Best Grocery Store 2012

We lived near one of the Super-Duper deluxe Wegman's outside of Buffalo.
They had taken an old, 2-story home supply store (think the size of Home Depot) and made a grocery out of it.
It was really the shining example of everything a grocery store could and should be.
A bakery as good as any free standing bakery around.
A fish counter with fish as good as any fishmonger sold.
Top quality butcher case.
Produce to beat any produce stand.
And so on.
I really miss it.

 

Around here the best price and selection is Winco. The only reason I shop at the local Walmart is convenience, as it all too often means getting something before I leave work.But the produce (selection and quality) sucks most days even considering the typical fluctuation you expect, and especially compared to the too high prices at Safeway that are almost worth it some days. I would choose the meat at Safeway over the options at walmart anytime.
There is the Co-op over in Moscow for those that prefer that,but my impressions when I have checked them out have been largely too high prices and foods & products I never buy or really care to. I am obviously not the customer they are looking for but this area is popular for their target base.
I have never heard of 7 of the ten stores listed in the OP,and only vaguely heard of this Trader Joe's place.

 

I haven't heard of any of the groceries on the list... but I find if I am willing to put the effort into finding a good one, I'm usually happy. Most of the time I am a religious farmers market shopper but that doesn't work the other half of the year, to which my own frozen food or pre-prepared meals will carry me. I will say though that the Sobeys that is near my house is by far my favourite out of Safeway, Co-op, Superstore or Walmart.... the only thing that they consistently don't have that I need is quinoa but I usually bulk up on that enough where it doesn't become a huge problem. Maybe depending on the amount I cook myself and the quality I look for would influence my decision a little better but there are only specialty stores in Calgary, Italian, Asian and Organic markets all of which lack certain necessities that I need.

 

I nearly had an orgasm the first time I walked into Wegmans while visiting my son in VA. I'm easy, evidently. But damn, what isn't there to like about it? A massive food court, fresh meat, a wide selection of fresh fish, a huge cheese department and beers from around the world. If there were one within 30 miles of me I would shop there.

 

Woohoo! Publix! They're big in the SouthEast, GA/FL area. I totally missed Publix while I lived in Maryland.

 

For those who can, I would suggest visiting Toronto to shop in a Loblaw's. Wegman's sounds like the Loblaw's of the US.

I haven't been to their newest store, which is located in the former Maple Leaf Garden's, but it sounds like a great shopping experience.

In Singapore, we have a Dean and Deluca opening in a few month's time. I am looking forward to checking it out.

 

What are we judging on? Price? Quality of food? Interior layout? Modern and new layout?

Whole Foods has the food I like, but I would have to go 3 times a week, and spend quite a bit. Meijer is my choice because it balances price and quality well. I need to go to the local farmers markets or to the farms themselves to pick more.

 

Loved Wegmans back in PA. Shaw's always sucked up in CT. Cheaper than others, and not as bad after they revamped it, but still nothing to write home about. Some of the Harris Teeter's around here are nice (albeit expensive), and Kroger's down in Houston was always a good balance between price and availability of items.

 

Wegman's sounds pretty awesome, but there aren't any in NC. Boo.

In Ohio, I absolutely loved our Kroger. Awesome produce selection, and they also had a neat little "marketplace" section that had all the organic vegetarian hippie stuff that I love

I was also a big fan of Jungle Jim's, but I didn't often have the money to shop there. I'd sometimes make the trip down just to peruse the olive bar... stuffed olives to die for, seriously.

 

Just out of the big 4, I would rank them:

Morrisons
Sainsbury's
Tesco
ASDA

I suspect this makes as much sense to most of the American people here than all of this does to me

(Wallmart owns ASDA now, so that's something in common...)

 

I lived in Ithaca, NY for several years, as a younger person. Shopping has not been the same since then, for me. A lot of those, outside of NY state, think it’s an expensive gourmet store, and avoid it. This is such a misconception! Wegman’s strives for excellence, not pompousness. If there is something you need, they deliver. I adore analyzing the thought processes behind the decision-making there. If they have fresh crusty bread featured, you’ll be sure to find a buttery Brie beside it. They cross all Ts and dot all Is. The Pittsford, NY Wegman’s keeps truffles in a clear locked case- for your drooling pleasure.

They have competitive prices, as long as you know what to avoid – some prepared foods. When I used to shop there, I never felt like I’d been screwed, because I always came home with delectables that kept me pumped for the whole week. Rocking breads, killer cheeses, and so many hearty and healthy choices.

Big love. Big.

 

When I am really busy or really lazy or just for the basics, I use Peapod delivery. Otherwise, its a trip across town to the Eastern Market. I recommend it to anyone visiting DC, even just for lunch.

I would also recommend looking into Community Supported Agriculture programs where you can buy shares or subscriptions in a local farm and get weekly delivery of the produce of the season. Some require a commitment for a 21-28 week growing season. The one I am a part of through my office has 7 week subscriptions for $160 for a half-share (half share provides enough for a 1-2 person household). It works out to approx. $23/week and each week I get a basket of about 7-8 veggies/fruit delivered to my office. A bit pricy, but great quality, variety and supporting local sustainable farming.

added: Orchard Country Produce - my CSA farm in PA that delivers to DC. The first 7-week subscription this year is June 4 - July 21 -- spring produce and strawberries and throughout the month of June and July progresses into early summer vegetables and fruits including cherries and apricots.