The Globe’s Dana Gerber has a fun piece comparing Market Basket’s prices to other supermarkets’ prices. And a spoiler alert: The results aren’t a big surprise (though Wegman’s close second–place finish was impressive). … Reading the Globe piece, I was struck by the obvious: Market Basket is an old-fashioned high-volume seller, following a long New England tradition of high-volume/off-price/discount businesses over the years, including Mr. Hamburg, Filene’s Basement, Lechmere, Spag’s, Boch Toyota, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, etc. But a key to MB’s appeal, besides its low prices, is that you don’t necessarily feel like you’re in a high-volume environment (crowded, yes; treated like cattle, no). MB goes that extra mile to make its food displays look attractive, even intimate, and the wide selection of its well-stocked products sometimes awes (particularly its poultry and meat offerings). And, of course, MB has down-to-earth employees. They’re considerate. Nothing more. No forced smiles and fake fun. No flairs, etc. … So, yes, MB is a high-volume seller. But it’s a high-volume seller that provides that little bit extra for its customers.

Fyi: Unfortunately, the supermarket industry in general may be headed toward an Uber-like, dynamic-pricing model: “Welcome to the Grocery Store Where Prices Change 100 Times a Day” (WSJ). … All I can say is: get used to high-demand-time price gouging. 

Fyi II: Here are blast-from-the-past images of some of the old local businesses mentioned above: