Fresh Market vs Food Lion vs Harris Teeter (Charlotte, Huntersville: 2015, prices)
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The Fresh Market is a gourmet grocer known for its fresh foods and premium quality meats.
Harris Teeter and Publix are standard supermarkets offering quality products, fresh foods and necessities. They are on par in terms of prices. Although both chains are good on service, I think Publix has the edge.
I think Harris Teeter is a more upscale grocery in terms of carrying gourmet and hard to find items than Publix. But . . . that might be dependent on location. And - Publix has the better bakery, in my opinion.
Fresh Market has the best deli items but selection is more limited and since they tend to be aiming for an upscale demographic, you find a more expensive assortment there, too (overall).
But again . . . location is a big factor. My closest H-T has a limited amount of gourmet foods but the one near SouthPark has a much more robust selection (including wine and beer).
I think Fresh Market is way overpriced especially for wine/beer. The meats aren't even that special and I once bought bad fish there. I do think their produce is good quality though. Canned and packages goods - lots of gourmet option but you pay a lot.
I don't think I would really compare Fresh Market to Whole Foods, as Fresh Market is smaller with a more limited selection. I'd probably compare it to Trader Joe's but without the store brand products and the lower prices that go with that.
Although if you like Whole Foods, there is one that opened recently in Huntersville at exit 25 off of 77 which is pretty close to Cornelius. And if health food stores are your thing, there is also an Earth Fare (probably a little similar to Fresh Market but I've only been in there once) at exit 23.
As others have said, Harris Teeter is a traditional grocery store but marketed a little more towards the higher-end. Prices can be high but they also have good specials.
Publix is kinda similar to Harris Teeter, probably a little less higher-end than Harris Teeter, although because they are just entering the Charlotte market all their stores are new and you know they are trying very hard to make an impact here.
Food Lion is also traditional grocery store, a little smaller than Harris Teeter/Publix and marketed for the most part more towards the lower-end. However they have a lot of stores and some are much better than others...the one in Cornelius is probably one of their better ones.
But I'd probably be remiss without mentioning the #1 grocer in Charlotte last time I checked, Walmart, although there isn't one in the immediate vicinity of Cornelius. Coming from the NE I always though Walmart was terrible but a lot of the ones here aren't bad at all IMO. Yes, you will run into some of the "people of Walmart" and they can be crowded if you go at peak times, but of course the prices are tough to beat.
Will be checking out HT and FL when we get there - Publix not opening until 2015 (and hopefully Trader Joes which is a favorite of mine.)
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