The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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April 27, 2008

Discounters see customers stocking up

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — It’s easy to recognize new shoppers to the Aldi Food Market in Mankato.

They’re the ones that have to read the instructions about depositing a quarter to get a shopping cart (and get it back when the cart is returned), the ones who might not know that it’s pretty much a cash-only store and who are surprised the store doesn’t provide “free” grocery bags.

They’re also the ones who do a double take when they get to the milk cooler and see the prices.

“They’ll stop in front of the milk, and they’ll sort of turn around,” said Rob Wagner, manager of the Mankato Aldi store. “They’re kind of caught off guard.”

He said he’s seeing plenty of new customers at the store, located on Madison Avenue in part of the former Rainbow Foods building.

“People are kind of shopping us and checking out the prices and seeing what a deal we can offer,” according to Wagner, who said comments at the check-out line have been encouraging.

Sandy Ferguson, the store manager of the Wonder-Hostess Outlet store on Sioux Road, said the bread store — strategically located between River Hills Mall and Wal-Mart — has been busy as well. Ferguson expects that to continue as rising prices and a slumping economy force more people to think about price when they shop.



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