Grocery Chain Announces Price Freeze on Everyday Items

by Jason Best, Posted Feb 25th 2011 @ 3:00PM

Wegman's frozen foods section Photo: Adam Kuban, Flickr

It's becoming harder and harder to believe the ubiquitous promises made by grocery stores everywhere: "Thousands of low prices!" or "Low prices every day!"

What with food prices hitting record levels around the world, what does "low" mean anyway?

But the surprise gambit by one regional grocery chain caught our attention: Wegmans has announced that it's freezing prices on 40 products through the end of the year.

The chain, which has more than 70 stores across the mid-Atlantic states, has promised that it won't increase the cost by even a penny on a number of what it's calling "family items," staples such as orange juice, coffee, cereal, bananas, ground beef, chicken, and pasta. The products mostly carry Wegmans store brand.

It's nice to see that they've included some unexpected variety, too. Red peppers, salmon and tilapia are also on the list, and while they may not qualify as "staples" in most American kitchens, it beats eating spaghetti with meat sauce for yet another night this week.

The chain estimates that the price freeze could save the average family of four between $350 and $400 in the coming year.

Too bad it looks like you'll be spending that on gas.

Filed Under: Business, Stores & Shopping
Tags: Wegmans, wegmans freezing prices