grocery stores (Manchester, Nashua, Rochester: sale, buy, live)

[djbridgeland]

Recently moved from Illinois to Manchester. Coming from the midwest, I kind of got a sticker shock on food prices. Been to Hannaford, Shaws, and Stop N Shop. Hannaford seems to have good sale prices, and the other two have savers cards which I do not care for. I got a recommendation of the Market Basket in Londonderry. Is that worth the drive from Manchester, for a weeks worth of grocries?

[WannaComeHome]

Market Basket is usually cheaper than Hannafords or Shaws, but some people have found the produce and selection less than thrilling (others have had no problems), so it may depend on your store. ValerieC can most likely tell you about that specific MB (or maybe GregW)

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by djbridgeland

Recently moved from Illinois to Manchester. Coming from the midwest, I kind of got a sticker shock on food prices. Been to Hannaford, Shaws, and Stop N Shop. Hannaford seems to have good sale prices, and the other two have savers cards which I do not care for. I got a recommendation of the Market Basket in Londonderry. Is that worth the drive from Manchester, for a weeks worth of grocries?

Yes, yes & yes. Better store. And even better than that a Super-Wal-Mart.

[buck naked]

we have all of the stores mentioned above and I prefer Market Basket by far. I try not to do grocery shopping on weekends because I like to avoid the crowds, but MB is crowded even on weekdays lately.


the girl working the register said it was because of the difference in prices from the other supermarkets

I stopped at Hannaford's recently and got sticker shock myself! a roaster chicken was over $8.00! the same bird is 50% less at MB. There were savings in other items such as ice cream, but I couldn't get past the meat section.

guess I'll just to put up with the crowds.

[Valerie C]

djbridgeland, I live and work in Londonderry, but even if I didn't, I'd be doing 99% of my food shopping at Market Basket. You just can't beat the food prices! Last week I paid .79/pound for roaster chickens (now in my freezer)

Warning: it's not "Bistro Shopping" like Hannafords or even Shaws. The food isn't kept in designer cases, the flooring is decidedly 70's and 80's in stye, the lighting is florescents on the ceiling, not hanging pendant lamps. I'm there to shop for less than it would cost elsewhere, not to obsess over the decour... For my money and lifestyle, I'll take Market Basket anyday (except the weekends when you can't even get a parking place, let alone a shopping cart!) However, as buck naked notes, recently the store is much more crowded on weekdays than normal...

Here's a list of Market Basket/Demoulas locations: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...Ug&output=html

[yinduffy]

Market Basket is where we do all our food shopping - unless there is a special sale at one of the other stores nearby. I personally like Market Basket as a no-nonsense food store. They do have a greater selection of a given item than the others like Shaws Etc.
My wife and I don't like the special card business that some chains use.
From Manchester,you have a choice of Market Baskets nearby.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by djbridgeland

Recently moved from Illinois to Manchester. Coming from the midwest, I kind of got a sticker shock on food prices. Been to Hannaford, Shaws, and Stop N Shop. Hannaford seems to have good sale prices, and the other two have savers cards which I do not care for. I got a recommendation of the Market Basket in Londonderry. Is that worth the drive from Manchester, for a weeks worth of grocries?

Since my wife and I have only been around a year, here is our take so far; and of course this may/may not only apply to the specific stores we've been to:

Market Basket
Pros:
On Average, Lowest Prices
Has the essentials & more

Cons:
Quality of meat/seafood/vegetables lacking
Need to be *more* wary of expiration dates
& more part (from above) is limited

Shaws
Pros:
Good selection
Better quality than Market Basket
Usually a good store layout

Cons:
Requires a card
Meat/Seafood so-so

Hannaford
Pros:
Good selection
Best meat/seafood/vegetables
Less *worry* about expiration dates
Great customer service
Good pricing on sale items

Cons:
More pricey
Layout is confusing

Summary
I like Hannaford. I have consistantly gotten excellent meats, seafood, and vegetables. While we *try* to only purchase what we need as much as possible the extra fridge-life of what seems to be fresher produce seems to dramatically reduce our waste (and subsequently compensate for higher prices). I also have to trim less fat off meats (again, less waste you pay for) and the fish has been great (even after freezing).

You can also get great deals at many local farm stands. Produce from our local stand runs 25%+ cheaper on many items and its as fresh as it gets.

One thing I encourage everyone: be polite/friendly/courteous in the grocery store. On all but the quietest days most shoppers tend to be so rushed/rude in the grocery store. It would be such a better experience if folks just said thank you/please/excuse me as consistantly as they do in other situations.

Disclaimer:
This applies to:
Shaws off exit 11 in Merrimack
Hannaford off exit 6 in Nashua
Market Basket off exit 7 in Nashua

Suggestion:
Perhaps getting months worth of non-perishable goods in bulk at the cheapest location (paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, canned goods, etc) and then only getting your fresh items (meats/seafood/vegetables) or unique items at the more expensive store would be worth it? Since the Market Basket is a distance for you- you could minimize your car trips and maximize savings & quality perhaps?

[dubthang]

There is a lot that determines the price/quality differences between these stores.

Stop n Shop is a union operated store. There prices are generally higher because of this.

Hannafords carries good products, and has a decent return policy worked out with their vendors. This allows them to get money back on damages/over codes, and allows them to keep fresher products on the shelves.

Shaws carries a greater variety of products which makes their prices higher. While Hanna's may carry three flavors of something, Shaw's will have them all. This can prevent them from getting as great a discount on items. The price is passed onto the customer. Their return policy with their vendors is pretty good too ensuring good quality product.

Wal-Mart has the greatest choke hold on its vendors. Bad for them, but great for the shopper. They buy in such large amounts that they can get big discounts, and can undercut other stores by relying on the other Wal-Mart stores to pick up the slack. They are generally high quality because most all Great Value brands are made by other top companies.

Market Basket often gets cheaper food by having a limited return policy with their vendors. This means you'll see more over codes on the shelf. Remember, just because the date is up, doesn't make it bad. I, personally, stay far way from their produce.

Hope this gives a little insight to the differences.

[BF66389]

Wal-Mart also is able to purchase in such high volumes that they can get vendors to customize products. Sometimes this means (with regard to hard-goods) thinner or lower cost materials (checkout their plastic storage bins vs. identical labels in certain other stores sometime).

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

Yes, yes & yes. Better store. And even better than that a Super-Wal-Mart.

I've never really cared for the quality/price of meat at the Wally World in Rochester. Plus the selection of produce isn't exactly all that great. I usually just get what's on sale as far as fruit/veggies go (got local apples for 75 cents a pound) but as far as meat, if it's not in my freezer I go to Hannaford's.