The town where I live has a Shaws, a Hannafords, and a locally-owned co-op grocery store. The Shaws is getting squeezed from both sides. People who want everyday value pricing will go to Hannafords because the prices are lower. People who want locally-raised meat and produce will go to the co-op because the food is fresher, even though it costs more. Both the co-op and Hannafords have better in-store bakeries and delis than Shaws. Sounds like this is the typical situation for Shaws. I don't see how the new owners of Shaws can turn things around unless they fundamentally change their strategy - stop relying on promotions, loyalty cards, and other gimmicks and get back to providing the customer with value in a clean and attractive environment. One Shaws that seems to me to be always busy is the 24/7 store across from the Marriott Hotel in Copley Place. But that store caters to a very different market than the typical Shaws in the suburbs where there are also Hannafords, Stop & Shop, and Market Basket stores nearby.

The orignal Shaw's chain was bought out by the Brockton Public Market chain or BPM back in the 1970's.  Stan Davis the founder of BPM changed all the stores to Shaw's and headquartered and warehoused in East Bridgewater for several years.  The headquarters eventually moved to West Bridgewater.  Davis did a great job managing the chain.  Sadly, those day are long over.

Dingy is right. The most convenient grocery to me is a Shaw's so I go there occasionally, but only occasionally. I'm not a penny-pincher so prices are my main consideration. What I want is a pleasant, clean store with friendly service. That's not how they do it at Shaw's and its a management problem.

Try asking for paper instead of plastic. In this day of environmental concerns Shaw's doesn't know about paper.

Dingy and definitely unfriendly!  

Unfriendly

I usually shop at Shaw’s because it’s right around the corner from where I live. Recently, I’ve been shopping at other venues like Walmart, Costco, Target and even Ocean State Job Lot. Friendliness isn’t an issue for me; in fact, I like the majority of employees that work there. As I mentioned, I shop at Ocean State Job Lot so an updated store….meh…isn’t that important to me. Shaw’s is consistently the highest priced supermarket I know. And when they raise their prices it isn’t even incremental; it’s BAM! a spike of 30¢ on a food item from one day to the next. It’s nuts!!!

Yes! I've found some of Shaw's prices to be outrageous. I keep wanting to ask the store manager why they're so much higher than their competitors. I go to Shaw's often for convenience--there's one in my town--but Market Basket is getting the bulk of my business these days.

The Shaws in Seabrook NH is empty!! The Market Basket,half a mile up Rt1 is very very busy. The only time we use Shaws are 1. When we are in a hurry 2. When you need a ripe avocado,,,,because nobody is there the buy then :>))

I shop for my groceries at Marketbasket in Burlington (near Burlington Mall).  The produce is FAR better than Stop-n-Shop in Arlington.  Also I shop once a week at Russo's in Watertown.  Their produce is often the same price, but the bread is SUPERB.  Arlington resident

Market Basket is the way to go. There's a new one just over the bridge on the way to the cape. I hope the keep moving down rte 6. They are a much less expensive option than either Shaws or Stop and Shop.

Sorry, guys.  You missed the most salient piece to the puzzle.  Market Basket is non-union.

Whole Foods is not more expensive when you get to know it.The weekly sales flyers are helpful. Many of their products are cheaper than Shaws e.g Yogurt,soups,almond butter,rice.They have a really good selection of high quality frozen vegetables at very good prices. I've had some of the prepared food in the hot salad bar where I can gete.g, a good-sized serving of American Chop Suey(extremely good quality) for a really good price.

Over in my area, I get all the competition, including Shaw's, Stop and Shop, Market Basket, Hannaford, Costco, BJs, Sams Club, and Trader Joe's. Sometimes it makes sense to go to an independent depending where I am, and Aldi's is a little farther away.

It has been quite a shame that Shaw's has raised prices and got rid of much of the selection that once set them apart from other retailers, such as goat's milk ice cream. I remembered when they used to open all the lanes at 5 pm during the week (which is 12 in my area), and they'd all pretty much be busy. Now, 2 is more than sufficient with a couple customers using self checkout. Although the gotta love great deals promotion was great and brought me to shop there ($8 in coupons were available on the website and another $4 for purchasing $25), there's still much work to be done.

But alas, the best deals for shopping for reasonable quality food is Trader Joe's; it's tough to compete w/ the efficiency of that small store. Even comparing similar product to Market Basket (w/ similar ingredients), Traders can be 15-20% cheaper, and I've seen some stuff even as much as 40% cheaper than MB. Sam's Club and Costco both are 10% lower than MB (and you can tack on an additional 25% when comparing against Shaw's).

Everything's relative, I guess.  I just moved here from Miami and find the prices at Shaw's Twin City Plaza store reasonable.  The store is clean and selections are more than adequate.  Their salad bar rates an excellent from me and the employees are pleasant and knowlegeable.  

I much prefer shopping at Shaw's.  If you want a most unpleasant shopping experience, shop at any Publix in the Miami, Florida area.

You can hear crickets chirping in the Shaws in the same center with a Market Bask. They just don't get w/the program, which in a recession in TAXACHUSETTS is the key. The comparative prices are so appreciable less on so many items that it only pays to go to Shaws for needed $ale items....and you can get an easy parking space right in front of the store.

Milk & 365 items are the only reason I go into hoity toity Whole foods.

2008 scared many consumers. With home prices down, taxes of all kinds going up and they speak LOUDLY with their After-tax $. Complacent retailers who loose touch feel it on their bottom line. 

The Shaws in Fenway is the filthiest grocery store I've ever been to, and it has the most unfriendly workers.  I'm not looking for someone to chat me up and tell me her life story while she's ringing up my groceries, but even a simple "hello, how are you" seems too much for these people.  I wouldn't mind paying a little bit more for exceptional service, but higher prices AND nasty workers--no way!  I used to go to the Johnnie's in Audubon Circle, but since that closed in the fall, I travel a little farther to go to Whole Foods or order through PeaPod.

Wegman's and Market Basket are the only way to go....  I have to say I have not been in a Shaw's as my wife told me it sucked, but I find it hard to imagine more expensive prices than even Stop & Shop.  That is just embarrassing.  I am just biding my time for Wegman's to open in Brookline....oh the joy.

In Newburyport, the Market Basket is packed with lines at all registers. The Shaws right next door is empty. Prices have a great deal to do with it. People aren't stupid - they see the value at MB vs. Shaw's.  Another peeve i have with Shaw's are their specials. First, you need their card. Second, if the special is say, 2/$1.00 and the regular price is 75 cents, if you only buy one item Shaws will still charge you the 75 cents. At MB with the same situation, they give you the sale price (50 cents) if you purchase only one. For me, that translates into no sale at Shaw's.  Where is the customer focus there?

This article skipped over a few points.  Former owner J. Sainsbury specilized in store brand and prepared foods.   They sold Shaw's due to financial trouble at home.   Boise based Albertson's bought Shaw's and a number of other chains in a debt fueled attempt to match Wal Mart as a national grocer.  They followed the Wal Mart example of lousy products, middling prices and a total lack of customer service.   When Albertson's collapsed Supervalu bought some of the wreckage and continued these policies.   

I went into a Shaw's last week out of convenience and marvelled at all the produce that would be thrown out in a few days.  One man was struggling to use their failed self checkout, and one register was open with three chumps like me waiting.  Go into a MB midday and find cashiers waiting, an employee in nearly every aisle, a plain no-frills store, good prices, and... customers.   Retailing isn't rocket science.   The most valuable part of Shaw's/Star is the real estate.   I miss the old Shaw's, I won't miss the current incarnation when thay disappear.

I used to faithfully shop at Shaws on Lexington Street in Waltham. Then, I just happened to shop at Burlington's Market Basket and noticed practically every item was unbelievably at least a dollar cheaper. Yes, I can afford to shop at Shaw's but I feel I am throwing my money away. Why pay more for the same item? Now, I only go there in an emergency. It is really too bad as this Shaw's is a beautiful store.

The last time...in the fall...I was at the Fenway Shaws, there was a bird flying around in the store...enough said.

The two Shaw's near me are a study in contrast. The one in Hanover is the dingy, unfriendly, no customer service one and the one in Hanson is more like a real super market. But, the prices are definitely higher at Shaw's than Stop & Shop, or Target. I find Hannaford's to be very nice and attractive stores, but the prices are a bit on the high side there too. Stop and Shop is a union store too so employees are probably paid a bit better and are more responsive to the customers needs. I don't see how another investment group is going to turn Shaw's around without some major changes.

There must be a Market Basket representative here stuffing the ballet box. When I got here every comment that praised MB had a like, every comment that praised another chain without praising MB had a dislike, and any comments that said something negative about MB had a dislike. 

After going to the Wakefield Shaws for the past couple of years I finally bailed & found out that bagged lettuce should last longer than 2 days, milk should be fresh up to its due date, yogurt should have more than a few days of shelf life & meat should taste fresh. When I pointed out that the broccoli crowns that were advertised were whole broccoli..I was told I could ask the produce guy to cut the stem off. WTH  There isnt a single fresh item in this particular store. 

Why the HATCHET job on Shaws now that they are being sold by SuperValu????

I think there is more to the timing...Why did The Globe decide this was a FRONT PAGE

article??? Slow news day...I don't think so.