10 Grocery Chains In the US That Offer The Best Value & The 10 Most Expensive
Which Belong In Your Budget & Which Ones Break It?
Not every supermarket you walk into in the US will give you the same outcome when you walk out. While some will help you stretch your dollar, others will gobble it up with a vengeance. Today, with grocery prices in the country at an all-time high, it's more important than ever to know which ones will set you on your path to ruin, and which ones you can count on to help you save money. While the curated selection of gourmet items and perfect, shiny produce is nice to splurge on now and then, it's the down-to-earth, no-frills, treasure-hunting experience that enables millions of Americans to feed their families and make ends meet. Here are the 10 grocery chains that offer the best value and the 10 most expensive.
1. Trader Joe's
Who doesn't love Trader Joe's? The grocery chain offers high-quality products at incredibly competitive prices. Plus, it has a whole line of unique products you can't get anywhere else.
2. Costco
Costco is the quintessential American grocery store experience, offering an astonishing variety of products from quality meats to French wine to flat-screen TVs, and of course, everything comes in huge quantities. Customers pay a modest membership fee, which is a win-win for the company, which gets most of its profits from there, and for the customer, who saves a lot of money in the end.
3. Walmart
Walmart promises "everyday low prices," and it does not disappoint. Like Costco, it's a one-stop shop, but it doesn't require a membership to access the low prices.
4. WinCo Foods
WinCo Foods is a grocery chain primarily throughout the Western US. It's a no-frills, cash-only place with self-bagging and limited advertising, but the prices can't be beat. The company manages to sustain its low prices by cutting out the middlemen, buying directly from the source.
5. Aldi
Aldi is a German grocery store chain with over 2,000 stores in the US. Most of the products sold here are private label, allowing it to source directly and pass on savings to the customer. The pridcuts are surprisingly high quality for the price, and Aldi stores are renowned for offering an efficient and streamlined shopping experience.
RegionalQueenslander on Wikimedia
6. FoodMaxx
FoodMaxx is a grocery chain in California and Nevada operating under the umbrella company, Save Mart. The store's core mission is to provide the lowest possible prices, which it achieves by buying products in bulk. It also saves money by providing a no-frills shopping experience with limited decor and self-bagging, passing those savings onto the customer.
Food Maxx Supermarket on Wikimedia
7. Food Lion
Food Lion is a grocery chain primarily scattered around the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic US. It offers everyday low prices on surprisingly high-quality items, frequent sales and promotions, and an MVP program where you can save even more.
Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) on Wikimedia
8. Grocery Outlet
Shopping at Grocery Outlet is like a treasure hunt: if you're up for the challenge, you can discover overstock, close-dated, or closeout items for unreal prices. This includes gourmet items and specialty products like fine wines and premium olive oils that would otherwise be unaffordable for most people. It's rare to leave Grocery Outlet without feeling like a winner.
9. Meijer
Meijer is a supermarket chain predominantly in the Midwest. A trailblazer in the "one-stop shopping" experience, it holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans. The products here are known for being exceptionally high quality for the price, and the shopping experience is pleasant and customer-focused.
10. Price Rite
Price Rite is a discount grocery store chain found primarily in the Northeast. The chain's efficient operations, limited services, self-bagging, and reduced advertising allow it to offer customers incredibly competitive prices. There are also frequent sales and promotions where you can bag even more savings.
Now that we've covered some of the best value grocers in the US, let's talk about the ones you can't seem to enter without spending at least $100.
1. Whole Foods
Whole Foods was founded in Austin, Texas, as one of the first supermarket formats for the natural foods industry. Since then, it has grown into an international giant, offering high-quality, organic products for notoriously high prices, giving the store its nickname "Whole Paycheck."
2. The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market is America's version of a European boutique market, offering an upscale shopping experience with premium products and top-notch service. It's a great place to pick up high-quality, curated items, but you can expect a shockingly high grocery bill.
3. Erewhon
Erewhon is a high-end grocery store chain based in LA that's earned itself a cult following among Hollywood's elite. It's one of the most expensive grocery stores in the world, but the items on offer are as premium as it gets, like grass-fed meat, super high-quality prepared foods, and niche, specialty products.
4. Publix
Publix is primarily dotted around the Southeast. It's a grocery chain known for its exceptional customer service, quality produce, and custom-made deli sandwiches. It offers an elevated shopping experience, but it comes at a higher price point.
5. Gelson's Markets
Gelson's Markets is a grocery institution in Southern California and one of the most expensive supermarkets in the world. It offers gourmet specialty items at a high price point, catering to the region's elite.
6. Eataly
Eataly is an Italian marketplace and restaurant complex offering a combination of high-end groceries, imported products, and prepared meals. For groceries, it's certainly a pricier option, but you're paying for a full Italian culinary experience.
7. Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter is located in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic US. It's marketed as a premium grocer with exceptional customer service, high-quality cuts of meat, outstanding baked goods, and gourmet prepared foods, but at a much higher price point than conventional grocery stores.
8. Natural Grocers
Natural Grocers is a chain of grocery stores in the Western US marketed towards a higher-end demographic. The products here are certified organic, and the stores provide cooking classes and nutritional coaching. While more affordable than other high-end options like Whole Foods, it's still very expensive.
9. ACME Markets
ACME Markets is one of the grocery chains with the most loyal fan bases in the Mid-Atlantic. ACMEs are usually conveniently located in prime locations, and they have a great selection of meats, produce, and national brands, but most patrons feel the prices here are too high for what's on offer.
10. Bristol Farms
Yet another swanky premium grocery store based in California, Bristol Farms caters to an affluent clientele with a taste for the finer things. Their items are sourced from premium manufacturers, the stores are always pristine and beautifully decorated, and they have indulgent gourmet products on offer.
