Popping into the old stomping grounds Loblaws at Dupont and Christie, I noticed what a change since its early "we're the new Yuppie Loblaws on the block" days. It seems business has fallen off, and demand has altered. Much less interesting produce in the produce section, etc. It looks like it's now the "Loblaws for regular people." Not that there's anything wrong with that. But if you wanted orange peppers, or those yellow zucchini squash type deals, you're out of luck. And it's a pretty big store, so it's not a space issue.

In an unrelated development, at this location they finally they stopped making you put a quarter in to get a shopping cart. Could it be that people fixing to steal a cart might actually pay a quarter? That the rest of us were quite annoyed by the quarter thing? That getting the quarter back was zero incentive to return the cart carefully to the cart depots in the parking lot?

An in a potentially unrelated development, the news on the street is that the Loblaws chain is doing poorly and that management is being shaken up. Professional managers, out, and family scion, into a more central role. No clear CEO role defined - instead, a multi-headed monster. Much criticism from analysts.

Something's ailing the company, that's obvious. Perhaps it's as simple as being squeezed from several directions. At the upper end, its higher-end stores are squeezing its other stores which are then forced to downsize. And the real yuppies are going to Whole Foods, ordering in more often, or (as I do sometimes!) subscribing to meal delivery services! And at the other end, ordinary average stores have improved. The direct competition, Dominion and Sobey's, now stock just as many quality private label products and have improved their produce.

And finally, Shopper's Drug Mart (who analysts claim are under threat because the grocery superstores sell cosmetics and drugs, but the problem could just as well be in the opposite direction, with Shopper's threatening grocery stores especially for smaller buys) has a growing number of superstores with grocery items, organic products, and everything but fresh produce and meat.

Sometimes your biggest enemy isn't yourself. It's those other guys who have caught up. Did I mention Costco sells food, too?