Hi All,

Regarding recent posts on Wal-Mart formula and other unpalatable items :

1. When we take all the "free" ad flyers from a store, all that
accomplishes is to signal the manager to order more because they're so
popular. Exactly the opposite of what we wanted to happen!
2. When items are moved to a different area of the store, all this
accomplishes is making more work for some poor clerk (probably a woman
and/or underpaid), and maybe getting her in trouble with management.
3.
The more effective way is to find the store manager and complain in person.
Even better, write a letter to the manager with specific complaints and
rationale and deliver it to him/her in person. I know this takes more time.
But management staff must be sensitive to local customers to keep their
jobs.

You can also find out when a regional team will be in the store, and make
an appointment to complain to THEM. The culprit is probably the national
corporate headquarters. Local (and even regional) managers may have little
flexibility in what to stock, where to put items, etc. Remember these are
for-profit companies whose purpose is to make money for their stockholders.
Period. They aren't health-promoting organizations.

As frustrating as it seems, fighting national chains at the local level is
probably an exercise in frustration. Pick your battles. Confront
locally-owned stores locally. Join and/or support NABA, ILCA, INFACT and
other national and international organizations who are tackling the
corporate giants in a way that individuals simply cannot.  Just my HMO, of
course.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
Dayton, OH USA
http://www.bflrc.com