Ask the Readers: Where Do You Shop for Groceries?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Thomas, Troy, and Ernest for winning this week's contest!
When someone asks you where you buy your groceries, the obvious answer used to be "the grocery store, of course". But with the growing popularity and availability of farmer's and ethnic markets, not to mention fresh produce at a number of big box and warehouse stores, you and your neighbors can get groceries from a variety of sources. You might even order your groceries online!
Where do you buy your groceries? Do you do all your shopping at one place, or do you go to different stores for certain items? Which of these factors do you care the most about when you go grocery shopping: price, quality, or convenience?
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Most of the time I shop at the local Shoprite. It's convenient, the quality is good, and the prices aren't outrageous.
I shop at Hy-Vee!
We get our groceries from a number of places, concentrating on price, quality and selection as determining factors. We participate in a CSA for fruits and vegetables in season, we shop at Aldi as our regular grocery store for most grocery items, we go to the big grocery store for the sales and specialty items, Asian market for special needs we can't get anywhere else, Amazon is great for a handful of subscribe and save options, big box stores when we're already there shopping for other things and Costco for things that are better there than anywhere else.
Aldi! AWesome prices and helps me stay on budget
BJ's / Shoprite
I mostly shop at Aldi, but will supplement with Kroger because Aldi doesn't always have everything I need
I shop at either Food Lion or Lowes Foods. I feel that Food Lion is somewhat less expensive, but Lowes Foods is more convenient to our house. Plus, Lowes Foods offers "Lowestogo", a service that allows you to shop for groceries online and just pull into a parking spot to pick up your order. That kind of convenience is very enticing.
I do the most shopping at Trader Joe's, some at Whole Foods, and a local butcher. We also have a farm share, so we get fresh fruits and vegetables from May through November.
Trader Joes
Peadpod
Most of my shopping is done at Trader Joe's.
We buy a large quantity of our groceries at our local farmers market every Saturday. We also buy some items at the local natural food store and some at Wegmans, our grocery store of choice, and a few items occasionally at ShopRite, another local grocery store. We care most about quality of products and are happy paying more for organically grown items.
I shop at Walmart Grocery stores because I can price match all ads and save time and money!
I shop at Winco, Vons and Trader Joe's
We are close to many stores, so have advantages most folks don't. Price is our primary consideration. I look at the online ads for our two chain grocers and CVS, and make a list of current and stockpile needs. My first stop is our salvage grocer. They tend to have the best prices. Sometimes to CVS, for their loss leader deals. Then to a small family run chain store for their bulk meat specials. (Fresh and best value.) Then, if there is an extraordinary sale, pick up a few items at the large (usually more expensive) chain grocer. In the summer we have farmstands, pick it yourself places, and our small raised beds in the back yard for produce.
We always shop at our local Sam's Club and WalMart store (either online or in-store).
We love Fry's for their quality products and cheap prices. We also go to Food City a lot. Many people snub Food City, but what they don't realize is how cheap produce is there all year long and that the quality is comparable to any other places.
I shop for groceries at Harris Teeter.
I do most of my shopping at the local, independent grocer which has a smaller selection of items, but is fairly competitively priced and I can easily walk/bike there. I do my big stock up shopping at Costco.
I shop for groceries at the grocery store (Safeway) because it's cheap and closeby. I'd prefer to shop at Trader Joe's but it's too far away.
Trader Joe's and Giant
I usually shop all at one store, unless I happen to see a really good deal at a store I don't usually go to. Then I'll make a special trip.
First, I shop in my vegetable garden and try to plan meals around what's ready for harvest. I'm a part of an all-fruit CSA and utilize that mostly for snacking and sometimes cooking. Beyond that, I primarily buy groceries at Fred Meyer or Costco, with occasional trips to other grocery stores due to product availability or my convenience.
I do most of my shopping at Vons and sometimes buy certain items at Target. Mostly, I look at price and convenience. I know there are stores that are less expensive but they also don't have some of the things I like and I don't want to go all over town for my groceries.
I shop at three main stores, Aldi, Walmart and Ruler Foods, between stock up shopping I do every few months at the salvage store at the local Amish community. They have bulk foods at a fraction of the price of other stores. You have to be careful when buying their packaged food. Some will be expired or the cans are dented and so questionable if the seal held to prevent bacteria. I can get a 12pack case of Greek yogurt for $4. With my shopping plan, I save hundreds each year.
I go to a variety of places for groceries: Aldi's (once every week or two), Sam's Club (about once a month), a small local farmer's market that also sells some grocery items (every 2 weeks or so), a local chain store that is 5 minutes away (every two weeks or so), and to an Amish community that is a 45 minute drive (there is a bulk foods store, a bent and dent store, a bakery, and farmer's garden stands - this trip is done once every month or two). I would say quality is most important to me - I want healthier choices and I want good tasting food. I cook from scratch mostly, but not every day - I try for every 2 or 3 days.
I shop around and may visit a few different stores but my regulars are Frys Food and Sprouts!
Walmart Super. They always have low prices!
Most of mine is done at Trader Joe's with occasional filling in from a regular supermarket or Wal-Mart, and a very occasional splurge at our local co-op.
I shop weekly at Harris Teeter because: (1) sale prices are very good (2) customer service is excellent (3) double coupons every day (4) great atmosphere/comfortable shopping environment. I also regularly visit Aldi and Trader Joe's because I can get fresh fruit/veg at wonderful prices. Price and quality are my top concerns.
Where I shop depends on what I need. If I know i'm going to need more produce then Festival/Cub are my main stores. Bulky items like TP/Klennix/Pop are from Costco. For the rest my goto store is Target.
We shop daily at our neighborhood grocery store for the items we pick up daily for dinner like meat or chicken. We find the quality there to be the best and its convenient. We use Wal-Mart for the items we use regularly like cereals, crackers, bulk items. Fruit and vegetables we get wherever the price is the best.
I find myself buying most of my groceries at Food Lion. I have found their own brands are healthier and cheaper than name brands. The produce is ALWAYS fresh and the meat department works with me to when I buy items like veal which most stores rarely have. That said BJ's Wholesale is another favorite for bulk items like canned goods, gum, candy, and baking items. Occasionally I also buy their milk and eggs which are also value priced. I get most of my cheese goods there as well. Prices are very well priced and excellent quality. Finally I buy some items like bread, bagels, muffins, eggs, and candy at the Dollar Tree. Since I am already there I also purchase non food items as needed.
We shop daily at our neighborhood grocery store for the items we pick up daily for dinner like meat or chicken. We find the quality there to be the best and its convenient. We use Wal-Mart for the items we use regularly like cereals, crackers, bulk items. Fruit and vegetables we get wherever the price is the best.
Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or a local supermarket.
We get most of our veggies at the local farmers market, fruit at the orchard stands, and non perishables at the wholesale club, which seems to have the best deals on that sort of thing.
Trader Joe's/Wegmans/Aldi and Asian supermarket
Local grocery store
Publix, Aldi's, Cosco, and Trader Joe's
Albertsons in santa fe, nm. Good produce and good deals for stocking up
I shop at Winco, Walmart with price matching, and Costco.
I shop at grocery stores: mostly Hy-Vee now that they've finally opened a couple close by, sometimes Cub Foods or Lund's/Byerly's. Every once in a while I have to go to a SuperTarget or Walmart if there's an item that I can only find there. I try to get everything in one trip at one place, but that doesn't always work out.
We do most of our shopping at Trader Joe's and supplement with Safeway and a local grocer. We care most about quality, but price is definitely a consideration.
I shop at Ralphs because there is one less than 5 minutes from my house.
I shop at north gate a Mexican market.
We go to many different stores for groceries. Price is the first factor and everything comes next.
ShopRite has the lowest prices for weekly grocery shopping - but I go to Whole Foods once a month (they have the best produce - and if you shop smart they aren't really more expensive for similar quality) and Trader Joe's every other week.
try to get most fruit and vegetables from the local farmer's market. other than that, a variety of different stores depending on sales and what is needed.
ALDI for as much as I can, then Meijer.
Food Lion; Kroger's
I have recently switched to purchasing more from Aldi stores. I have found great fresh fruits and vegetables at low prices. Eggs, milk and bread are high quality with very low prices. I shop at BJs for meats, deli and almost everything else. When I need to grab something fast, I go across the street to our local chain grocery store. Prices are higher but I feel that I am paying for convenience.
some at Kroger, Diet Coke at Walmart with savings catcher--it's easier than chasing down the latest soda deals each week.
Lowes Foods
Wegmans - great produce selection and qualilty and lower prices.
I shop at Ralphs or trader joes :)
I shop mostly at local grocery stores, but get certain things at certain places depending on quality and price. I'm experimenting a bit with online ordering such as google express as well!
I'm a vegan, and I shop at many different places, depending on price, selection, and convenience. The ones I go to most are Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Natural Grocers. I also shop at Walmart, Safeway, farmer's markets, and the food co-op.
I shop at various stores but get most of my groceries at Aldi's since they opened one here a couple of years ago. I shop at Publix for the BOGO and BJ's for certain products once a month or so.
We shop mainly at Super King (low prices on produce and ethnic groceries), Vons (conveniently close to home), and Costco (for our big family).
Since my hubby is active duty military, we're fortunately able to shop at the commissary on base. But since it is a twenty minute trek from home, I stop into Winn Dixie or Publix for a few things.
I shop the double sales at Fresh Thyme. They have awesome produce and great prices.
i shop for groceries at the nearby markets ie vons, walmart, fresco, and supreme
I shop at grocery stores like Sprouts and Kroger, my locale farmers' market, Costco, and Super Target.
I like Trader Joe's and then a few other local places that have better produce.
Aldi, Walmart, and for sale items, usually meat, i shop at BiLo and Woods.
We shop for groceries at Walmart, but that is just because my husband is a HR manager there. If he didn't work there, we'd shop at Aldi's because of the prices and quality of their food.
My local grocery store closed. Now I'm a peripatetic shopper - Albertsons, Smart & Final Express, Stater Bros, Trader Joe's, Target. Sometimes it's whatever I'm closest to, sometimes it's for a specialty item one of them might carry.
We love our local Aldi!
I shop for groceries at my local Hy Vee store. I am able to get good deals by combining products on sale with coupons.
First thing is to make my shopping list and my menus for the week based on what is on sale at the local stores. Then, I usually start my shopping at Aldi, finishing up at Meijer for the things I can't get at Aldi.
Kroger is our place to shop. Love the savings from digital coupons.
Trader Joes!
Sprouts/Target
I shop at a couple different stores for different items - Trader Joe's for a lot of pantry staples, Sprouts for bulk foods like dry beans and fresh produce, and Whole Foods actually has great prices on organic milk. I am very sensitive to price since I don't make much money, but the quality has to be there and I can't stand bad service.
Walmart Neighborhood Market and Kroger. I prefer Kroger's produce and clearance items, but I wouldn't shop there if they had no loyalty program because the prices are too high otherwise.
I mostly shop at Trader Joe's. I like their quality and prices. Also, they may not have everything, but they have about 90% of what I need.
I shop at Trader Joes and whole foods.
We shop at Costco and ShopRite, with occasional excursions to Trader Joe's. Milk at Costco is almost $1.50 cheaper than other stores, and the rotisserie chicken price can't be beat!
for veggies fruits I shop at Aldi, everything else I shop around for the best deals of the week.
I shop at Trader Joe's for most of my produce, nuts, almond milk, and cheese.
Kroger's has cheap produce but it isn't always fresh. I shop for shelf items at kroger's because their simple truth brand is fantastic! Plus, they have digital coupons, and you can save a lot that way.
I do shop at earth fare for salad lettuce and gluten free items. They have some good deals on organic produce as well. If there isn't a sale on produce though, food there can be expensive.
Most items are ordered online and delivered through Peapod. Due to some health issues, this helps a lot because of difficulty carrying or moving heavy bags. Some items that are not available through Peapod I get at the local Shoprite, and sometimes I go to the local Aldi if they have something on special or a featured item only available for a week or two.
Fred Meyer, Costco, Safeway, Amazon- wherever I can snag great deals.
Grocery Outlet - it's amazing! If you live on the west coast you need to check it out, consistently low prices on quality items
Shoprite, can't beat some of their prices. Also Sam's Club too.
I like to do all my shopping in one place. Our local super market carries our local farmers produce.
I shop at Aldi for my primary grocery store. Then I shop at a local farmer's market and have an option fruits and vegetables from a local online CSA. I place an order and the following week I can pick up fruit and vegetables from area farmers. I use the online CSA mainly in the winter months.
Aldi
I shop at 3 stores, Walmart for most everything because of price, a local grocery store for some meat and some vegetables, and a natural foods market for organic and specialty items.
Costco, Sprouts, and Whole Foods
I shop at sprouts, Costco and target
I shop at Target for groceries
I like to shop at vons or Ralphs
Whenever possible I grocery shop at ALDI.
Aldi for staples, Safeway for fruit /vegetables , Trader Joe for wine, beer, nuts, and snacks Wholefodds for milk, eggs
I go to different stores for different things. Aldi seems to be my main store. I go to the regular supermarket for coupon items, such as shampoo, cleaning products. I get my bread at the vegetable store. Can't beat the prices!
Aldi's and Walmart
I go to a variety of places because I am looking for the best price on items. I like Aldi's for fruits and vegetables and then the sale things and BOGOs at Publix and Winn Dixie. I am particular about my meat so I usually shop the sales at Fresh Market.
I shop for groceries a lot at Aldi or Shoprite.
Walmart, Food Lion and our local IGA mostly. Aldi when I'm in the area but it is about 16 miles away. Grow a lot of our own vegetables.
Our local QFC especially the clearance sections. The farmer's market during the season, Bountiful Baskets when there isn't a farmer's market.