I did it. I shopped at the
Discount Food Outlet in Canton, CT and it was everything I thought it would
be…actually, if I’m honest, it was a tiny bit better. I actually came away with a new appreciation
for what the DFO concept is, and what it is not.
What it’s not.
DFO is not a grocery store in the traditional sense of
the word. That is, their business model is not structured on having everything
you need when you want it, or even if you want it at all. Availability of
merchandise that DFO can buy is primarily dictated by the “true grocery store”
supply and demand. If wholesale demand is low, the supply is sold off to DFO
rather than be a loss of the suppliers. If the demand is high, DFO can’t buy at
a price that works for their retail model. What this translates to for you and
me is that just because you want unsalted
butter for less than $5/lb. doesn’t mean they will have it. Call first if you’re
on a mission for something specific. Oh, before I forget, DFO’s phone number is
the same as the Canton IGA’s was: (860) 693-2000.
Sometimes, it’s a bargain. Mostly, it’s just cheap.
I find myself wanting to say something about this place—this Discount Food Outlet; something about how it has a place in the food world. But, after looking at this screen for an hour, I realized that I’m kidding myself. I'm not on board...the Discount Food Outlet suffers from too many examples of negligence of the concerns of contemporary American food culture.
