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 read a biography of a guy whose parents ran a small fruit and flower stand in NYC. They were able to offer better prices because they got the fruit and flowers from a wholesaler and did some of the trimming and whatnot themselves. Think about how fruit and veg tend to be cleaned and packaged at a regular grocer and then compare that to what you see at some produce stands.