5 things: How to sell inflation-weary shoppers on dinner

Repackaging dinner: This piece from Salon has literally all the hot button words speaking directly to consumers feeling both the pain of inflation and the additional pain of whipping together dinner every night. “Looking to shop on a budget? Here’s how you can turn $50 at Trader Joe’s into 5 homemade dinners.” Budget and dinner? Yes, please. It’s also a smart piece of content because of the way it’s speaking very pointedly and clearly to the shopper. “Have $50? Want to make five dinners out of that? We can help.” Inflation is easing (but not by that much), and grocers would be wise to take a page from this playbook. —Chloe Riley 

What a frozen deal: 27 cents for a pack of baked ham? You better jump on that deal. Many shoppers at the Kingswood Market in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, did just that, as the giveaway sale also included bologna packs that went for 7 cents (what?) and honey-ham two-packs for 69 cents. The reason behind this mass sale? Owner Jacob Bussey took advantage of a sweet deal from a supplier for deli meat, only to discover thousands remained right before their expiration date. So Bussey froze the packs and made the discounts even deeper. Many customers thanked him for the cartloads of meat, but some took to social media in disgust. I’m sure many grocers appreciate the food waste prevention. Some thought selling groceries past expiration dates was illegal. It’s not, but operating overstuffed shopping carts might be a traffic hazard. —Bill Wilson

Save A Lot finally opens at former Whole Foods site: This editor lives close to Chicago, and has been following the saga of one grocery site in Englewood, an impoverished neighborhood on the city’s west side. Back in November, the neighborhood’s Whole Foods announced that it would close — a big deal for an area that struggles to have options for fresh foods. More recently, a Save A Lot announced it would be moving into the space, but not before getting major pushback from the community, which had concerns about the grocer’s reputation. But now? The store is open, but with no fanfare or grand opening. We’ll see how long it lasts. —CR

Goodbye Disco Kroger, hello…Disco Publix? Publix Super Markets is moving in on a shopping center once home to “Disco” Kroger — a grocery store with a disco ball and mural, a homage by artist Dr. Dax to the famous Limelight disco club once located on the site. The plan involves demolishing the existing space once used by Kroger, which closed last December, and instead building a 55,000-square-foot box for Publix. And as for the disco ball and mural? The plan is to keep them both. Boogie on. —CR

And they’re off: If only they had the chance to really jack up those motorized shopping carts. The inaugural Hy-Vee 500 Cart Race took place in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Hy-Vee store. Contestants had to run their carts, fill their basket up with groceries, and then high-tail it back to the finish line. It’s all part of the retailer’s statewide competition for passes for the Hy-Vee Indycar Race in Newton, Iowa, in July. One contestant was actually scared that he had to handle groceries because he does not shop very much. I’m sure his significant other will be glad to know he’s an expert now. —BW