What time does the grocery store close

Every neighborhood has that famous “mercadinho”, which is frequented in more emergency moments or even by meeting the needs in a more agile way than the supermarkets. That’s why there are many people interested (are you one of them?) in knowing how to set up a small grocery store.

Although it is one of the oldest trade models in the segment, it is still an interesting alternative for smaller cities or even for neighborhoods far away from large centers.

People choose to consume in grocery stores due to the practicality and agility of the service. This fact weighs against the bigger markets, which have many options, but sometimes it is necessary to face huge lines.

Characteristics of a grocery store

Although many call grocery stores “grocery stores”, there is a difference between these trades. The biggest is the variety of products that exists in a small market which, even not being very big, is still bigger than a grocery store.

Grocery stores exist to attend specific needs of the target public in a region little favored by big stores. It is the best alternative in the moments we have laziness of going very far, you know?

In the grocery store you find sweets, soft drinks, rice, toilet paper or even that bolt that you so much need, but the construction house has already closed and you can not wait until the next day.

Learn how to set up a small grocery store that generates positive results

Now that you are more into this universe, we can go to the next step and highlight which points are important to put your ideas into practice.

We gather tips that will be important for the success of your grocery store. Check it out:

Planning

Is the venture small? Yes! But it is necessary to make a planning so that it really generates positive results. After all, you are about to invest your money and expect some return, right?

Put on the tip of the pencil everything you have to invest in this business and, from this value, make the choices. List all your objectives and small goals during a certain period.

Market research

Searching for industry references is common practice in any segment. Therefore, it must be in the planning stage of your enterprise.

Go to the grocery stores that you know and study the trade. Write down the points that can be useful and those that should be avoided in your business. Since the adopted prices until the form in which the products are exposed.

Location

For every business to achieve good results, it must be well located. Even if your interest is to learn how to set up a small grocery store it is necessary to pay attention to this detail.

As in any small business, being close to the target audience is essential. Therefore, the chosen place must be a region of easy access to the whole neighborhood you want to reach and safe so that consumers can reach you at the time they prefer.

Disclosure

No matter how small the business is, investing in disclosure is fundamental for people to know that it exists. But when we talk about divulgation, we are not referring to a great financial effort.

To put an attractive banner in front of the place is a simple way of divulgation, but that can generate satisfactory return.

Do you have a little extra money for disclosure? Investing in ads on social networks can be quite a strategy! After all, it is possible to construct a segmentation and reach the people that pass near your grocery store, for instance. It is a very assertive and accessible method for small businesses.

Legal and specific requirements

You know that boring and bureaucratic part, but necessary to open a business? The time to talk about it has come! But stay here with us, because it’s a very important subject for you to be aware of these demands.

Any simple mistake regarding the legality of the business can delay its opening. So, for everything to happen as planned, we recommend hiring a qualified accounting professional so that he can enter into the processes of drafting the constituent acts of the company.

Besides, he will have a fundamental role in the choice of the most adequate legal model for your enterprise. He may also be responsible for filling out the forms required by public agencies for registration as a legal entity.

Having this professional help is important for your business to be within the legalities. With this, you will hardly have any unpleasant surprises and you will be able to dedicate yourself to other issues.

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused a global disruption, and to see evidence, most people only have to look as far as their local grocery store. Coronavirus stockpiling has left supplies depleted and shelves barren. A butcher at 99 Ranch Market in Corona, California, even provided the L.A. Times with this emblematic quote featuring a much-needed touch of levity: "We've never sold out of pork butt before."

Meanwhile, these supermarkets themselves are in a difficult position: Not only do they need additional time to restock products, but as one of the remaining public hubs that people are not actively trying to avoid, the need to clean and sanitize is also of the utmost importance. For this reason, chains have been limiting their store hours to give employees more time to handle these important duties. Some have even taken the measure of opening early for elderly and other at-risk customers to shop before the crowds arrive.

Here's a list of major supermarkets that have publically announced changes to their hours due to the coronavirus so far:

Walmart

On Wednesday, March 18, the company announced all stores had been scaled back to operating from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. local time (stores that previously opened later than 7 a.m. would continue to open at their usual hour). Additionally, between March 24 and April 28, stores will open one hour early on Tuesdays to shoppers over 60 years old. Pharmacies and vision centers will also be open during the hour. Item limits have been placed on paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.

Kroger

Kroger is America's largest grocer—operating thousands of markets over a dozen brand names including Baker's, City Market, Dillons, Fry's Food Stores, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Fred Meyer, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Jay-C Food Stores, King Soopers, Mariano's, Metro Market, Owen's Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick 'N Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler Foods, and Smith's Food and Drug. The grocery giant has adjusted hours across many, but not all of its stores—and keeping track of so many brands isn't easy. Thankfully, Kroger has a page dedicated to listing updated store hours: kroger.com/i/coronavirus-update/store-information.

Update: Some Kroger stores in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee have region-wide reduced hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Albertsons

Albertsons is another major grocer operating stores under nearly 20 names, including Acme, Amigos, Andonico's, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel Osco, Lucky, Market Street, Pavilions, Plated, Randalls, Safeway, Shaws, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United, and Vons. In a news release about the coronavirus on Friday (March 13), the company didn't mention any proposed store hour changes. However, USA Today reported yesterday that stores are opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier than normal. This policy may vary across locations and brand, so check your local store for more info.

Update: Safeway and Albertsons announced reduced hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and senior and at-risk shopper hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, checkout stands have been outfitted with "sneeze guards" to protect employees and customers.

Publix

On Friday (March 13), the Florida-based chain Publix announced that starting March 14, stores and pharmacies would close companywide at 8 p.m. "until further notice." On March 19, the company announced it would offer senior shopping hours for customers 65 and older on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

H-E-B

The Texas-based chain updated its store hours and operation page on March 13, explaining, "To better serve our customers and increase product availability, all H-E-B stores and Central Market will close tonight at 8 p.m. Beginning Sunday, March 15, all stores will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. until further notice. This also includes Joe V's and Mi Tienda locations."

Stop & Shop

In an announcement update on Saturday (March 14), Stop & Shop wrote, "In order to allow more time for our associates to unload deliveries, stock shelves, and better serve you throughout the day, we are adjusting our hours to 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at most stores beginning Monday, March 16, until further notice. (There may be some exceptions. Please visit your local store location for details. New hours will also be posted on our website Monday.)"

Wegmans

As of Tuesday, March 17, stores will only be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sam’s Club

Yesterday (March 15), Sam's Club announced that effective tomorrow (Tuesday), all "in-club shopping hours" would be adjusted to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday to Saturday. Sunday hour remain the same (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), as do Club Pickup times and Optical, Pharmacy, and Fuel hours.

Whole Foods

As of Tuesday, March 17, Whole Food announced stores would be limiting their hours on a store-by-store basis. Additionally, all U.S. and Canada stores will open to seniors 60 and older one hour before opening to the public. Find your local store's adjusted hours here: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores

Trader Joe’s

On Saturday (March 14), Trader Joe's announced, "Beginning Monday, March 16th and until further notice, all Trader Joe's stores will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. to support our Crew Members in taking care of one another and our customers."

Aldi

In an undated COVID-19 update, Aldi wrote, "Some stores will be temporarily closed or have limited hours. At this time, we cannot provide specific location information."

Target

As of Wednesday, March 18, all Target stores will close no later than 9 p.m. (stores that normally close before 9 p.m. will continue to close at their normal hours). Target has added a weekly window for seniors to shop on Wednesdays, reserving the first opening hour vulnerable customers. Find more information on your local store's adjusted hours here: www.target.com/store-locator/find-stores

Dollar Tree/Dollar General

Effective Wednesday, March 18, all stores will close at 8 p.m. local time. Stores are also limiting the first open hour to senior shoppers only each day.

Costco

Starting Tuesday, March 24, Costco stores will offer shopping hours for seniors 60 years and older from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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