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I went to Stew Leonard's for the first time and the unique customer experience made me actually enjoy grocery shopping

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>Business Insider has had love affairs with a number of regional and national supermarket chains over the years. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-people-love-kroger-2015-3">Kroger</a> has an awesome loyalty program. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wegmans-grocery-is-americas-best-2014-4">Wegmans</a> has a walk-in beer locker.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">But anyone who has ever set foot in Stew Leonard's - a regional grocery chain based in Norwalk, Connecticut - know that it's miles above the rest. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The supermarket, which has three locations in Connecticut and one in Yonkers, New York, <a href="http://supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/stew-leonards-build-long-island-store">recently announced that it plans to open a fifth store</a> on Long Island in early 2016.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Stew Leonard's puts a major emphasis on customer service and the in-store experience, and b</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ig chains could learn a thing or two from studying its model.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's why Stew Leonard's is truly America's best grocery store:</span></p><p><strong>1. It has a simple, ironclad policy when it comes to customer service.</strong></p><p>At the entrance of every Stew Leonard's store is a giant slab with the company's customer service credo carved in: "Rule 1: The customer is always right. Rule 2: If the customer is ever wrong, reread Rule 1."</p><p>It's hard to argue with that kind of philosophy.</p><p><span>"Customer service is excellent, thanks in part to the extensive training given to associates," said <span>Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm Conlumino.</span></span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>2. It has a great in-house brand.</strong></p><p>Stew Leonard's sells a ton of products under its own label, from breakfast cereal to frozen meals. The store is best known for its dairy products, which arrive fresh daily and are packaged with the label: "You'd have to own a cow to get fresher milk!"</p><p>Unlike traditional grocers, which can carry tens of thousands of items, Stew Leonard's only stocks around 2,200 products "chosen specifically for their freshness, quality and value," <a href="http://stewleonards.com/press-room/previous-releases/2002-press-releases/503-farm-fresh-foods-come-to-farmingdale">according to the company</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>3. There are perks for big spenders.</strong></p><p>Stew Leonard's may not offer a traditional loyalty program, but it does have one fun perk for big spenders - a free cup of coffee or scoop of ice cream for every $100 spent. That should keep any grumpy kid (or grown-up) from losing his cool.</p><p><strong>4. The bakery is amazing.</strong></p><p>Stew Leonard's sells a bigger selection of baked goods than your average specialty bakery. Breads, pies, and cookies are baked fresh every day. Top sellers include croissants, cookies, and bagels, but there are also unique items like apple cider donut holes and "jumbo muffins."</p><p>The bakery also makes photo cakes for birthdays.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>5. The chocolate chip cookies are made with a tiny bit of salt.</strong></p><p>This is simply the best way to make cookies, and these treats alone are worth the trip to Stew Leonard's, even if you don't live nearby.</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">6. It's a fun place to take your kids.</span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Free ice cream aside, Stew Leonard's does a great job of turning grocery shopping into a fun family experience. There are animatronics throughout the store, including a country band of singing milk cartons and and a crooning Chiquita banana. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">During the warm weather, there's also a petting zoo and hayrides at certain locations.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">7. The company takes good care of its employees.</span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Stew Leonard's has regularly been named one of Fortune's "100 best places to work in America," and has a 4/5-star rating on job review site Indeed. The store also offers scholarships to employees, and, according to Conlumino's Saunders, it also "<span>has a profit sharing scheme which helps to motivate staff and ensures they are invested in giving good service."</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"You can't have a happy customer unless you have happy people," CEO Stew Leonard Jr. </span><a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2448-golden-rule-profitable-grocery-stores.html">told Business News Daily in 2012</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. "It really starts there. I'd never ask anyone at the store to do something I wouldn't do or haven't done ... </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You've got to pay them well and given them good benefits," Leonard said. "You can't hire great people and try to pay them minimum wage."</span></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">8. The produce selection is enormous, fresh, and well-priced.</span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Stew Leonard's puts a major emphasis on produce, which is the first thing customers see when they walk into a store. The company has also promoted its image as a fresh food market, and it has become "a destination for fresh produce," said Saunders.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">There are also great deals on produce to be had. </span></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">9. There are so many free samples, you can practically eat a free meal while you shop.</span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Instead of traditional supermarket aisles, Stew Leonard's is set up like a maze, similar to Ikea. The layout may be a drawback for people who are just running in to buy a quart of milk, but it means lots more opportunities to try the free samples set up around the store.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>On a recent visit, there were at least four stands set up around the store serving samples like meatballs in tomato sauce, cookies, and fresh pineapple.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">10. Stew's wine and liquor stores are in a league of their own.</strong></span></p><p>Like Trader Joe's, Stew Leonard's has wine and liquor stores that are separate from its core grocery business. The nine Stew Leonard's Wines &amp; Spirits stores are independently owned and operated, and offer huge selections at great prices, as well as online ordering. </p><p>In 2011, Wine Enthusiast <a href="http://www.socialspirits.com/index.php/2011/12/stew-leonards-wine-enthusiasts-retailer-of-the-year/">named</a> Stew Leonard's "wine retailer of the year." </p><p><strong>11. The butcher shop is also incredible. </strong></p><p>Stew Leonard's is known for its cut-to-order butcher shop, which sells only meats from farms and ranches that are hand-selected by the company's buying team. Prices are low, and the butchers are helpful and knowledgeable.</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">12. Stew Leonard's is up with the latest food trends.</strong></p><p>Quinoa bread? Guacamole made with kale? "Magic pop" rice cakes? The grocery store is constantly adding products to its own line to keep up with popular food fads.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><strong>13. You can also just buy a full meal without doing any food shopping.</strong></p><p>Stew Leonard's offers a half-dozen different buffets and salad bars, as well as fresh barbecue during the summer months. There are also dozens and dozens of prepared meals on the stores' shelves, from sushi to lobster rolls to calzones. It's a great value even for those who don't know how to turn on an oven.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/supermarkets-shopping-tricks-layout-grocery-food-2015-1">5 Ways Supermarkets Trick You Into Spending More Money</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="1iYW41bzr_vjHXCsCd2rpQ8gbIyrNecc" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

13 reasons Stew Leonard's is actually the best grocery store in America

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="146874" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kevin-Durant">Kevin Durant</keyword> had perhaps the best game of his career in the Nets' Game 5 win over the Bucks.</li><li>Durant was reportedly bitter that he was never considered the <keyword id="6361805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBA">NBA</keyword>'s best player.</li><li>With many stars now out of the playoffs, it's Durant's time to shine.</li></ul><p>Absent <keyword id="112378" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="LeBron-James">LeBron James</keyword> and the usual spotlight he commands, Kevin Durant has the chance to shine in the playoffs.</p><p>And shine he did on Tuesday.</p><p>Durant poured in 49 points on 16-of-23 shooting to go with 17 rebounds and 10 assists to help a short-handed <keyword id="785198" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Brooklyn-Nets">Brooklyn Nets</keyword> take a 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks.</p><p>With Kyrie Irving out with a sprained ankle and James Harden returning (but still limited) from a hamstring injury, Durant had taken center stage: he would have to carry the Nets.</p><p>It's one thing for a superstar player to <em>meet</em> expectations - Durant shattered them. His victorious 40-point triple-double was just the seventh ever in NBA history. The performance was widely regarded as the best playoff game of Durant's career, with some calling it one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/1405177078849355779">best playoff performances of </a>all time.</p><p>In a most unusual postseason, with typical stars injured or out of the running, Durant staked his claim for the best player in the NBA, something he has reportedly coveted.</p><h2>Durant has been tired of being No. 2 for a long time</h2><p>In 2013, Durant told <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">Sports</keyword> Illustrated that he was "tired of being second."</p><p>"I've been second my whole life," Durant said. "I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I've been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I'm tired of being second. I'm not going to settle for that. I'm done with it."</p><p>That feeling persisted for some time.</p><p><a href="https://theathletic.com/802440/2019/02/05/silent-star-on-the-presumed-warriors-exit-of-kevin-durant/">The Athletic's Ethan Strauss wrote in 2019</a> that after Durant joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016, he won two straight titles and back-to-back Finals MVPs, out-playing LeBron James in the process. Durant felt he didn't get the recognition he thought he deserved <a href="https://theathletic.com/802440/2019/02/05/silent-star-on-the-presumed-warriors-exit-of-kevin-durant/"></a>for winning his battles with James.</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">"Sources say that Durant believed his besting of LeBron James in the 2017 Finals would get him hailed as the game's top player, a mantle he's craved for some time ... Instead, there was no grand reordering of rankings, and only so much credit to be had for a dominant playoff run. KD, who was 'tired of being second' way back in 2013, was still stuck there reputationally, even in ultimate victory. He was still behind LeBron in the eyes of pundits, basketball Twitter, and perhaps most importantly, at Nike, who's employed Durant longer than any team.</p><p>Perception is crucial in the NBA. Durant <em>had</em> been the best player in those series, but he was also on a stacked Warriors team featuring Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. He had made a 73-9 team seemingly unguardable. Though James played alongside stars like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the perception was still that he had to do more to carry his team.</p><p>Durant's pursuit of the title took a hit when he tore his Achilles in the 2019 Finals. It seemed as if Kawhi Leonard momentarily took the crown, leading the Toronto Raptors to the championship, then capturing the NBA's collective attention with his free agency move to the LA Clippers - a move that seemed to draw more attention than Durant's move to the Nets.</p><p>With Durant missing all of the 2019-20 season to recover from his torn Achilles, James once again climbed back to the top by leading the Lakers to the championship while in the bubble.</p><p>A lost season for Durant and the mystery surrounding how he'd look after a torn Achilles left him out of sight, out of mind for much of the NBA world.</p><h2>Durant has returned with a vengeance while other stars have faltered</h2><p>At last, it is not very hard to argue that Durant is now the best player in the NBA.</p><p>He has shown virtually no rust in returning from his year-long absence. While he played just 35 games this season, missing time for various reasons, when he was on the floor, he was his typically dominant self, averaging 27 points per game on an efficient 53-45-88 shooting line.</p><p>Durant has long been regarded as the NBA's best scorer. But he is much more than just a scorer. He makes easy reads to set up teammates. His length allows him to be a pest on defense. He may not be a primary ballhandler like James, but he can control the game's tempo.</p><p>A player who has long made opponents throw up their hands in frustration over their inability to defend him now has multiple ways to impact the game, as he showed in Game 5.</p><div type="image" title="Kevin Durant runs during the 2021 NBA Finals." height="1304" width="1739" msid="83621804" hostid="261"></div>Meanwhile, the competition around Durant has faltered this season.<p>An ankle injury-plagued James through the playoffs and the Lakers were eliminated in the first round. At 36, it's fair to wonder if James has finally begun his decline.</p><p>Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been out-classed by Durant in the playoffs. His limits as a No. 1 option on offense have been visible, as he struggles to create his own shot at the end of close games.</p><p>This year's MVP, Nikola Jokic, was swept out of the second round.</p><p>MVP runner-up Joel Embiid has admirably played through a torn meniscus. Still, his Philadelphia 76ers trail the Atlanta Hawks 3-2 in the second round. He, too, has had fourth-quarter struggles in that series.</p><p>Luka Doncic posted historic numbers in the first round but could not help the Dallas Mavericks close out the LA Clippers.</p><p>Curry had one of the greatest offensive seasons in NBA history but still could not carry his team to the playoffs.</p><p>Leonard may still have a case as the league's best player, but he is now out with a knee strain.</p><p>For now, the spotlight is Durant's. Each successive game only offers him more opportunity to establish himself as the premier force in the league.</p>

Kevin Durant may have finally wrestled the title of best NBA player from LeBron James after he used to stew over a lack of credit

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Even if you forget <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-ceos-admit-to-overcharging-customers-2015-7">Whole Foods admitting to overcharging customers</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-use-amazon-dash">Amazon elbowing in on the grocery market</a>, shopping for food can be quite a stressful experience. </p><p>And while everyone has their favorite supermarket, a few stand above the rest - and I'd heard <a href="http://www.stewleonards.com/">Stew Leonard's</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> was one of those.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The grocery store has locations in Connecticut and New York, but having grown up in New Hampshire - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/beloved-market-basket-ceo-is-reinstated-2014-8">land of Market Basket</a> - I had never set foot in one.</span></p><p>But with all the hype from Connecticuters, I was pretty curious. The supermarket's reputation for customer service and quality precedes it, and I had heard rumors of animatronic singing produce. I had to check it out.</p><p>With the moniker "the Disneyland of Dairy Stores" - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/22/garden/in-norwalk-a-disneyland-dairy-store.html">given by the New York Times back in 1983</a> - I knew I was in for an experience. But I had no idea just how delightful it is to grocery-shop at a Stew Leonard's store.</p>

Stew Leonard's is called the 'Disneyland of dairy stores' - and after one visit, I totally get the hype

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Turkeys weighing 16 pounds or less are in short supply for the holiday season, grocery chains say.</li><li>One grocery store told the New York Post he could only get half as many turkeys as he wanted.</li><li>It's just the latest meat shortage in the US, where meat prices have spiked in recent months.</li></ul><p>American meat producers and distributors are sounding the alarm on a potential turkey shortage ahead of the holiday season. </p><p>"The <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> is not promising," a broker for Shady Brook Farms, one of the nation's largest turkey suppliers, said in a letter to retailers and distributors, according to a food seller who received it and spoke to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/08/15/thanksgiving-turkeys-may-be-harder-to-come-by-this-year/">New York Post</a>. The company also advised its vendors in July that "the industry continues to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kellogg-mondelez-adding-products-food-grocery-covid-cuts-2021-8">struggle with production</a> issues," the Post reported, citing the letter.</p><p>"Shady Brook told us they could only give us 50% of the turkeys we need and want for the holidays," Stew Leonard, who owns Stew Leonard's grocery chain, told The Post.</p><p>Other meat suppliers have made similar warnings. The New York-based Morton Williams <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-grocery-report-2020">grocery chain</a> was recently told by its vendors that it wouldn't get birds weighing less than 16 pounds, according to Morton Williams' meat buyer, Victor Colello, cited by the Post. </p><p>Birds weighing 16 pounds or less are more popular because they take less time to defrost and cook than heavier ones, experts told The Post. Heavier turkeys are more readily available, experts said.</p><p>Cargill, the US corporation which owns Shady Brook Farms, acknowledged the shortage to the Post, saying it was the result of "continuing to manage tight labor markets while working to keep employees safe from the impacts of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/price-of-grilling-meat-giant-tyson-foods-plans-price-hikes-2021-8">COVID-19 in the communities</a> where they operate."</p><p>"It is important to note," the company added, "that the overall frozen bird production remains the same compared to previous years though average bird weights are slightly higher for both fresh and frozen birds due processing delays."</p><p>These warnings are just the latest in a string of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/panda-expresss-vegan-orange-chicken-sold-out-in-california-2021-8">meat shortages</a> that have rocked the US, amid the rising cost of raw supplies and a severe labor crunch.</p>

Turkeys could be in short supply over the holidays as producers warn they're struggling to keep up with demand, a report says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Grocers are stockpiling items like frozen meat, cleaning supplies, and sugar.</li><li>The nation's largest grocery wholesaler purchased up to 20% more inventory, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/supermarkets-are-stockpiling-inventory-as-food-costs-rise-11625572980">The Wall Street Journal reports.</a></li><li>The US food supply chain is already struggling with transportation and labor costs.</li></ul><p>Grocery stores are stockpiling food and other items in anticipation of rising prices and demand.</p><p>Paul McLean, the chief merchandising officer of Stew Leonard's, told Insider that the supermarket chain is purchasing 50% more inventory than usual, and that they've "bought ahead whenever possible" to protect margins. He specifically mentioned buying more paper products and imported goods like pasta sauce, pasta, and olive oil.</p><p>"We're buying more ingredients for home cooks - including flour and spices," McLean said. "We are also buying ahead on cleaning products for the fall and back to school."</p><p>McLean added that they've seen an increase in sales of lobster, shrimp, prime meat, and organic produce, with frozen food sales increasing 20% over the past year.</p><p>Some grocery stores are running into issues getting everything they ordered from suppliers, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/supermarkets-are-stockpiling-inventory-as-food-costs-rise-11625572980">The Wall Street Journal first reported on Tuesday.</a> "It runs the risk of making a bad situation worse," Mark Griffin, president of B&amp;R Stores Inc., told the Journal.</p><p>Stew Leonard's does not anticipate rising prices substantially any time soon. "We are holding our pricing for the most part," McLean said. "Since we buy direct, there's been no disruptions to our supply of fresh products like produce, meat, and fish."</p><p>Grocery stores' stockpiling puts additional stress on an already fragile US food supply chain, which is currently struggling with labor shortages and high shipping costs. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-supply-shortages-economy-inventory-chips-lumber-cars-toilet-paper-2021-5#chicken-10">From lumber and chicken wings to Starbucks drinks,</a> product shortages have continued as the US <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> reopens. Shortages are just one result of surging shipping costs, as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shipping-crisis-causing-shortages-why-2021-6">maritime trade continues to recover</a> from the pandemic. </p><p>A leading economist told Bloomberg that people may be underestimating just how much the shipping crisis will raise prices of consumer goods, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shipping-crisis-prices-costs-freight-inflation-economy-transport-2021-6">Grace Dean reported for Insider.</a></p><p>Some grocery stores are raising product prices to minimize losses, the Journal reported.</p><p>According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food in May has increased by 0.4% compared to April, meaning that on average, purchasing food has gotten slightly more expensive in recent months. </p>

Grocery stores are stockpiling food and cleaning supplies amid rising costs and demand

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some <keyword id="6372044" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grocery" source="Orion">grocery</keyword> stores are scrapping discounts to curb demand for particular products.</li><li>It's a result of the <keyword id="11894138" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="supply-chain" source="Orion">supply chain</keyword> crisis, which is squeezing <keyword id="11917392" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="retailers" source="Orion">retailers</keyword> across the US. </li></ul><p>Grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked because of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-store-shelves-are-empty-supply-chain-crisis-shortages-2021-10">supply chain crisis</a>, so some are cutting back on deals to help ease shopper demand.</p><p>Bristol Farms and New Seasons Market, the West Coast grocery chains run by Good Food Holdings, are among them.</p><p>Good Food CEO Neil Stern recently told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fsupermarkets-play-supply-chain-whack-a-mole-to-keep-products-on-shelves-11635672603">The Wall Street Journal</a> that it doesn't make sense to have promotions for products you can't keep in stock. Moreover, customers are more likely to be happier to switch to other brands that are in stock if they don't feel they're missing out on particular deals, other <keyword id="11893588" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail" source="Orion">retail</keyword> executives told The Journal.</p><p>Grocery stores across the US are in the nightmarish position of trying to secure enough inventory to keep up with demand as global supply chains struggle. A lack of raw materials and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retail-workers-tight-labor-market-rage-quit-pay-2021-6">labor</a> has led to long delays, shortages, and rising costs. As some stores have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-stores-stockpile-food-cleaning-supplies-rising-prices-demand-2021-7">started to stockpile</a> the situation has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bullwhip-effect-retailers-over-ordering-makes-supply-chain-worse-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">only gotten worse.</a> Some manufacturers are imposing purchasing limits to put a stop to this.</p><p>The chief merchandising officer of grocery chain Stew Leonards recently told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-stores-stockpile-food-cleaning-supplies-rising-prices-demand-2021-7">Insider</a> that it's buying 50% more inventory than usual, and buying ahead whenever possible to protect its margins from rising costs. </p><p>It's a similar situation at wholesaler Associated Wholesale Grocers, which serves more than 3,000 grocers. According to The Journal, it's holding 30% more products than this time a year ago.</p><p>Some stores, such as Kroger, are securing additional warehouse space to store extra inventory, The Journal said. </p><p>But even with stockpiling, it's still impossible to keep items in stock, other retailers say.</p><p>"It's like whack-a-mole," Vivek Sankaran, CEO of grocery chain Albertsons, said on a recent call with investors. "On any given day, something is out of stock in the store," he said, per The Journal.</p>

Some grocery stores have scrapped promotions and discounts to help curb demand for scarce products amid the supply chain crisis

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rouses Markets, a grocery chain, has struggled to stock its shelves in recent weeks, it told the WSJ.</li><li>CEO Donny Rouse said that it sometimes received just 40% of its orders from <keyword id="11929026" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="suppliers" source="Orion">suppliers</keyword>. </li><li>It has created its own version of the Lunchables snack because they have been hard to get, he said.</li></ul><p>The CEO of a Southern supermarket chain says he's struggling to keep shelves full during a <keyword id="11929025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="supply-shortage" source="Orion">supply shortage</keyword>, and that his company has resorted to creating its own version of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/charcuterie-millennial-social-media-phenomenon-2020-1">Lunchables</a>, Kraft Heinz's miniature cracker, cheese, and meat selection.</p><p>Donny Rouse, who runs Rouses Markets, told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fwhy-you-cant-find-everything-you-want-at-grocery-stores-11629633601">The Wall Street Journal</a> that sometimes the chain receives about 40% of the items it orders from suppliers, compared to more than 90% before the pandemic. </p><p>"It is difficult for customers to get everything they want to get," Rouse told The Journal. </p><p>The chain - which has <a href="https://www.rouses.com/about/about-us/">65 stores</a> across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama - has found new ways to plug gaps in its inventory. Jason Martinolich, Rouses' vice president of center store, told The Journal that the chain had sourced items from different brands and bought more private-label products. </p><p>Rouse told The Journal that he and his team had visited rival <keyword id="11929028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grocery-stores" source="Orion">grocery stores</keyword> to see what they were selling, and asked manufacturers why his competitors were able to get products that his company could not. He did not say whether he'd received answers.</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/virus-surge-cramps-global-air-freight-holiday-imports-2021-8">The surging Delta variant is tanking air freight capacity out of China, and it's already a huge problem for holiday retail</a></em></p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rouses-markets-tests-unmanned-drone-grocery-delivery-with-deuce-drone-2020-7">7,000-employee supermarket chain</a> has also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labor-shortage-chicken-prices-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas-inflation-2021-7">struggled to get</a> Lunchables - Kraft Heinz's miniature cracker, cheese, and meat selection - and has instead started to create its own version of the popular snack with crackers, cheese, grapes, and meat, The Journal reported. </p><p>Kraft Heinz told The Journal there was record demand for Lunchables, that it was managing the supply chain, and that it was getting more products to customers.</p><p>Grocery stores have faced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-supply-shortages-economy-inventory-chips-lumber-cars-toilet-paper-2021-5#computer-chips-1">supply shortages</a> in recent weeks, in part because of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labor-shortage-restaurants-bidding-war-staff-workers-employment-farm-burger-2021-8">labor shortage</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shipping-crisis-prices-costs-freight-inflation-economy-transport-2021-6">high shipping costs</a>.</p><p>Some retailers have stockpiled goods to keep their shelves full. Paul McLean, the chief merchandising officer of Stew Leonard's, a Connecticut supermarket chain, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-stores-stockpile-food-cleaning-supplies-rising-prices-demand-2021-7">previously told Insider</a> that the company had purchased 50% more items than usual, including pasta and olive oil. </p><p>Some evidence suggests that shoppers are also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-toilet-paper-stock-stockpiling-shoppers-limitations-2021-8">stockpiling goods</a> as the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreads throughout the country, as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-shoppers-stockpiling-toilet-paper-worsen-supply-chain-issues-2021-8">they did</a> in the early days of the pandemic. </p><p>Rouses and Kraft Heinz did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. </p>

A grocery chain says it's receiving just 40% of the items it orders from suppliers, and is making its own version of Lunchables because it can't get hold of the real thing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The first teaser <keyword id="6354464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trailer">trailer</keyword> for Steven Spielberg's "<keyword id="1298850" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="West-Side-Story">West Side Story</keyword>" aired during the Oscars on Sunday. </li><li>The film stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as Tony and Maria, respectively. </li><li>"West Side Story," previously delayed a full year, will premiere in theaters on December 10, 2021.</li></ul><p>The first trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of "West Side Story" aired during the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/oscars-2021">93rd annual Academy Awards</a> on Sunday. </p><p>The 20th Century Fox film follows two starcrossed teenagers, Tony Wyzek (Ansel Elgort) and Maria Nunez (Rachel Zegler), as they fall in love despite each having ties to rival street gangs in 1950s New York City. Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Corey Stoll, and Brian d'Arcy James have been cast in the 2021 movie as well. </p><p>Spielberg directed and coproduced the film, while Tony Kushner ("Angels in America," "Munich," and "Lincoln") wrote the screenplay. Justin Peck, the acting resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet, choreographed the on-screen numbers.</p><p>Spielberg's "West Side Story" is an adaptation of the award-winning 1957 Broadway musical of the same name.</p><p>The play - written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim - is loosely based on William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Upon its release on Broadway, "West Side Story" <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsshowinfo.php?showname=West%20Side%20Story">was nominated</a> for six Tony Awards, winning best choreography and best scenic design. </p><p>Codirectors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins brought the popular play to the big screen in 1961. Their reimagination of "West Side Story" received 11 Academy Award nominations and swept 10 categories, including best picture, best director, and best original musical. </p><div type="image" title="west side story 1961" height="2960" width="4006" msid="82250291" hostid="261"></div><p>EGOT winner Rita Moreno, who won best supporting actress for her performance as Anita in the 1961 movie, will appear in Spielberg's upcoming production as a brand new character named Valentina, according to <a href="https://deadline.com/2018/11/rita-moreno-returns-to-west-side-story-egot-winner-to-play-the-role-of-valentina-in-steven-spielbergs-remake-1202509734/">Deadline</a>. She's also serving as an executive producer on the 2021 adaptation. </p><p>"Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself revisiting this seminal work," Moreno told the outlet. "And to be asked by Steven Spielberg to participate is simply thrilling!  Then to work together with the brilliant playwright, Tony Kushner - what a glorious stew! I am tingling!"</p><div type="image" title="rita moreno west side story" height="900" width="1200" msid="82250294" hostid="261"></div><p>For Spielberg, "West Side Story" is a passion project. During a March 2020 interview with <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/a-first-look-at-steven-spielbergs-west-side-story">Vanity Fair</a>, the director said Bernstein's tunes and Sondheim's lyrics left an influential mark on him as a young boy. </p><p>"I grew up surrounded by classical music. 'West Side Story' was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. I absconded with it - this was the cast album from the 1957 Broadway musical-and just fell completely in love with it as a kid," he said. </p><p>Spielberg added, "'West Side Story' has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to."</p><p>Initially slotted for release in December 2020, "West Side Story" was pushed back a full calendar year and will premiere in theaters on December 10, 2021. </p>

Watch the 1st teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of 'West Side Story'

<p><em>Good morning! Welcome to <keyword id="10669910" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</keyword>. I'm Brent Griffiths.</em><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics"> <strong><em>Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox each day.</em></strong></a></p><p><em>Send your tips, thoughts, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/lawyer-kitten-filter-zoom-court-hearing-2021-2">evidence you're not a cat</a> to <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a> or tweet me</em><a href="https://twitter.com/BrentGriffiths"> <em>@BrentGriffiths</em></a><em>.<br /></em></p><p>Here's what you need to know:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-senators-criticized-trump-impeachment-lawyers-as-ineffective-2021-2">One of Trump's attorneys was roasted for his poor arguments </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-parliamentarian-elizabeth-macdonough-trump-impeachment-trial-stimulus-minimum-wage-2021-2">Meet the most powerful woman you've never heard of</a></li><li><a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2021-02-09/bidens-goal-for-school-reopenings-suddenly-became-more-attainable">The White House is offering a meek metric on school reopenings</a></li></ul><p><strong style="color: #000000;">1. TRIAL COMES UNDER FIRE: </strong>Former President Trump's impeachment defense is a mess. One of his lawyers, Bruce Castor, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-lawyer-mocked-over-rambling-opening-statement-2021-2">delivered a rambling response</a> that complimented House Democrats' case. Castor also offered confusing asides, such as saying English common law, which very much <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25716882?seq=1">influenced the founding fathers</a>, doesn't matter because America won the revolution. Another attorney, David Schoen, warned that convicting the former president of inciting an insurrection <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-lawyer-impeachment-civil-war_n_6022f891c5b6d78d444a90ac">could unleash a second Civil War</a>.</p><ul><li><strong>Gosh almighty, Bruce: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-senators-criticized-trump-impeachment-lawyers-as-ineffective-2021-2">Castor's reviews were extremely rough</a></strong>. Trump, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-was-borderline-screaming-over-impeachment-defense-lawyers-cnn-2021-2">per CNN</a>, was on the verge of screaming. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she was "perplexed." And Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana summed it up as "disorganized."</li><li><strong>One mind did change: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-cassidy-joins-democrats-in-proceeding-with-trump-impeachment-2021-2">Cassidy, citing Trump's teams' incoherence</a></strong>, joined five other GOP senators in rejecting the argument that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president. Cassidy was the only senator to change his mind from the previous time the chamber considered this question.</li></ul><p><strong>But here's the thing, enough of the jury says it doesn't matter.</strong> Republican senators have almost universally made clear that the trial will end in a second acquittal. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina <a href="https://www.axios.com/trump-impeachment-trial-house-managers-17d44b5a-5c9d-4097-87dd-d77222c9adc7.html">told Axios</a> that "not a single thing will change."</p><p><strong>WATCH: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-trial-capitol-siege-graphic-montage-video-2021-2">Democrats' graphic video of the Capitol riot</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-trial-capitol-siege-graphic-montage-video-2021-2"><div type="image" title="Jamie Raskin" height="1124" width="2000" msid="80786386" hostid="261"></div></a></p><p><strong>Democrats will use their case to hammer out a visceral replay of the insurrection: </strong>This included a nearly 14-minute video juxtaposing scenes of the riot with Trump's speech to a crowd just outside the White House on January 6. Rep Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Democrats' lead impeachment manager,<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-raskin-emotional-capitol-riot-trump-impeachment-trial-video-2021-2"> added his own recollection</a>:</p><ul><li>"I told her how sorry I was and I promised her that it would not be like this again the next time she came back to the Capitol with me. You know what she said? She said, 'Dad, I don't want to come back to the Capitol," Raskin said of what his youngest daughter told him. The lawmaker wanted some of the family to join him at the Capitol as they dealt with his son's death.</li></ul><p><strong>2. The most powerful woman you've never heard of: </strong>Elizabeth MacDonough is the first woman to serve as Senate parliamentarian. In that role, she's advising Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont as he presides over the impeachment trial; she coached Vice President Pence on how to explain he couldn't overturn the election; and she will decide the fate of Biden's $15 minimum wage increase. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-parliamentarian-elizabeth-macdonough-trump-impeachment-trial-stimulus-minimum-wage-2021-2">My colleague Kimberly Leonard writes in her exclusive report</a> on how MacDonough decisions, will in the words of one Democrat, "literally impact the Biden presidency."</p><p><strong>The backstory: </strong>I asked <a href="https://twitter.com/leonardkl">Kimberly</a> what she surprised her most about MacDonough's nonpartisan role during hyper-partisan times. She writes: "MacDonough is very popular with senators. They were literally beaming when they talked about working with her. You don't see that often."</p><ul><li><strong>Bonus: </strong>Some have been making noise that Democrats might overrule MacDonough if she nixes popular provisions during budget reconciliation. Kimberly isn't buying it. "I think fear drives them to stick to the rules ... There are definitely cases when many of them are relieved the parliamentarian rules against something their party wants. They get to blame the rules of the Senate rather than admit they never wanted to take a tough vote in the first place."</li></ul><p><strong>3. Biden supports keeping stimulus check availability the same: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-sticks-with-1400-stimulus-checks-despite-gop-push-2021-2">The president endorsed House Democrats' decision to stiff-arm those</a>, including some in the party, who want a more targeted round of checks.</p><p><strong>4. The top things for your calendar, all times Eastern:</strong></p><ul><li>12:00 p.m.: Trump's impeachment trial resumes </li><li>12:30 p.m.: Jen Psaki delivers the White House's daily news briefing.</li><li>2:00 p.m.: Fed Chair Jay Powell delivers a virtual speech before the Economic Club of New York.</li><li>2:50 p.m.: Biden, Vice President Harris, and Defense secretary Lloyd Austin speak to personnel at the Pentagon.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/10-things-in-politics-whats-happening-on-february-10-2021-2"></a></li></ul><p><strong>5. A Republican senator says his son bought into the GameStop hype without his knowledge: </strong>Sen. Patrick Toomey's college-aged son purchased up to $15,000 in shares on January 27 then sold them the next day. It's unclear if his son made a profit, but on the same day, Toomey of Pennsylvania warned of a "bubble" in the stock. My colleagues Jake Lahut and Dave Levinthal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pat-toomey-son-gamestop-trades-financial-disclosure-2021-2">have the exclusive details on what ethics experts are saying</a> about what happened.</p><div type="image" title="Jen Psaki" height="3039" width="4679" msid="80786388" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>6. The White House offered a modest measurement for school reopenings: </strong>Press secretary Jen Psaki says the administration considers a school to be reopened if there's "some teaching in classrooms, so at least one day a week." Biden promised to make getting kids back in classrooms a priority of his first 100 days in office. <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2021-02-09/bidens-goal-for-school-reopenings-suddenly-became-more-attainable">More here from US News &amp; World Report</a>.</p><p><strong>7. Some neighbors want to boot Trump from his "Winter White House": </strong>Palm Beach officials say they are inundated with complaints that Trump is violating a 1993 agreement that allowed him to switch Mar-a-Lago from a private residence into a revenue-generating club. A decision on whether Trump can "continue wandering the property like the mayor of the town of Mar-a-Lago" <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-living-mar-a-lago-palm-beach-town-council-lawyers-2021-2">is due in April</a>.</p><p><strong>8. California has the most COVID-19 deaths: </strong>The state, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/09/world/covid-19-coronavirus#covid-california-most-deaths">per The New York Times</a>, has averaged 433 daily deaths over the past week, leading it to surpass New York for total deaths on Tuesday. "But when adjusted for its large population, California has a lower death rate than 31 states and Washington D.C."</p><p><strong>9. The Michigan woman who testified on behalf of Trump's unfounded fraud claims is running for office: </strong>"Mellissa Carone, who went viral following her eccentric performance at the Michigan House Oversight Committee in December, is running for a seat in the Michigan State House," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-fraud-witness-mellissa-carone-is-running-for-state-office-2021-2">per my colleague Erin Snodgrass</a>.</p><p><strong>10. Putting the MC in diplomacy: </strong>U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Dan Kritenbrink <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/boy-from-hanoi-us-ambassador-to-vietnam-releases-his-own-lunar-new-year-rap">released a lunar new year rap</a> dropping that he's "[F]rom Nebraska. I'm not a big city boy. Then three years ago, I moved to Hanoi." Need I say more?</p><p><strong>One last thing.</strong></p><p><em><strong>Today's trivia question: </strong>Trump is regrouping in Florida. Years ago, President Hoover spent the years after his defeat stewing in a different sunny locale. Where is it? Email your response and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a></em></p><ul><li><em><strong>Yesterday's answer:</strong> Sens. Richard Shelby of Alabama and Susan Collins of Maine are the only two remaining Republican senators who voted "not guilty" on President Clinton's first count of impeachment. Collins is the only one of the pair to find the president no guilty on both counts.</em></li></ul>

10 Things in Politics: Trump's defense is a mess

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>It seems every time someone mentions Wegmans, the insanely popular grocery store chain prevalent in upstate New York (as well as parts of New England, Virginia, and Maryland), <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wegmans-named-best-grocery-in-america-2015-4">people go absolutely nuts.</a></p><p>Wegmans has 85 locations, and tens of thousands of enthusiastically loyal customers at each one. It's even opening a store in Brooklyn, New York (rumored to take up an entire city block), and people are ecstatic.</p><p>I grew up 60 minutes north of Manhattan. I frequented Stew Leonard's for my supermarket experience (and the A&amp;P), and u<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">p until this weekend, I had never been to a Wegmans.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> I also definitely didn't buy into the hype that surrounded it.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">That all changed.</span></p>

You Searched For "stew leonards" and got 11 results

I went to Stew Leonard's for the first time and the unique customer experience made me actually enjoy grocery shopping

Taylor Rains

13 reasons Stew Leonard's is actually the best grocery store in America

Julie Zeveloff

Kevin Durant may have finally wrestled the title of best NBA player from LeBron James after he used to stew over a lack of credit

Scott Davis

Stew Leonard's is called the 'Disneyland of dairy stores' - and after one visit, I totally get the hype

Hollis Johnson

Turkeys could be in short supply over the holidays as producers warn they're struggling to keep up with demand, a report says

Kumutha Ramanathan

Grocery stores are stockpiling food and cleaning supplies amid rising costs and demand

Hannah Towey

Some grocery stores have scrapped promotions and discounts to help curb demand for scarce products amid the supply chain crisis

Mary Hanbury

A grocery chain says it's receiving just 40% of the items it orders from suppliers, and is making its own version of Lunchables because it can't get hold of the real thing

Anna Cooban

Watch the 1st teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming adaptation of 'West Side Story'

Claudia Willen

10 Things in Politics: Trump's defense is a mess

Brent D. Griffiths

I just went to Wegmans for the first time ever - now I get what all the fuss is about

Caroline Moss

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