Gemco Lowest in Food Price Survey : Food Basket Climbs Into 2nd Place in CalPIRG Study

Gemco supermarkets still have the lowest overall food prices in comparison to seven other major grocery chains in the San Diego area, the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) reported Monday.

Gemco has ranked No. 1 in the overall price ratings in CalPIRG’s study in each of the last five years. Gemco prices are nearly 28% lower than those at the Mayfair stores, which have the highest prices of the stores surveyed in CalPIRG’s study. Mayfair also has held that position for five years.

In the previous survey, conducted in April, 1985, the price difference between Gemco and Mayfair was 25.9%.

The organization’s 25th survey over 10 years saw some changes in the ranking of the stores. Food Basket edged Ralphs for the second-place position, and Alpha Beta moved Safeway from the sixth spot.

In ascending order of prices, what would cost a shopper $100 at Gemco would cost $104.06 at Food Basket, $105.79 at Ralphs, $111.26 at Vons, $113.37 at Big Bear, $119.20 at Alpha Beta, $120.03 at Safeway and $127.73 at Mayfair, according to CalPIRG.

Although Gemco won the overall price rating, the survey found that Ralphs is a better buy for meat and that Food Basket has lower prices for non-food items. Gemco has the lowest prices in the remaining four categories: produce, dairy, grains and staples, and processed foods.

CalPIRG based its study on a comparison of 115 of the most common items found in the average shopper’s cart. CalPIRG workers visited two stores from each major chain. The survey included price only. Cleanliness, service, location and hours were not considered.

Nancy Rader, consumer program director for CalPIRG, found that prices were consistent throughout the county at the major supermarkets.

CalPIRG employees announced the results of the survey at City Hall, as a protest of the possible closure of the San Diego CalPIRG office. The City Council is to vote Wednesday on whether to terminate its $40,000 annual grant to the group. The money comes from a city grant, but the council has been forced to reconsider its allocations because its federal funds have been cut.

Rader said she could not predict the outcome of Wednesday’s vote but said: “We are pretty nervous about it.”

Besides the food price surveys, CalPIRG prices prescription drugs at various pharmacies, rates long distance service and compares the services at local banks. The group also provides a hot line to answer questions about any type of consumer problem.

CalPIRG began its food pricing survey in 1976, and Rader said the price surveys would be what San Diegans would miss most if the group ceased to exist.

Rader also said that the price surveys help keep the major supermarkets competitive and that, without the benefit of a local CalPIRG, San Diegans can expect food prices to rise.

Local food prices did drop slightly, according to the Chamber of Commerce’s last survey of 249 cities nationwide. Based on an average index number of 100, San Diegans paid $97.80 for their food items in the last four months of 1985, compared to $98.20 in the same period of 1984.