Is this a normal thing? (shopping)

Late last year I was doing my regular shop in my regular store to find they were lacking our usual nappies. There were however lots of new nappies in the shops own particular brand. Ww waited a few more weeks and our usual ones didn't return, so I contact the brand to find out if there was an issue to be told that the company that the shop had decided to stop stocking them but I could still purchase from their competatitors. Rather than stop shopping there altogether we started doing our main shop through them and the nappies elsewhere.

Eventually moving to online, paying the extra and delivery fee for the convience of not arguing with tired kids on my own.



Anyway I started going back into the store this past month only to find they no longer stock any of our usual branded Gluten Free food items. They are now ALL shop branded items?! Do stores usually do this? We have our particular brands that we have tried and tested and now it looks like if we stay at that store that we will need to do it all over again. I guess I'm a little miffed that they are essentially monolpolising that market too. I could understand removing a few of the unsuccessful brands but all of them?

Is this a usual thing to happen? Its a little annoying actually lol Maybe I'm just a complainer

I'm sick of things disappearing from supermarket shelves too. I can't buy groceries online because of where I live so I end up having to go to several different supermarkets in order to get what I want. It takes me all day to do my grocery shopping.

I've also noticed some brands are stocking items in particular supermarkets now too. For example, Cadbury have brought out a new range of chocolate bars, one flavour is exclusively available at Coles, another at Safeway and another at IGA. It's doing my head in. Another example is the bigger packs of certain products only available in Safeway/Woolworths.

I used to work in retail - supermarket. It's all done on purpose - what it usually comes down to it the 'deals' the reps give the owners. I was only in a very small family business, but it would apply to the big chains as well. Reps would come in and offer something super special to get other companies off the shelves and their products on. The smaller name products all but disappear because they aren't with a big company to push them.

I'm with you on the gluten free substitutes! I'm not happy either and some products have just gone altogether with no substitutes

The supermarket I usually shop at stopped stocking the GF custard powder I usually use and started stocking only this foul excuse for instant custard powder........grainy and awful. I now have to shop in two different spots.
Most of what I buy GF is still in the shop but much harder to find than their own brand GF products........some of which I've tried and are particularly awful. The pasta was inedible!

I sent an email of complaint to the company.. I doubt it will make a difference but it was annoying me lol.

Kateo & Amanuet - It's so frustrating isn't it! You finally find something that doesn't taste like cardboard or texture is something weird and **** it disappears. In this instance the whole shelf lol! I will be interested to hear what they say, if anything.

I noticed today that woollies seem to have dumped golden circle pineapple in favour of one from Thailand wasn't happy went to coles instead I will email them. I prefer to pay a bit more to get local.

I think their has been a supply problem with golden circle. I struggle to find it at my local Safeway, Coles and IGA. I'm pretty sure they had to source from Thailand for this reason

Well I got my reply. I don't know why I expected anything else really. I guess we shall be shopping elsewhere until the same thing happens again. Because you know all gluten free items are created equally *sigh*

Dear Blackcat
Thank you for contacting Company* regarding our own Company brand products.
I apologise that you are not happy with the range of choice available in the Company Stores.
Company has the widest range of any food retailer in the world, stocking 44,000 different lines with up to 2,500 products in our stores being Company Own Brand.
Company developed the Own Brand range to offer our customers quality products at competitive prices.
We value our customer's feedback and suggestions as a major contributing factor to our success.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and we look forward to seeing you in our stores soon.
Kind regards

* Company has replaced the store name.

Well that just sounds like a stock standard reply letter. I have started shopping at IGA as they have so many more brands to choose from.

kateo, is it the White Wings custard powder?? My supermarket - one of the 'big two' - has stopped stocking it also and the rubbish they offer now is fit only to be used as cement! Not happy, I use it in baking for my mum, who is coeliac.

Our local iga will try and source things for you which is really helpful.

Speaking of white wings, I can never find their gravy powder. The other brands are rubbish! Bring back white wings. And where exactly did yoyo biscuits go?

I did notice my favourite things disappearing and I refuse to buy Own Brand as they usually sacrifice quality over price. And they justify it by saying people buy it. Buying it just seems massively anti-competitive. But it's because it's all they have got on the shelf. If I had a dollar for every time I help and elderly person to reach the small packets and labelled stuff on the top shelf, or bottom shelf.

And I contacted a supplier or two and was told go to IGA. Unfortunately our nearest one is not close and quite inconvenient.

Also my yoghurt sachets made by hansells are sold in both of the big two, but each only stock certain flavours.

Nice to know it's not only me

Dare I say Aldi wins most weeks. No additives, and something like 80% of all products aussie made.

I'm seeing own brand things suddenly JUMP in prices, and/or getting smaller !

Our old fave easy tea was BBQ chook ($9) with a kilo of pasta salad ($5) and salad. That would do dinner for 4, and lunch for 2, or 4 as sandwiches.

The chook has gone up ($12 I think) and pasta salad is now 700gm for $7.50!

And neenish tarts have gone from $3 to $5 for no apparent reason, and are now quite often white and brown, instead of brown and pink.

Outrageous. OUTRAGEOUS I say!!