Jim wrote:
> I like to make gingersnaps, and was shopping for molasses. A 12 oz jar
> of Grandma's Molasses cost over $4 at my local chain grocers. The
> equivalent of over $ 40 per gallon. Even gasoline doesn't cost that much!
>
> I decided to find out the wholesale price.
>
> An on-line bulk distributor wants $ 55 for a 4.5 gallon drum of the same
> brand, or about $ 12 a gallon.
>
> And on the commodities market, it sells for around 30 cents a gallon,
> although you have to buy tons of it at a time and it doesn't say
> "Grandma's."
>
> So how does such a simple product (jar says, "contents: molasses") get
> marked up more than 100 fold for retail, and still 40 fold in bulk? Are
> those glass jars that expensive?
>
> I am sure this applies to some other products, too, so I am looking
> forward to the explanation.
>
> Jim

I don't have a clue, but I think overall food prices are up
significantly. A secret vice of mine are those little jars of cream
cheese spread - Kraft Olive Spread is a favorite - over $2.39 each at
my cheapest supermarket. That's just ridiculous.

N.