5 things: Can you really ‘control’ grocery prices?

‘What exactly are we trying to control?’ Many grocery store owners are processing Vice President Kamala Harris’ statement about going after grocery price gouging tactics. One such Chicago grocer, HarvesTime owner Hristos “Chris” Dallas, said he’s not sure “what we’re trying to control.” “Most of the grocers that I know and associate with are very conscious of having products that we’re pricing things according to what we pay for them, not necessarily as to what the market bears,” Dallas told Fox News Digital. Other industry leaders agree with Dallas — things just aren’t as simple as all that. —Chloe Riley 

Where’s your parents? Grocers struggling with rampant shoplifting in the Washington, D.C., area are at their wits end on how to curb theft in their stores. Now, shoppers under the age of 18 will need a parent with them after 6 p.m. if they want to enter a Giant supermarket. It’s not Giant’s first attempt to reduce theft. In May, imposed a ban on backpacks and large bags— anything over 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches—in its D.C. stores, but it’s now loosening those restrictions, according to NBC4 news. Shoppers can now enter the stores with a backpack as long as they agree to security checks. The new policy means shoppers with backpacks are no longer required to leave them at the front of the store while they do their shopping. —Tim Inklebarger 

From trash to treat: When life hands you too many loose grapes, what’s a retailer to do? In the case of Batavia, Ill.-based Aldi, apparently, the answer is: Freeze them. The fast-growing discount grocer started flash freezing super-sweet cotton candy grapes that would otherwise go to waste, selling them for $3.49 a bag in the frozen section as a no-added-sugar treat. The move spotlights Aldi’s innovative spirit, along with its commitment to sustainability, Aldi Director of Communications Bridget Kozlowski noted on LinkedIn this week. “We don’t just talk the talk—Aldi has an entire Sustainability team dedicated to ensuring our business continues to lead in sustainable practices … Reducing food waste is such an important piece of that effort.” Sweet! —Heather Lalley

The more pharmacies, the better: The majority of Americans want in-person access to a pharmacist, writes Fast Company, with more than half saying they’d seek non-emergency health care at pharmacies before going to the doctor or a hospital. The article goes on to give three reasons why it’s important to prioritize the health of retail pharmacies. One: They bridge gaps in our flawed health care system. Two: They provide convenience and consistency for those who need care. And three: They are an important resource for the U.S.’ most vulnerable populations. So the demand is there, but lately, the challenge is more about being able to properly staff pharmacists. Pharmacists at Walgreens and CVS have both laid claims about heavy workloads and inadequate staffing. Better working conditions feel like the answer, but the “how” remains to be seen. —CR 

Don’t tread on plastic: The Responsible Recycling Alliance, a coalition of plastics recyclers and manufacturers in California, is calling on the state to launch an economic impact study on the impact proposed legislation to ban plastic bags would have on minority communities. “Now is not the time to rush through legislation whose lasting economic impact is unknown – especially as Californians suffer from higher costs every time they buy groceries,” Roxanne Spiekerman, spokesperson for the RRA and Vice President of Public Affairs for PreZero US, said in a press release. “And for the thousands of small businesses who serve communities in need, this ‘bag tax’ could well be the difference between staying open or going out of business for good, which would harm these communities even further.” The RRA argues that the proposed legislation, AB 2236 and SB 1053, should be amended to “integrate reusable, recyclable, plastic film grocery bags into the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program created in 2022 by SB 54.” —TI