Grocery Stores: What's up (West: new home, vs, Whole Foods)

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

How does Publix shape up against HEB? Is Trader Joe ever coming to Texas. Fiesta is a poor man Whole Food store

I lived in south Florida and Publix was my supermarket.
HEB is to Texas what Publix is to Florida. Both are regional.

The store brands are decent tasting, good bakeries, good sense of community and the people that work there for the most part seem happy and friendly.

Albertsons - gone. Randall's - too expensive IMHO
HEB survived. People continue to go there.

When they opened the Wallymart in Pflugerville there was talk about what it would do to HEB. Yeah they lost some customers but the majority showed their loyalty.

[atlanta hope]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

How does Publix shape up against HEB? Is Trader Joe ever coming to Texas. Fiesta is a poor man Whole Food store

Publix is similar -- I liked that the had a section of the store called "Green Market" and tried to incorporate more organic and natural products. The produce was always fresh and plentiful. They had a sub counter in the deli that beat Subway's sub sandwiches. Their prices were good and they didn't have some stupid card program.

[imaterry78259]

Ok what other national chain could give HEB a run for its money? What store chains do they have in the NE or the Chicago area

[theloneranger]

I prefer Safeway/Tom Thumb/Randall's because my mother shops at those stores here in Dallas, where Tom Thumb seems to completely dominate the market, but I haven't noticed anything bad about HEB. I would shop at a Safeway store if there were one near me, but as there isn't H-E-B is fine.

I'd go to Wheatsville but it's too expensive and I'm not into organic food (it's essentially just a way for them to try to get away with selling more expensive food--I'll take the chemicals, thanks).

Fiesta is the closest grocery store to UT but it's hard to get some staples there so I don't shop there.

I've heard of these Trader Joe/Aldi places and they just seem like overpriced versions of a Wal-Mart--store brand foods but since it's "TRADER JOE'S!" brand they'll bump the price up.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

I prefer Safeway/Tom Thumb/Randall's because my mother shops at those stores here in Dallas, where Tom Thumb seems to completely dominate the market, but I haven't noticed anything bad about HEB. I would shop at a Safeway store if there were one near me, but as there isn't H-E-B is fine.

I'd go to Wheatsville but it's too expensive and I'm not into organic food (it's essentially just a way for them to try to get away with selling more expensive food--I'll take the chemicals, thanks).

Fiesta is the closest grocery store to UT but it's hard to get some staples there so I don't shop there.

I've heard of these Trader Joe/Aldi places and they just seem like overpriced versions of a Wal-Mart--store brand foods but since it's "TRADER JOE'S!" brand they'll bump the price up.

Sorry...I can't think of a single item with TJ's brand that cost significantly more than 'name' brands. Organic coffee=much less, organic cereals=less, honey=much less, dried fruits=less, and so on. Never mind what 'Two Buck Chuck' did to the 'entry level' wine offerings at competitors in the Atlanta area. The whole idea of Trader Joe's house brands is control over quality and costs.

[Zzyzx]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

If the Californians who are members of the Trader Joe cult have their way, it will, but I wouldn't hold your breath. The rest of us don't much care one way or the other.

That's weird, it looks like Trader Joe's expands outside the California borders.Trader Joe's Grocery Store Locations How would you stereotype the rest of the country that has Trader Joe's shoppers?

I wonder if people in California consider Texans who shop at Whole Foods members of a Whole Foods Texas cult?

[love roses]

Probably. I find it interesting, judging by the map, that TJ's skipped over the midwest and Southern US and has branches on the West and East Coasts.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Zzyzx

That's weird, it looks like Trader Joe's expands outside the California borders.Trader Joe's Grocery Store Locations How would you stereotype the rest of the country that has Trader Joe's shoppers?

I wonder if people in California consider Texans who shop at Whole Foods members of a Whole Foods Texas cult?

Never said that Trader Joe's didn't cross the California border. (Actually, that's been discussed here in some other thread, I believe.) Just that the folks (here and elsewhere, on other forums) who seem to be the most fervent "TJ Cult" members appear to be from California.

As for your question, I don't know (though as far as I know, Whole Foods is pretty much all over in one way or another, and I'm not all that sure I approve of their devour and conquer expansion tactics). If Texans are moving to California (or anywhere else) en masse and talking about how life just isn't worth living without a Whole Foods, I'd imagine so - it would certainly be appropriate to do so.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Never said that Trader Joe's didn't cross the California border. (Actually, that's been discussed here in some other thread, I believe.) Just that the folks (here and elsewhere, on other forums) who seem to be the most fervent "TJ Cult" members appear to be from California.

As for your question, I don't know (though as far as I know, Whole Foods is pretty much all over in one way or another, and I'm not all that sure I approve of their devour and conquer expansion tactics). If Texans are moving to California (or anywhere else) en masse and talking about how life just isn't worth living without a Whole Foods, I'd imagine so - it would certainly be appropriate to do so.

To be fair, I don't think that anyone has implied on this forum that life isn't worth living without Trader Joes. People are just very enthusiastic in their admiration. I like enthusiastic. And I sure miss their General Tjoas sauce (we just used our last bottle a couple of nights ago). I wish I could find something similar here.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

To be fair, I don't think that anyone has implied on this forum that life isn't worth living without Trader Joes. People are just very enthusiastic in their admiration. I like enthusiastic. And I sure miss their General Tjoas sauce (we just used our last bottle a couple of nights ago). I wish I could find something similar here.

You can mass order Tabasco online. About the only sauce you should need.