I looked up the annual reports of the major grocery store chains operating in the US Southeast. Operating profits were Publix 8%, Food Lion 3%, Harris Teater 1-

I looked up the annual reports of the major grocery store chains operating in the US Southeast. Operating profits were Publix 8%, Food Lion 3%, Harris Teater 1-2%. Grocery stores are high volume, low margin business. Even a 3% increase in the cost of getting paid would brutal.