Groc stores (Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Farragut: coupons, credit card, how much)

[weisgarber1]

Originally Posted by kdweller

I think the cheapest is Aldis, which is by Marshalls (just off Western Ave.)

Actually, it is just off Oak Ridge Highway, which Western Avenue becomes, if I am not mistaken.

[mtneer]

Really depends on what you shop for. I find only Krogers carry the organic products and things like Kefir and Asian soup mix and sauces. Food City has pretty decent produce dept & they have some cuts of meat no one else carries in town. You really have to watch Wallyworld's produce section because I find things like the pre-cut fruit cups, organic greens & lettuce and the packets of baby carrots that are routinely past the expiration date and sometimes visibly spoiled yet still on the shelf. I mainly only get things like steak sauce, ketchup, canned chili, crackers, etc at Walmart but get most everything else at Krogers or Food City. WM's frozen food section is not even that great either in price or variety though you would assume they should be. They sell a very limited selection of food. Oh and this week I found Krogers has their frozen veggies for 88 cents which beats WM bigtime. I suspect people that like WM for groceries are the ones that mainly eat pre-packaged and junk food. Their meat & produce depts are just sad.

I find very little I like at Food Lion, but oddly enough they have really good beef and they also carry the Berry Rain flavor Gatorade which no one else does. So I shop over a month's time at 4 stores, but Krogers is only one I go to weekly.

[hiknapster]

Really, Aldi's is off of Clinton Highway and Schaad Road, but you are correct, Mr. Weisgarber, Western Avenue turns into Oak Ridge Highway and you can get to Schaad Road from there, too.

I agree with mtneer and inave assessment of the situation. It is about 22 minutes to Super Target from my house, but I live less than five minutes from I-75. After that it is almost all highway. I'm kind of stunned by how well we are eating this week and we paid a little less than we pay at Kroger.

By the way, after being all excited about Fountain City Kroger, I have found that their meats and seafood have gone downhill. I plan to go back to Super Target this weekend.

[mtneer]

I haven't been to the Knox Super Walmart, but I've been to one in another state. They didn't have meat or produce. Does the one here?

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by mtneer

I haven't been to the Knox Super Walmart, but I've been to one in another state. They didn't have meat or produce. Does the one here?

The Super Walmart on Clinton Highway and in East Town have produce and meat. I think the West Knoxville one does, too.

For awhile the produce was looking a little better on the occasions that I walked by but the last couple of times I went by the Clinton Highway one it looked worse than I have ever seen it.

I think that's kind of pathetic. This is East TN and we have gorgeous produce in all of the other stores. But Walmart likes to ship their stuff all around the country, leaving their fresh food on trucks much longer than any other grocer. That's why their meat has that odd red color to it and that bizarre sheen. They shoot up with stuff to make it look better, longer. Sam's Club's meat looks the same.

For awhile they were starting to go local and things looked much, much better but it has really fallen by the wayside. I think they were trying to reach out to more customers but have gone back to their regular customer base that doesn't necessarily demand the best.

[airwair]

Wal-Mart is a disgusting company, in my opinion. The way they treat their employees is deplorable and it's been mentioned that their produce and meat selections are less than par. They're also lacking in the organic department.

I try to avoid them at all costs. It's Target for my every day needs, and when I'm in the Knoxville area I tend to do my grocery shopping at Kroger (Clinton Highway) or Super Target.

The grocery store chain here in Pittsburgh (Giant Eagle) has began to market their own organic brand at an incredibly low price. In some cases, especially with their fuel/savings perks, I come out on top money-wise if I buy their organic brand. It makes it a lot easier and affordable to eat healthy. It is 10 times cheaper than making the trip to Whole Foods, and a lot more convenient than Trader Joe's, which is kind of far from my house. Having those stores in the area is probably why the grocery chain decided to take on this market.

I'd like to see Ingles or Food City (or even Kroger!) do something like this in Knoxville. It would be like Earth Fare, except much, much cheaper.

[mtneer]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

The Super Walmart on Clinton Highway and in East Town have produce and meat. I think the West Knoxville one does, too.

You know what I realize now I goofed when I posted. I meant to ask you if Super TARGET has meat and produce. duhhh... I have been on heavy dose of cold medicine and asthma medicine for past week plus not getting much sleep ... so that's probably why I mis-typed...

Can I ask again what I really meant to ask---about Target? lol Sorry!

[airen123]

Originally Posted by mtneer

You know what I realize now I goofed when I posted. I meant to ask you if Super TARGET has meat and produce. duhhh... I have been on heavy dose of cold medicine and asthma medicine for past week plus not getting much sleep ... so that's probably why I mis-typed...

Can I ask again what I really meant to ask---about Target? lol Sorry!

Yes, the one in Turkey Creek does. Not as much to choose from as a Kroger, but good quality.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by airen123

Yes, the one in Turkey Creek does. Not as much to choose from as a Kroger, but good quality.

Yes! And they have great quality stuff with their Archer Farms label.

[Kitties of Domination]

Originally Posted by weisgarber1

You nailed Wally's World perfectly. The chairman of Dayton-Hudson Corporation (former owners of Target, and may still be-haven't checked), a few years ago, called WalMart a retail predator. WM is ruthless, no scruples whatsoever, imvho.

They are also very good at trying to influence their employees to vote a certain way and using fear tactics to prevent unionization. They use cameras to help monitor possible "troublemakers" who want things like better pay, insurance that they can afford, etc. So many Wal-Mart employees are on welfare that the corporation actually drains more tax dollars than it puts into the economy. So I ask you, what are low prices really worth? I'd rather pay a little more and sleep at night. Besides, their selection is pathetic.