with food inflation still high—where do you shop? (Cape Coral: sale, home)

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Kyle, years ago I did shop at super Target in Sarasota for a lot of my groceries. This was in the days before ALDI and also before they built the new mall out there and it got way too crowded. But also, it really went downhill; they changed many of their brands and offerings over time and it just wasn't worth my while to go there anymore. Target is a nice store, however, and would choose it ANY DAY over Walmart.

You should check it out again. They have rebranded their store brand to Good and Gather which often in the food aspect is organic and all-in-all high quality. THey've really picked up their produce game as well and is much more diverse and fresher in my opinion than what Publix has been putting out. I like the idea of Aldi however not all locations are equal. The one near me is older, fairly small and quite limited in selection. We should all pray for its main competitor Lidl to arrive in FL. Amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNZVwyy1Uc

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You should check it out again. They have rebranded their store brand to Good and Gather which often in the food aspect is organic and all-in-all high quality. THey've really picked up their produce game as well and is much more diverse and fresher in my opinion than what Publix has been putting out. I like the idea of Aldi however not all locations are equal. The one near me is older, fairly small and quite limited in selection. We should all pray for its main competitor Lidl to arrive in FL. Amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNZVwyy1Uc

I might check it out, Kyle. I haven't shopped the one here in Lakeland where we live now. But in the meantime I am pretty happy with ALDI here, and as I mentioned, a brand new one is opening in a week or two right down the road from me. There will always be a few things I need to buy at Publix, but these days not really much at all.

As for Lidl, I don't expect them any time soon, if ever.

[floridarebel]

Aldi or Walmart in my area.

[MOforthewin]

Mostly Walmart or Farmer Joe's here. Food has gone up everywhere including wal-mart but it's still far cheaper than Publix.

Farmer Joes is like an Oakes Farm or Dewilters in Venice. large store, larger selection of fruits and veggies, better quality as well. Their meat at Farmer Joe's blows Publix away in selection and quality and the price doesn't cost more than Publix.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Yes, they are about to open a brand new store not too far from me in south Lakeland - maybe a couple more weeks and I can't wait!!! What is also nice is this store is only a couple blocks from the flagship Publix and also the Publix Greenwise, so all my shopping will be in one small quadrant!

Aldi costs ~40% less than Publix for most staple items....why? Mostly due to Aldi selling non brand name items. Branding costs Millions in advertising, that you wind up paying for when you buy brand names.

Aldi has very few brand name items...fine by me...a can of no-name generic Black Beans costs 68 cents at Aldi, & $1.11 at Publix for Bush's brand...both cans are 15 ounces, not 16 ounces...shrinkflation.

Even if you buy a case of Bush's brand Black Beans, the lowest cost you'll find them for is 98 cents a can.

In a blind taste test, I doubt if anyone could tell the difference. Aldi products tend to have less salt/sodium, and sugar in them.

I can buy 2/3rds of all I need at Aldi. I go to WalMart that is along my weekly route to source the rest.

Even when Publix does BoGo's, their price is not less than Aldi everyday prices...about the same, but then you are getting brand names at Publix.

Occasionally, Publix does a gas card savings promo for buying $50 in groceries. My wife buys $50 in BoGo's, & the $50 gas card for $40, saving $10 on gas. That is the only way we shop at Publix...when the gas card promo is going.

Another thing we do to save is almost never waste food. We buy just enough fresh foods to avoid anything going bad.

[gg]

Other. Trader Joe's is hard to beat in price and quality. I am not into premade foods much either, so I get basic groceries there and of course wine. I found that Trader Joe's prices are best.

[Hemlock140]

About 80% is from Costco, then 15% from Fred Meyer (Kroger) and a small amount from Trader Joe's and if desperate in a hurry, Safeway. We get one item from Whole Foods, deli sliced American Cheese . It tastes a lot better than other places and is only $8.99 while the others are all at $10.99.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Aldi costs ~40% less than Publix for most staple items....why? Mostly due to Aldi selling non brand name items. Branding costs Millions in advertising, that you wind up paying for when you buy brand names.

Aldi has very few brand name items...fine by me...a can of no-name generic Black Beans costs 68 cents at Aldi, & $1.11 at Publix for Bush's brand...both cans are 15 ounces, not 16 ounces...shrinkflation.

Even if you buy a case of Bush's brand Black Beans, the lowest cost you'll find them for is 98 cents a can.

In a blind taste test, I doubt if anyone could tell the difference. Aldi products tend to have less salt/sodium, and sugar in them.

I can buy 2/3rds of all I need at Aldi. I go to WalMart that is along my weekly route to source the rest.

Even when Publix does BoGo's, their price is not less than Aldi everyday prices...about the same, but then you are getting brand names at Publix.

Occasionally, Publix does a gas card savings promo for buying $50 in groceries. My wife buys $50 in BoGo's, & the $50 gas card for $40, saving $10 on gas. That is the only way we shop at Publix...when the gas card promo is going.

Another thing we do to save is almost never waste food. We buy just enough fresh foods to avoid anything going bad.

Funny how Publix a lot of the BOGOS are now having to buy two to get one free. Many times BOGOS are walm-mart's regular prices.

Typical Grocery stores in general cost more. I'm from St. Louis and Schnucks and Dierbergs are both about the same as Publix, especially Dierbergs. At least up there you have more old time butcher shops. Is that Dewiters in Venice similar to Oakes Farm and Farmer Joe's?

I've notice this season Farmer Joes is about 40 percent LESS busy than last year when it opened up. Tons of parking now. I do notice their prices went up though which is why I'm thinking their business is down. On some of their stuff they're more than Publix. Their meats are a tad more than some of the stuff than Publix but it's ten times better. I don't mind paying a bit more for meats if they're good quality. Especially Here in Florida. Everything I get from Publix, Winn Dixie etc for steaks not as good. Farmer Joes their steaks have been top notch.

Why would I pay more money for the same brand butter, OJ or coke at Publix when Wal-Mart sells it? Also our Publixs around here are small, never enough lanes open and no self checkout. Wal-Mart I go through self checkout and prefer to bag myself. I hate how most of the baggers at the grocery stores bag my stuff sloppy.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

I don't mind paying a bit more for meats if they're good quality. Especially Here in Florida. Everything I get from Publix, Winn Dixie etc for steaks not as good. Farmer Joes their steaks have been top notch.

Why would I pay more money for the same brand butter, OJ or coke at Publix when Wal-Mart sells it? Also our Publixs around here are small, never enough lanes open and no self checkout. Wal-Mart I go through self checkout and prefer to bag myself. I hate how most of the baggers at the grocery stores bag my stuff sloppy.

meat quality at publix and winn dixie is terrible; produce also
its better than walmart but thats not saying much

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sinatras

meat quality at publix and winn dixie is terrible; produce also
its better than walmart but thats not saying much

Maybe at regular Publix but the meat at Publix Greenwise is outstanding. And they wrap it in butcher paper, not styrofoam.