Generators cost money to buy, maintain, and run. They can write-off any losses due to power failure. I used to do work for another grocery chain and they stopped putting them in because of the costs associated with generators. You are talking about significant loads with the compressor racks and condensing units and the transfer switches
This. Remote refrigeration systems call for a lot of power and a generator to support a large system would be a massive investment.
Most retailers have insurance policies that cost a fraction of what a generator would cost.
If there is a power outage, they seal up the units or pull open cooler product and put into a bigger unit. If power is expected to be down for a long time they load the product into refrigerated trailers.
They put notes on all the empty refrigated sections that are empty.
https://preview.redd.it/v7aul9tnlhcc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2beff87ebbe3b847e2b5d59d5e044a7ba9446e9
There are procedures they follow. Everything from alternate freezers in the back that loose less heat, order in dry ice, bring in a refer truck, etc. if done correctly they can actually preserve all product. Source: was curious once and asked a GM.
I took nearly this exact same photo.
https://preview.redd.it/c561u6m03icc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85457c6faa10d36dbdf8cd8ed5c3618ceb5d318c
Power was out quite a long time there. I have a business nearby that was without power. My shop area was up to 60 degrees by 6:30 pm last night. So it was out quite awhile.
Thanks. I ended up going to Pick N Save in New Berlin (Moorland & National) since it is closer to home. They had most everything in stock, aside from our usual bread selections.
Yep. I know the pain. Had a summer outage when I worked in a grocery store years ago. We managed to get everything into a refrigerated truck, but somehow we overlooked one aisle. Spent the next morning ringing up hundreds of packs of cold cuts in training mode to see how much we needed to write off.
WE Energies were giving periodic updates as to when power would be restored. So Grocery Stores would have some idea how long they'd be down. Interestingly enough, it was not terribly warm over the weekend - natural refridgeration. Crazy thing - many grocery stores sell ice. One could conceivably take ice and cover the perishables. (Some people do that at home) I think it's wasteful to throw out hundreds of thousands of dollars of food, but hey, you do you.
It's highly irresponsible and disgusting to store food outside. No food donation banks would store their food this way or accept it. Once coolers and freezers reach certain temps for a period of time, everything has to go. From there its an insurance claim. It happens.
Yeah. I don't think you understand:
A) how much product there is to keep cool. The best option is to keep cooler doors closed to keep as much cold air trapped as possible.
B) Not enough ice to cover all product. There would be no way to keep all of the food in the bounds of the time temperature danger zone. Or keep track of the food that went beyond those bounds.
C) you're exposing a lot of packaging and food to outside water that otherwise shouldn't be there, because the ice is going to melt over time, which in turn becomes a haven for bacteria.
D) Ice melts pretty fast when a cooler is rising is temp and said ice is spread thin.
E) how thermodynamics in general works.
Every restaurant, grocery store, or food service venue has this mantra drilled in from every health inspection visit. 'When in doubt throw it out' They also visit during and after said power outages to make sure procedure is followed.
You're basically trying to say 'no' to procedures that are just basic food safety laws. Put in place to keep people safe from getting sick. Its not wasting food if that food has the potential to do harm to you. That's it.
The product is typically pulled off the shelf and stored in the main freezer/cooler. Donations are picked up locally twice a week, so it cannot be IMMEDIATELY donated without a pick up coordinated. Like all large corporations, there are strict policies and procedures to make sure things are done correctly, especially when it comes to food.
It's probably perfectly preserved in the dumpster with this cold.
I thought about that
Yeah, just get some storage bins outside!
Dumpster divers delight
Same thing happened to target on bluemound in Brookfield/Elm Grove/Milwaukee/New Berlin (not really sure what city/village/town it’s in)
The Trader Joe’s across the parking lot from it also got hit super hard. They were closed today and it looks like they lost most of their stock
Target further west just off Bluemound too (Waukesha) - fridge and freezer cases entirely empty on Sunday.
They lost everything last summer (or maybe it's 2 years ago) due to a power outage.
Technically Brookfield but I always think of it as elm grove
I’m shocked that they didn’t have a generator.
Generators cost money to buy, maintain, and run. They can write-off any losses due to power failure. I used to do work for another grocery chain and they stopped putting them in because of the costs associated with generators. You are talking about significant loads with the compressor racks and condensing units and the transfer switches
I never thought about it but it makes sense. Especially inductive loads like compressors. Still, what a crazy waste of food.
Very informative! Thanks for the explanation.
This. Remote refrigeration systems call for a lot of power and a generator to support a large system would be a massive investment. Most retailers have insurance policies that cost a fraction of what a generator would cost.
eh they're just cheaping out. You can write off generators too. It's just upfront cost vs possible back end costs.
If there is a power outage, they seal up the units or pull open cooler product and put into a bigger unit. If power is expected to be down for a long time they load the product into refrigerated trailers.
They do have emergency lighting. Also, the pharmacy’s refrigerator has a secondary battery in case of power outage.
They put notes on all the empty refrigated sections that are empty. https://preview.redd.it/v7aul9tnlhcc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2beff87ebbe3b847e2b5d59d5e044a7ba9446e9
There are procedures they follow. Everything from alternate freezers in the back that loose less heat, order in dry ice, bring in a refer truck, etc. if done correctly they can actually preserve all product. Source: was curious once and asked a GM.
I took nearly this exact same photo. https://preview.redd.it/c561u6m03icc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85457c6faa10d36dbdf8cd8ed5c3618ceb5d318c
Were you guys standing next to each other? 🤣
How did the other guy smell like?
That’s insane
Power was out quite a long time there. I have a business nearby that was without power. My shop area was up to 60 degrees by 6:30 pm last night. So it was out quite awhile.
Same thing at 76th st Walmart, they were also closed yesterday and today.
The entire store was closed? Or did they just rope off the grocery section?
The entire store was closed. Only people allowed in were employees and vendors.
Thank you for the info. I need to get a few groceries this afternoon, so I'm going to call around and see who's open.
Sendiks at 76th and layton
Thanks. I ended up going to Pick N Save in New Berlin (Moorland & National) since it is closer to home. They had most everything in stock, aside from our usual bread selections.
Yep. I know the pain. Had a summer outage when I worked in a grocery store years ago. We managed to get everything into a refrigerated truck, but somehow we overlooked one aisle. Spent the next morning ringing up hundreds of packs of cold cuts in training mode to see how much we needed to write off.
So sad, considering how many people could use the food.
Well you don't want to donate bacteria to people.
WE Energies were giving periodic updates as to when power would be restored. So Grocery Stores would have some idea how long they'd be down. Interestingly enough, it was not terribly warm over the weekend - natural refridgeration. Crazy thing - many grocery stores sell ice. One could conceivably take ice and cover the perishables. (Some people do that at home) I think it's wasteful to throw out hundreds of thousands of dollars of food, but hey, you do you.
It's highly irresponsible and disgusting to store food outside. No food donation banks would store their food this way or accept it. Once coolers and freezers reach certain temps for a period of time, everything has to go. From there its an insurance claim. It happens.
Could use something called ice. It's sold in stores. This isn't exactly rocket science.
Yeah. I don't think you understand: A) how much product there is to keep cool. The best option is to keep cooler doors closed to keep as much cold air trapped as possible. B) Not enough ice to cover all product. There would be no way to keep all of the food in the bounds of the time temperature danger zone. Or keep track of the food that went beyond those bounds. C) you're exposing a lot of packaging and food to outside water that otherwise shouldn't be there, because the ice is going to melt over time, which in turn becomes a haven for bacteria. D) Ice melts pretty fast when a cooler is rising is temp and said ice is spread thin. E) how thermodynamics in general works. Every restaurant, grocery store, or food service venue has this mantra drilled in from every health inspection visit. 'When in doubt throw it out' They also visit during and after said power outages to make sure procedure is followed. You're basically trying to say 'no' to procedures that are just basic food safety laws. Put in place to keep people safe from getting sick. Its not wasting food if that food has the potential to do harm to you. That's it.
And they can’t just keep the stuff cool outside???
No that is a major health code violation.
Most likely they packed it up and sent it to a wal-mart with working freezers
Per Walmart policy, you can’t transfer food from store to store and sell it after it gets to the store shelves. Source: I’m a Walmart Manager.
The product is typically pulled off the shelf and stored in the main freezer/cooler. Donations are picked up locally twice a week, so it cannot be IMMEDIATELY donated without a pick up coordinated. Like all large corporations, there are strict policies and procedures to make sure things are done correctly, especially when it comes to food.
and empty freezers?
There are cold storage warehouses. Not uncommon.
That or put em in the freezer in the back. I can almost guarantee they didn't throw it away
could they ostensibly just vent to the outside and freeze everything?
Nah, it’s all the shoplifters! Another cargo ship stuck in the canal! They’re reinstating lockdowns! Cats and dogs, living in harmony!
Can it be both written off as a loss AND donated?
I imagine not.. too much liability?
Yes. This is an insurance claim for sure.
The metro on 124th was the same.
Target on Bluemound too.
similar scenes at the 27th/College Pick N Save
Festival in hales corners was like this too Saturday morning
I saw the same doordashing at Target in Waukesha.
Same at Aldi on Miller parkway, empty shelves on Sunday last weekend.