with food inflation still high—where do you shop? (Sarasota: neighborhoods, buy)

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by sinatras

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

Totally agree there! No excuse with the produce, especially the fruit grown in FL. See lots of stale looking stuff at Publix, and all the places. Meats possibly cause of the grass down here. I don't expect the meats to be as good as up in Missouri or Texas but it's just downright terrible down here at Publix.

[beach43ofus]

When I ws a member, & I ate meat, Costco had the best meats...still true? Are their prices resisting inflation much?

Costco is opening a 3rd store in this forum area in Wellen Park this year. I can't eat most fresh foods fast enough to buy bulk there, unless I freeze some. I no longer eat meats, so I'm leaning away from Costco, but they have good prices on non-food stuff.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

When I ws a member, & I ate meat, Costco had the best meats...still true? Are their prices resisting inflation much?

Costco is opening a 3rd store in this forum area in Wellen Park this year. I can't eat most fresh foods fast enough to buy bulk there, unless I freeze some. I no longer eat meats, so I'm leaning away from Costco, but they have good prices on non-food stuff.

Not sure. Dont have a membership anymore. The one at sarasota square mall didnt have a great selection and the next closest one in Estero wasnt impressed. Had almost expired product on the shelf. Not worth a 40 mile drive from me. Bjs seems to be nice. Id rather just get my meat at Farmer Joes. Closer drive.

[DovieHarding]

Publix Supermarkets nine times out of ten. Clearly they do a good job and have a great reputation for high quality customer service. Places like Aldi don't even bag what you buy for godsake lol. If that's tine with you....great !

[DovieHarding]

Additionally, I think it's pretty stupid to DRIVE PAST a Publix 6 mins from my house, to a Wally's or an Aldi, say 16 miles round trip to save maybe 4 dollars on a TOTAL BILL - when gasoline is $3.50 per gallon, and I'm using oil, tire wear and putting miles on my vehicle - then, there is the hassle factor of traffic, parking, risks, and a little time called TIME. Oh well, that's just us. If my total bills at these alleged great discounters could 'save' say, 15 dollars IN TOTAL, we might think about it ! or if gasoline was $2.15 per gallon, that might factor in a different decision - maybe. We choose NOT to be 'penny wise and pound foolish'. To each his own I guess, lot of stupid people out there.

[beach43ofus]

Aldi costs ~40% less than Publix, and 20% less than Wal Mart.

I drive to Aldi and Walmart 2x/month & stock up since I have the money, & the storage space. I spend ~$200/trip.

That is $60 savings if averaged out...per trip, or ~$1,500 year. I have to make $2,000/yr to net $1,500.

They might be 4 miles further than the nearest high priced Publix, so I'm way ahead.

If you are driving further, you need to buy a lot more to justify the cost per mile.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by DovieHarding

Publix Supermarkets nine times out of ten. Clearly they do a good job and have a great reputation for high quality customer service. Places like Aldi don't even bag what you buy for godsake lol. If that's tine with you....great !

I prefer to bag my own groceries and I work two nights a week at publix. I don't like the way most baggers and cashiers just plop the stuff in the bags. In a hurry, putting fragile stuff in the same bags as a bottle of milk etc.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Aldi costs ~40% less than Publix, and 20% less than Wal Mart.

I drive to Aldi and Walmart 2x/month & stock up since I have the money, & the storage space. I spend ~$200/trip.

That is $60 savings if averaged out...per trip, or ~$1,500 year. I have to make $2,000/yr to net $1,500.

They might be 4 miles further than the nearest high priced Publix, so I'm way ahead.

If you are driving further, you need to buy a lot more to justify the cost per mile.

I'm lucky Wal-mart is just two miles from me and only two stop lights. Take me about 5 minutes usually to get there.

Been buying more of my meat and product at Farmer Joes in northern Cape Coral. Meat is about the same as Publix or a tad more sometimes but the quality is a lot better. It's also an easy drive for me and very few stop lights.

The paper plates and cups I buy at Dollar Tree a lot. Cheaper than Walmart and Publix and the exact same cups and plates.

[beach43ofus]

I shop every other week, & stock up. If there's a good sale on anything non-perishable, I might buy a 6-month supply.

Wow! I shopped yesterday, Aldi, & also bought 6 small items at Winn-Dixie (<$10).

Aldi prices were mostly unchanged, (Salmon keeps climbing though) but they were out of even more items than last time (skim milk, 1% milk, guac, some produce items).

Winn-Dixie prices were waaay up on everything...I can't imagine what Publix prices are now.

Food inflation has not peaked as of 2-11-23...still rising. I'll be living off my huge stockpiles of oatmeal, canned tuna & salmon for a long time it appears. Restaurants can also be a decent alternative, if you chose wisely.

[kramco]

Originally Posted by DovieHarding

Places like Aldi don't even bag what you buy for godsake lol. If that's tine with you....great !

That's what I like about Aldi! It's make thoughput at the cashier maybe 5X faster. The Aldi way is very smart since the checkout line is always the most frustrating part of any grocery store that doesn't do self checkout or that has lines at the self checkout section.* That and the shopping cart quarter that encourages people to bring back their shopping cart to the main stack in front of the store. And the much better prices.


I am a soon to be a former Californian. I'm here in California, with the heat turned on, right now clearing out my home to make the permanent move to Venice. This trip back to california I can't get out fast enough. Our shopping habits in California have been Trader Joes, Costco, and an ethnic produce store. Pretty much covered everything. Aldi's in Florida is a good substitute for TJ's (learned they have a literal brother relationship). But we also stop at TJ's in Sarasota when up there. And Detwillers.

* I had an observation at Winn-dixie a while back about how self checkout doesn't work too well in an area with an aging demographic, of which I am one. Lots of people aren't too speedy and end up needing help from the one employee working the self-check machines. I've been stuck in lines where half the self-checkout machines were bogged down with people needing help from the one guy. By the way, hat tip to that guy, or gal, or them/it.