I really just downright despise the Houchens corporation. I do not know how they run grocery stores elsewhere, but I do know how they run them here and has my father was quite fond of saying “It’s a bunch of bunk”. A few years ago they opened a grocery store here and ran the thing straight into the ground. They would send out flyers announcing sales, then when you would get there, they wouldn’t have the products. Plus they charged way too much for things. For instance, at Wal-mart a totinos pizza is 99 cents every day, the houchen’s store was charging a dollar more per pizza. It was that way all through the store. At one point there was a woman in the frozen section noting prices and she actually asked me about it and I pointed out the huge price differences. She said that they were going to try to get the prices more in line. It never happened.
Then the Houchen’s chain bought the Save-a-lot stores. The Save-a-lot here is nasty. The floor is dirty and tore up, the ceiling is tore up, the place stinks and the prices aren’t save-a-lot anymore.
They are also buying up the IGA stores now. For many many years we had Bob’s IGA, owned and operated by Bob. Awesome man, everyone loved him and respected him and he was there for the community. He was always donating something for some group or cause. Had the best donuts in the deli. Even if you went in the next day and bought the donuts day old, they were still good, still tasted and felt fresh. Now the donuts are just not the same. Plus the day old donuts seem more like week old donuts, hard as a brick bat. Prices out of this world.
But you know what the worst part is? The way they treat their employees. I overheard one employee talking about finally getting a pay raise to $6.55. I was like well it’s about time these people got some decent pay. Then her next statement floored me. They cut her hours. She now only works 29 hours a week. So technically they aren’t paying their employees anymore money then they were before, plus they keep them below 40 hours a week so they remain part time employees, which means no benefits. Again, as my Dad would say “That’s just a bunch of bunk”. I think Houchen’s should be ashamed of themselves. Those employees deserve to be paid a decent wage with decent hours and benefits. It’s horrible, $6.55 at 29 hours a week isn’t even $200 a week before taxes. After taxes they’re lucky if they get to take home $140 a week.

Step up to the plate Houchens, start treating your employees like human beings and not slave labor!