How do produce stands in NYC, Montreal, and other major cities sell their items for less than most big box chains?

Question

In NYC, there are plenty of produce vendors on the street that sell aesthetic, fresh fruit for less than cost conscious mega-chains, like Wal Mart, Trader Joes, and Wegmans. The big chains have negotiating power, wholesale discounts, and economies of scale to help them profit on tiny margins. So, how is it that my small, local, fruit stand can outcompete pricewise with national chains and still stay afloat?

In: 2607

Answer 1

I always try to buy my bananas on the street in NYC, not only because they’re almost half as much (except for TJ’s), but the vendors are awesome. This [article from the NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/nyregion/the-secret-life-of-the-banana.html) speaks specifically about bananas, but it’s a nice peek behind the curtain.