A Word of Advice from a Grocery Store Manger

Finding gluten and even lactose free foods these days is becoming fairly easy to find with very little hassle, or at least once you find the right store or combination of stores. I normally try to go the the health store every other week to get all of my produce, meat, dairy free products and gluten free flours. Then I go to Super Target or Kroger store to get paper goods, shampoo, pet supplies, and cheep gluten free cereal. I have also learned that not all stores are the same, even those apart of a chain. The best Super Target for me is a bit further away then the one that is down the street. Also the best Kroger for gluten free products is closer to church then our home. The health store is right down the street so that is really convenient. However, there is a grocery store right across the street. When it's nice out I'll walk over there to get milk for my daughter or eggs when we run out mid week, but they hardly have any selection of gluten free or dairy free items. For those who must know it's an Albertsons. However this could apply to any store in your area, since they are all different.

My husband made a quick trip over there the other day and asked where he could find hemp milk. The manager replied saying they only had soy or rice milk. My husband continued on to ask why there wasn't a big selection of dairy free or gluten free products in the store. To his surprise the manager got passionate about the subject - in a good way - and his eyes started to well up with tears. Apparently he has have been trying to get the whole chain of Albertsons' stores to expand their product line to include gluten and dairy free products, or change vendors, but having little to no success. He says that they email and beg their chain leaders to include these products, but they won't budge. You know why? Because they don't have consumer support.

The manager went on to explain that it is only when the consumer takes the steps necessary to request items that they get bought by the chain.  However, the consumer must take the right steps. Now most of us have gone up to the service counter and asked for gluten free items or for a particular brand, but there is more to it then just asking. Here are all the required steps:

1. Ask for the products that you want to see at the customer service desk or talk to a manager
2. Fill out a formal request form
3. Fill out the survey that is printed on the bottom of your receipt

I'm sure some of us have done all 3 steps, but I'm sure most of us haven't, especially the third. It's that internet or paper trail that comes with steps two or three that makes it's way up the desks of district and regional supervisors, maybe even higher. So next time you go to the store, don't toss that receipt aside, find time to sit down and do the survey. I know it can be hard to fill out the formal request at the store when you have your kids with you, but you can at least do the online survey at your won convenience.

Celiac's are a group of people that let their voices heard, we have accomplished much as far as more availability in grocery stores and restaurant menus, but if you are like me and are finding yourself driving all over town just to get a weeks worth of shopping done, wouldn't it be nice if the store down the street had everything you need and at the right price too? There is still work for us to do to get the word out. We might be reaching the ears of our local store managers, but not their bosses and there bosses. But take heart; your local store manager might be on your side, more so then you thought before. We are valued customers.