Even though we keep hearing in the news about how the price for groceries is going up, my husband and I have noticed an interesting trend: the grocery stores that we once considered to be too expensive for regular shopping oftentimes offer better deals or cheaper prices than “regular” supermarkets.
For example, I’ve always considered Wegman’s to be beyond my reach, financially. I get that Wegman’s is a lovely place to shop–the first time my husband food shopped there, he jokingly asked, “Do you think I could move in to Wegman’s?” But I’d always assumed that with higher “production” values comes higher prices. Recently, though, a full cart of groceries at Wegman’s came in at about $100 whereas a similar cart at our local grocery store the next week clocked in at $170–with coupons!
Turns out I’m not the only one noticing that flip flop between “upscale” supermarkets and regular supermarkets. Or at least someone has quantified the difference I’ve noticed.
Whole Foods Market hired Harris Interactive to do an online survey called The Food Shopping Trends Tracker. It compared Whole Foods Market prices to competing supermarkets in four different, pricey locations. Here is a chart with that survey’s results.
| Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA | Fairfax, VA | Atlanta, GA | ||||||
| Items | WFM | Fred Meyer (Kroger)* |
WFM | Safeway** | WFM | Wegmans*** | WFM | Publix**** | |
| Annie’s Homegrown Macaroni & Cheese, 6 oz |
$1.99 | $1.59 | $2.19 | $2.49 | $1.99 | $1.49 | $2.19 | $2.29 | |
| Organic Free Range Chicken Broth, 32 oz (Private Label) |
$1.99 | $2.49 | $1.99 | $3.39 | $2.29 | $2.99 Pacific Natural |
$1.99 | $2.99 Pacific Natural |
|
| Sweet Cream Butter, 16 oz (Private Label) |
$2.99 | $2.99 | $2.99 | $3.99 | $2.99 | $2. 79 | $3.29 | $3.19 | |
| Organic Kidney Beans, 15 oz can (Private Label) |
$1.00 | $0.99 | $1.19 | $1.69 | $1.19 | $1.99 | $1.19 | $1.29 | |
| Brown, Cage Free, Grade A Eggs, 1 doz (Private Label) |
$2.79 | $2.49 | $2.99 | $2.99 | $2.49 | $2.99 | $2.29 | $2.09 | |
| EnviroKidz Organic Cereal, Gorilla Munch, 15.3 oz |
$2.99 | $2.89 | $2.89 | $3.49 | $2.89 | $2.89 | $2.89 | $4.69 | |
| Frozen Whole Strawberries, 16 oz (Private Label) |
$1.69 | $2.99 | $1.69 | $2.99 | $2.49 | $2.99 | $1.69 | $2.69 | |
| Organic 1% Milk, Half Gallon (Private Label) |
$2.99 | $2.99 | $3.29 | $3.69 | $3.29 | $3.39 | $3.69 | $3.69 | |
| Organic Yellow Mustard, 9 oz (Private Label) |
$1.99 | $3.79 Annie’s Naturals |
$1.79 | $2.69 | $1.99 | $3.49 Annie’s Naturals |
$1.99 | $2.19 | |
| Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce, 25 oz (Private Label) |
$2.29 | $3.38 Newman’s Own |
$2.69 | $3.29 | $2.29 | $2.29 | $2.29 | $2.69 Newman’s Own |
|
| Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter, 18 oz (Private Label) |
$3.39 | $3.49 | $3.69 | $3.99 | $2.99 | $2.99 | $3.29 | $2.79 Not Organic |
|
| Organic Romaine Hearts, 3 pack |
$3.99 | $3.00 | $2.49 | $4.49 | $2.79 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $2.79 | |
| Organic Refrigerated, Plain Soymilk, Half Gallon (Private Label) |
$2.99 | $2.89 | $2.99 | $3.49 | $2.99 | $2.69 | $2.99 | $2.69 | |
| Organic Lowfat, Plain Yogurt, Quart (Private Label) |
$2.79 | $3.29 | $2.99 | $3.39 | $2.99 | $3.69 Stonyfield Farms |
$2.99 | $3.59 Stonyfield Farms |
|
| Total | $35.87 | $39.26 | $35.86 | $46.06 | $35.66 | $40.66 | $36.76 | $39.66 | |
Now, I realize that Whole Foods paid for this survey but this part of the survey makes me believe that the findings were worth sharing with my frugal audience:
All prices were collected in person by a third-party independent contractor and reflect regular retail prices only.
So, maybe the saying “Whole paycheck” is no longer relevant at Whole Foods?
Have you found supermarket savings in unexpected stores lately as well?
Wegmans can be expensive if you’re buying their pre-made foods or some brands. But if you shop the Wegmans brand? My dog loves their dog food and I think it’s under $4 a bag.
Sometimes we’ll get a rotisserie chicken for dinner, and then serve sides that we make at home. The chicken we get from Wegman’s is between $4 and $5. At Giant, right around the corner? Between $7 and $8! While that’s still cheap for feeding a family of four, I’d rather not pay double for the same item!
Leah
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