Re: Trouble Finding Ingredients

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

Most of this seems to be about smaller more local brands and products that are relatively newer and not in common usage that a store might not invest in because of limited sales.

Stores have to carry so many more products now than 10 years ago that they can't stock it all and smaller local companies probably are more careful about inventory too.

Rockycoast · ‎03-02-2016

No, can't say we have had trouble finding any ingredients we need. Between the 2 grocery stores we shop, BJ's and Costco, we have had no problems with finding ingredients.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

@amyb wrote:
Yes. Ever since Covid times, my local grocery's (all of them) never went back to the usual consistency of availability of what used to be staple items in their stores.

Things I randomly can never find..
Buttermilk (not a staple in my home, but often I see a recipe I like and it has it in it. I know you can make it from vinegar and regular milk, I just never have tried that.)

Certain brand things...Silver Hills sprouted bread...used to always be at my Fresh Market...no more. At my other grocery it's touch and go with that, and never the one I used to like with zero sugar in it.

Amy's frozen meals...her Lite & Lean items never came back. I
even emailed them in 2022...at that time they said "pls be patient with us as we deal with getting back and having enough staff)...but I guess they just decided not to continue that line.
Amy's meals, in general, randomly you find certain ones, or some not at all, and when you do, they've almost doubled in price. I just won't pay almost $9 for something that used to be about $5. Occasionally I buy their mac & cheese, or veggie lasagna, which are less than others and always some of my favs. Good to have in the freezer when I don't want to cook, and want a quick, healthy meal.

There's other items too, I can't count on finding every week or even every month!

I have seen Marscapone lately! Ironically, it was at my Aldi the other day, however the 1/3 fat cream cheese I usually get there, and the organic cream, were both out the last two times.

@amyb I love my Amy's. I used to get the Family Size Enchiladas. These are always available at Walmart. I usually buy the single portions now at Publix. I love the Chili Relleno Caserole. It tastes as good as a Mexican restaurant's. I also love the Organic Lentil Soup in the brown can. I have bought cases on Amazon before or I'll just order a couple cans from Publix because of their price increases. The food is so much healthier than other brands. No additives, all organic, taste like scratch.

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

@Mindy D Thank you for all the Amy's tips!

Yes, I always used to get the single enchilada meal; it was one of my favs. I've been too cheap to pay the huge increase to get what used to be $5.50 almost $9 now! But I need to check a few other resources as you list below. I never think to go to Walmart, though people always are listing things I wouldn't have thought to buy there, and at better prices. We don't have Publix in CT, to my knowledge.

I just had Amy's lentil soup for lunch today! (low sodium today but I buy both) I love all her canned soups. Love the Southwest vegetable, the barley vegetable, the pea soup.

I eat mostly fresh food, unprocessed, that I make but when I want canned soups, or frozen meals, and don't feel like cooking and cleaning up, Amy's is my go-tos. You are right...better ingredients, less junk or additives. I also buy the burritos for a quick lunch sometimes.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@cindyNC wrote:
Absolutley - We live in a small NC city and all the supermarkets except Aldi, Walmart, Target and Food Lion are gone.

I have to drive 17 miles one way to Publix to find Cabot cheese, Voortman Oatmeal Cranberry cookies, Arugula and really good meat etc....I shopped our Aldi's once.......it was dirty and dumpy. Walmart is always a zoo.
There has definitely been a stigma with Aldi, in the past. Decades ago I tried shopping there snd I just couldn't, for the same reason. I never returned until this year, maybe 2022, and I'm glad I did. I have several locations to choose from within the region. Some are nicer than others and I do have my favorites, but overall I've been really happy with the quality and variety of offerings that fit well into my list of regular purchases. No, I can't get every single thing there, but I do get the lion's share of our groceries there.

We shop weekly at Aldi and kept telling our daughter she should at least give it a try.

Finally after 2 or 3 years she decided to try it and can't believe how much she can save.

She's a stay at home Mom so every little bit helps.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@amyb when you want to make buttermilk/sour milk just be sure to put the vinegar in the measuring cup first and then add the milk.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@cindyNC wrote:
Absolutley - We live in a small NC city and all the supermarkets except Aldi, Walmart, Target and Food Lion are gone.

I have to drive 17 miles one way to Publix to find Cabot cheese, Voortman Oatmeal Cranberry cookies, Arugula and really good meat etc....I shopped our Aldi's once.......it was dirty and dumpy. Walmart is always a zoo.
There has definitely been a stigma with Aldi, in the past. Decades ago I tried shopping there snd I just couldn't, for the same reason. I never returned until this year, maybe 2022, and I'm glad I did. I have several locations to choose from within the region. Some are nicer than others and I do have my favorites, but overall I've been really happy with the quality and variety of offerings that fit well into my list of regular purchases. No, I can't get every single thing there, but I do get the lion's share of our groceries there.
We shop weekly at Aldi and kept telling our daughter she should at least give it a try.
Finally after 2 or 3 years she decided to try it and can't believe how much she can save.
She's a stay at home Mom so every little bit helps.

The same thing happened with us and our DD. She was out of work due to being injured in a car accident. We told her we'd bring her to get groceries. In my head, I was thinking Aldi but she wanted the big supermarket. DH said not to make an issue if it. So we did the first round. She couldn't work for three weeks so I offered one more grocery trip, but said it had to be Aldi's. She couldn't believe it either and now is a convert and telling all of her friends. 😄