Publix vs.Kroger: The dueling grocers (Dunwoody, Snellville: appointed, pros and cons, organic)

[Tryska]

So did an interesting experiment yesterday (I do my grocery shopping once every 2 weeks, and I am diabetic, controlled with diet and exercise, so my diet is pretty tight and predictable, so it makes it easy to compare.

Typically, I will either get everything at Publix (meaning meat, dairy, eggs, vegetables, some dry goods, and household supplies) (Most expensive by about $20)

Or I will split up and get dairy, egg, dry goods and household supplies at Kroger and Meat and vegetables at Super H.

This time I went with Whole Foods for meat, dairy, eggs, and vegetables and hit the Kroger for dry goods and household supplies.

My bill worked out to roughly the same as the Kroger/Super H combo - but I'm getting higher quality foods and better choices. I was a bit impressed with Whole Foods ability to match the grocery store spices on meat, eggs and vegetables - Dairy was more expensive and nevermind dry goods and vegetables.

I will probably still keep Super H in rotation, since they carry the Asian vegetables and fruits I eat on a regular basis. I will probably stick with Kroger for the dry goods and household supplies (until Wal-Mart opens), and definitely use Whole Foods from now on for meat, eggs and the usual vegetable suspects.

The place where I'm torn is Dairy. Kroger is the only place that carries my preferred brand of cottage cheese (Daisy). And that's an important part of my meals. Publix has the heavy cream and half and half that I trust (another important part of my meals) and both have them at workable pricepoints.

I'm kind of annoyed at the prospect of having to cover 4 different stores to get my needs met. lol.

[retrodaddy]

Lived in Tucker / Norcross area until late 2013. Grew up a big Publix fan, but K-roger's frequent Manager's Specials and closeout prices managed to sucker me into becoming a regular customer. Publix' deli and bakery kick K-roger's ass, though I saw some improvement in the local K-roger bakeries in the past few years. For price on similar quality shelf items, K-roger gets the nod.

Self-checkout is nice, but lack of self-checkout isn't gonna deter me from frequenting a store.

[billl]

Many of the Kroger manager's specials are for food that is near its expiration date. Just make sure you have time to use it before it spoils.

[netdragon]

What I'm saddened about is that the Vinings Kroger (the one with rooftop parking on Atlanta Rd) used to have almost everything on sale with a "Manager's Special" sticker, and that isn't happening anymore. Maybe they fired the manager.

[Black_Sheep3]

Kroger = Steady, low prices, same deals, overall slightly less expensive
Publix = Random, different sales on different foods, overall slightly more expensive

My sis is a vegan, so we use both accordingly, when I just wanna grab something or get my usual I go Kroger. If I wanna experiment or see whats on sale at Publix with a food I didnt try yet, or one I really like but is usually more expensive at Kroger, but sometimes goes on sale at Publix, I go Publix.

Oddly, some Kroger locations have more vegan friendly foods, while some publix locations have more, like the one in Buckhead.

[AnsleyPark]

I used to say that I would take Ingle's any day. But... had my first trip to Sprouts yesterday! Now, that was a treat!

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I used to say that I would take Ingle's any day. But... had my first trip to Sprouts yesterday! Now, that was a treat!

Really? Which one did you go to? I've been dying to try it, but it seems like there's a masonry failure near me because they haven't successfully put two bricks together with some mortar in between them to finish the new Sprouts nearest me.

[PKCorey]

Probably the new one in Peachtree Corners since that is down the street from him.

I've been to the one in Snellville. Great prices on meats and fruits/vegetables.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by PKCorey

Probably the new one in Peachtree Corners since that is down the street from him.

I've been to the one in Snellville. Great prices on meats and fruits/vegetables.

Thanks! I did not realize any had actualy opened.

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

Thanks! I did not realize any had actualy opened.

Dunwoody and Snellville opened about a month ago.

Peachtree Corners just opened yesterday. If you are going for a visit, I advise you to go early or late in the evening because Snellville location was still packed 2 weeks ago. It was pretty tame last Friday though.