Grocery Industry Is the Problem

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Michael Hiltzik for his astute observations that most of the problems that have occurred in the supermarket industry over the past few years are not due to high wages and the rising cost of health benefits but to bad management decisions made by executives like Steven Burd of Safeway Inc. (“Lengthy Strike Shows Evolution of Union Hasn’t Kept Up With Rise of Grocery Giants,” Golden State, Jan. 22).

Twenty years ago, we had 15 locally owned chains in this market, and the industry was healthy and profitable.

Today, we have only three chains, all nationally owned and operated, and the California supermarket industry is failing miserably in its attempts to serve its customers and its employees.

This is fact, not fiction.

William D. Haupt III

Pasadena