who work for Bloom will no longer be needed. Food Lion is making every single person who worked for Bloom re-apply for their own jobs and if they get rehired they then have to renogotiate their salary or wages. This is going to affect a great number of people.
I’m so glad most of you are ecstatic about Bloom closing. I’m sure the people that work there like my husband and several close friends are just as thrilled. I’m also sure that all of the employees really loved re-applying for their jobs today, and that’s even if there job still exists OR if their once full time job is now only a part time job.
So many people are being affected by this in an economic sense and your concern is bread variety…prices…store cleanliness…and convenience. Shame on all of you that have not considered the hard working people at these stores that are scared about their futures.
I work at Bloom now, and I'm happy to say, I am not rehiring. I was happy at Bloom. If I wanted to work at Food Lion, I would have applied their. But Food Lion is nasty. I don't understand this business decision.
Bloom was OK.....for a couple of things. (Barney Butter being one of them for a lower price. (thats almond butter by the way! :))
Other than that, I won't miss it.....I shop at Publix 99% of the time anyway! :)
What Food Lion fails to disclose is that more than half of the employees at Bloom stores are losing their jobs. Funny how that isn't put in their statement. So you have the Charlotte area stores also closing. These employees have families to support and no idea if they will even have a job in a few weeks. Way to go Food Lion. I will never purchase another item from any of your stores. Way to make the unemployment rate go up.
Exactly, it's a shame that people are only concerned with their almond butter.
While you may be able to find your almond butter at Publix some very hard working people may be out of work. But as long as you have your almond butter life as you know it can go on.
So Charlotte is not upscale, but southeast Virginia is? I don't understand the reasoning by this.
I think FL is just using it as a way to cut employees.
Every time I walk into the Bloom on Park Road you get a strong fishy odor. Would never buy any meat, especially fish from them. Beautiful store not like any FL I've ever seen, but pricey too.
I have a new food lion in my neighborhood and it is the only one that looks nice and has good food and prices. their private brands--such as cereals and snacks--are very very good. I have no complaints. if you see a new FL open up you might want to try it with an open mind.
What they don't say is that most Bloom employees will be losing their jobs.
I wouldn't be surprised if ALL the current Bloom employees lose their jobs or are forced to take hefty pay cuts which would practically be like losing your job and starting all over again.
My wife and I have been shopping at Bloom’s for more than 5 years and always with a most pleasant experience. The staff has always been friendly and anxious to assist us. That is until today!
Since my wife and I do our shopping at different times and she carries the Bloom’s card. I have, for some time, have wanted to get a duplicate “Bloom’s Card.” I have emailed on several occasions but to no avail. Today, Monday June 13, at 12: 15 PM I visited, for the first time, your “Costumer Service” area.
There were two representatives behind the desk one gentleman and one lady. I explained my situation and was told that I would need to fill out another application. I stated that we have a card and just wanted a duplicate for me to carry. Again they said that I would have to get another account opened. The lady said that they could do it for me but they were out of forms. No apologies or sorry for the inconvenience, or I understand your position but…You might want to consider tow new reps and train them.
I asked if it were not possible to get a duplicate on the account we now have and was told, “No!” I would need to fill out the paperwork again. This is ridiculous and unnecessary. I told them that I could shop at Wegman’s or Harris-Teeter’s who gave us duplicate cards and they reiterated that with Bloom’s it would have to be a new application. At this point I put my cart back and left the store.
My wife and I have decided to shop with Wegman’s, Teeter’s and Safeway from now on and we are both losers in this exchange, us for the convienence of Bloom’s and you because we can no longer tell others how good you are. And you can remove the word “Service” from your sign. We will mail your card back to you, I am sure you probably have a policy for it as well.
Sincerely,
Dr. E. L. Ferlazzo
Who is this Dr. E. L. Ferlazzo? Are you a real person? You are this dramatic over something as simple as a card? Some stores systems do not allow duplicate cards to be created for established accounts. You have to fill out another application, and then the company (usually through the call center) can move your purchase history and any "points" you have earned over to the new cards. I saw no "service" issue with your tirade. Perhaps the employees were not aware of how the system that controls their shopping cards works, but that is sad for you to refuse to shop there again. If anything, you could have simply made a photocopy of the card you had and used that as your second card if you are so adamant about not filling out a new application. It is dealing with people like you that makes customer service a difficult position.
Furthermore, I have never been in a Food Lion, as they left Texas in 1994, but can it really be that bad? You people on here seem to have a lot of choices when it comes to grocery stores. Here there is Tom Thumb, Albertsons, and Kroger for average stores, WalMart, Aldi, Target, HEB, and Save A Lot for discount stores; Sam's Club and Costco for members-only stores, and Central Market and Whole Foods for high end. In all of those places, I have not seen "info kiosks", "portable scanners", or the like. You show up, grab a cart, shop, pay, and leave. It is a simple procedure. No stores smell bad or have rude employees, except that I refuse to shop at a store with "self-checkouts". I believe a person should have a job and be paid for that position.
I am reading much disatisfaction in these blogs. I have a nephew who worked at a Food Lion that converted into a Bloom. He told me all the inside dirt. FL/Bloom is non-union so they draft the job descriptions however they want and pay crappy wages so thet don't attract good workers. The reason there is so much expired groceries on the shelf is because they have lazy grocery stockers that don't manage the shelves and rotate the product. A "pull list" is given to the receiving clerk! That is the most hair-brained thing I ever heard! My nephew quit recently because his bosses became nasty and verbally abusive (within legal limits) creating a hostile workplace. He said its because they needed to eliminate jobs to maximize profits. 8 workers mostly full-timers were bullied out of the store. I boycott any FD/Bloom/BD because of the way my family memeber was treated-its wrong and unethical to do that to workers. Some people say that life is unfair, deal with it-I say people MAKE life unfair and they should be dealt with.
I have been a regular shopper at Bloom for some time. I do shop other stores as well. I will say that Bloom has always seemed to be a clean store but with all the recent changes and the store preparing to change over to Food Lion things are horrible! I was informed today they would no longer double any coupons, a lot of my items rang up way higher than the list price and when I got home with some ice cream that I'd bought for my daughter it was over a year out of date and had so many ice crystals formed on the top that you couldn't even tell it was ice cream. I plan to go back for my refund tomorrow and let them know they've lost my business! Also while I was checking out the kind friendly cashier told me that she would no longer have her job after Sunday because of the store changes and they'd decided to terminate her. She said she'd been with the company since they'd put that store in our area. If Bloom/Food Lion treats their employees this horribly I will take ALL of my business elsewhere. All anyone wants is friendly clean service and not to have everything way overpriced. When they stop doubling coupons they'll lose all the business from folks around here and I look for them to close the store within the year! Good luck to them because everyone I know that shops there said they'll never go back when it's Food Lion! I see bankruptcy in the near future!!! I'll now take all my business to Publix and Bilo! :)
Bloom was the closes grocery store to me and never like the quality meats of Food lion, went with the intention of buying mahi mahi per the Bloom circular I receive weekly, well surprise the store was transform. No fresh seafood no angus beef. Took me forever to shop for my staples. I hate the quality of my family's essential. Just one less grocery store I will shop, will go only to visit the red box. Have to get my Costco card and shop for my meats there. Sorry Harris teeter no better and very expensive. Where is Shop Rite my one shop store?
My wife just returned from the Bloom on Park that is now a Food Lion- was very disappointed by the selection and changes to store. Time to go back to Harris Teeter.
You know what's funny, some people here praise Bloom, yet have nothing to say positively about Food Lion.
Guess what... they are the some thing. Every single bit of the products in a Bloom store and a Food Lion store come from the exact same warehouse.
Ask me how I know. Because I work at a Food Lion Distribution Center. Even if one item is called say, "Bloom Strawberry Yogurt" (I'm using that as an example), it's still stored in the same warehouse and made by the same company.
And the people who work at these stores follow the same training handbook. The store managers included.
The only difference you'll see is the store brand products and now (or in the near future) it will all fall under the "My Essentials" namebrand.
It's time to quit being sheep people. If the store is dirty, report it. If the employees are rude or too busy to help, report them. If not to a store manager, then to a district manager or further up. And that goes for any business.
My husband shopped Bloom's every since they came into the Charlotte area. We knew that it was still owned by Food Lion but it just seemed like better quality. We were very sad to see the Bloom's stores being converted back into Food Lion's and of course, we will not be shopping there anymore. The meat selections were better at Bloom's but since they are gone, I guess we will have to go back to Sam's Club or BJ's.
food lion is disgusting. bloom was much cleaner. i went to the food lion once since it was changed and i will never go back. you can tell its definitely a different atmosphere and i am taking my business to lowes foods.
Bloom in SE VA today was converting fast and furious to Food Lion. So I think that must have meant northern VA. SE VA IS NOT UPSCALE. I agree with u.
I see some people writing that Foodlion had bad meat and were disgusting.
That was not my experience.
I found the one I used here in VA to be clean and normally priced. Bloom may be upscale, but truly only in prices.
Upscale what? The same brand names as in any other store at higher prices and I mean insanely high prices.
I have been shopping at WalMart, but the crowds and and sometimes low stock on items and well as TOOOOO big to walk through, has me sick of it.
If Foodlion is smart they will compete in price with WalMart
People will go there then, wanting to shop fast and avoid the football field walk to buy groceries.
I am happy as long as prices are reasonable.
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