topic Re: Cheapest supermarkets in Community Chat

Cheapest supermarkets

feline groovy — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:12:21 GMT

Just a hopefully helpful thread about saving money that's applicable to some other states as well.

New Analysis Compares Prices At PA Supermarkets: Here's The Cheapest

Consumer advice website Checkbook recently compared area supermarket prices and quality. Here's how PA chains fared.

November 18, 2025

A new survey has revealed which Pennsylvania grocery stores offer shoppers the best value for their money — but they may also get what they pay for when it comes to product quality.

Consumer advice website Checkbook recently compared Delaware Valley area supermarket prices and quality. To determine where to find the best prices, the publication sent researchers to stores using a 150-item shopping list to compare prices.

To evaluate stores on the quality of products and service, Checkbook surveyed its members, according to the publication.

Discount grocery ALDI came in as the clear winner for best prices. For a family that typically spends $300 a week on groceries based on average prices, they could save nearly $5,500 a year by switching to ALDI.

Lidl came in second with an average annual savings of $4,056, followed by Amazon Fresh with savings of $2,496.

"For our shopping list, ALDI’s prices were 35 percent lower than the all-store average, and Lidl’s were 26 percent lower," Checkbook wrote. "ALDI’s per-unit prices were even lower than BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club."

Here's a look at the other Pennsylvania supermarkets where shoppers pay less and how much they would save annually by switching:

Grocery Outlet: $1,872
Walmart: $1,560
Food Lion: $1,092
Target: $624
Trader Joe's: $468
Wegman's: $156

On the other hand, there are several grocery chains where families would spend more each year if they chose to shop there. At the top of the list is Whole Foods, where shoppers pay nearly $5,000 more based on average prices. Acme came in second at $2,028, followed by McCaffrey's Food Markets at $1,872.

These are the other Pennsylvania supermarkets where shoppers pay more annually:

TheFreshGrocer: $936
Redner's: $468
Dollar General: $468
Weis Markets: $312
Giant Food: $156
ShopRite: $78

Unfortunately, Checkbook's report shows that shoppers can't have it all: The most affordable stores don't tend to offer the highest-quality products.

At ALDI, only 58 percent of survey respondents were satisfied with the quality of products offered at stores, compared to 80 percent at Whole Foods.

"Whole Foods built a loyal following by offering high-quality produce, meat, prepared foods and generic staples," Checkbook wrote. "It continues to receive high marks in our surveys of consumers, especially for produce and meat quality."

Wegman's is the only exception, according to the report. While Wegmans' prices aren’t among the lowest in the region, it remains competitive, and the chain has consistently earned high ratings from its customers for quality.

Meanwhile, most other large chains receive dreadful ratings from their customers for quality. Target scored lowest, while Acme, Food Lion, TheFreshGrocer, Walmart and Weis also got abysmal scores.

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Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

Shelbelle — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:00:45 GMT

We shop here in MD at Wegmans and believe it is on par with Walmart, and Wegmans offers the best service along with good pricing.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

Sweet Kitties — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:00:57 GMT

I stopped shopping at Target. I agree that their food prices are way too high. They also don't keep the shelves stocked well enough. Nothing more annoying that going to a store to buy something and several items aren't in stock.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

feline groovy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:06:00 GMT

Whole Foods aka "Whole Paycheck". ;-)

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

smoochy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:06:26 GMT

Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

haddon9 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:08:16 GMT

I'm in PA and this is where I shop:

Wegman's I find myself spending a lot here....lots of good prepared foods.

McCaffery's ..A small chain of about 8 stores two of which are local. A family owned market.

Organnon's....A single organic grocer 5 minutes from me

NoneSuch Market...a local farm market which is expensive but pretty good.

DH likes to go to the weekly farmer's market on Saturday mornings.

Then there is Costco for paper goods and large sized cleaning supplies and some frozen goods.

That's it. I have never shopped at Aldi's, Walmart or any of the other places mentioned. Most are just too far to be worth it to me. Costco is the only place on my list that I will drive 30 minutes to stock up.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

Sweet Kitties — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:11:10 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

Where I live, Aldi always has fresh dairy. A lot of people shop there so they have to keep restocking. I don't know about Walmart. I hardly shop there because it's more out of the way compared to several closer grocery stores to my house.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

Zhills — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:39:34 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

If you shop Publix BOGOs and Weekly ads you can actually pay less for your total grocery order! Quality is never a problem!

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

Laura14 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:51:50 GMT

Kroger has found its mind again and they aren't too bad with selection and quality if you take the time to clip the digital coupons beforehand.

I love Ingles, but the one near me closed down so they are a trek now.

Publix is Whole Foods here and they have a very small selection of overpriced everything. It's a status symbol and that's it.

Lately, I do Walmart. They seem to have gotten in line here since inflation got so bad. I was shocked in a good way at the meat prices which were not terrible for how much they gave you.

I just went to Aldi for the first time last week.. It reminds me of the Duane Reads in NYC. I'm not sure how people find a whole list in there. Maybe after you've hit the bar and need a snack or for a college kid, maybe. The staples of eggs and almond milk are the same price as Walmart where I can get everything in one trip. I really don't get it.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

matty liz — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:51:58 GMT

My success is at Kroger. The digital coupons each week and coupons they send me are so good. I also trust their brands. Must admit it depends on some locations

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

kitcat51 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:04:21 GMT

I'm pleased with the items I buy at Aldi & Walmart, I also shop at 2 privately owned grocery stores...I'm not paying more for groceries so I'm happy about that.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

smoochy — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:24:28 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
@smoochy wrote:
Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.
If you shop Publix BOGOs and Weekly ads you can actually pay less for your total grocery order! Quality is never a problem!

yes i do those things. And the shopping experience is always uplifting

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

Etoile308 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:28:40 GMT

To me there are too many undisclosed variables to make this survey worthwhile.

Yes, Aldi is great if you're not set on a specific brand. Dairy and cheeses are great, but many, many items I would never buy a second time.

Does anyone actually go to Target for their weekly shopping? Or is it a convenience stop to pick up a handful of items so you do t need to also stop at the grocery store on the way home? Yes, I know my milk is $.30 more there, but it's one stop and done. And if using one of their Red Cards there's 5% off and other savings tied to that card.

Larger grocery chains have customers loyalty programs that can save you money. Some with specific savings on items geared towards what you've purchased in the past. Many have system of accrued points for use towards reduction in cost or tied in with a gas pump price.

Even Whole Food can be more affordable if you shop their weekly sale items, especially if already a Prime member concentrating on those items.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

smoochy — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:36:02 GMT

and another thing does the less expensive store have everything on your list? My Walmart never does. I always have to end up at Publix to get what I need. Im talking about basic items. Sometimes they have it sometimes they don't

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

pigletsmom2 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:07:24 GMT

Aldi, Trader Joe's and Whole foods just aren't that convenient for me and Walmart is a chore. So we have Hannaford and Price Chopper (or Market 32 or whatever it's called now). Hannaford is the cheaper store on regular prices.

I really miss Shop Rite which returned here for about 10 years and then left. They had coffee on sale every week and I'd always buy it to have back up. And they had good sales on the other stuff I get.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

AuntG — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:30:56 GMT

All our basics are from Aldi. The things they don't carry come from a privately owned store in the same town. I track my grocery expenses monthly, and they've gone done just a bit. Could be due to the fact that I haven't been to the meat market in a long time. If we want steak, we go there because the quality is the best.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets -

addtothis — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:41:04 GMT

Publix BOGO is the best!!! Every Wednesday they have a new assortment of products listed for the week. We live in the Charleston SC metro and love Publix!!! Use to go to Shoprite in South Jersey and did not come close with quality nor selective products!!!!

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

Sooner — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:41:52 GMT

After we retired we found out we hated grocery shopping and have gone to all deliveries. We use a combo of Costco, Walmart, Sam's and Target. I believe that how much you spend on groceries depends on sales, what you buy, and how diligent a shopper you are.

Your dietary habits also determine how much you spend on groceries, along with how you manage the inventory and how you incorporate and repurpose leftover food.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

sunshine45 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:01:54 GMT

i am mostly a GIANT shopper, a FRESH MARKET shopper, and a SAFEWAY shopper.....occasionally i shop at SHOP RITE. we also have very nice smaller local grocery stores that have great items, especially prepared foods.

i dont really like shopping at ALDI at all. i dont think their produce is good, i dont like that they dont have a deli that slices fresh to order, and i dont like that they dont have a bakery.

i am not a big walmart or target shopper either.

Re: Cheapest supermarkets

Desertdi — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:00:59 GMT

GASOLINE is still around $5 in my neighborhood...so I go to the closest market!