I love food. I'm sure you do too. It's something we all, more or less, have in common. Yes, of course, some eat more of it, and those who eat different types, but we all have to agree, we all love food. Well, I now live in a different city than I have lived in for over 11 years. Before I lived in the bigger city of Oklahoma City, I was in a large city in Indiana, and I never got around to doing much of a food comparison because it didn't interest me. I would buy something at this or that store, and if I found it cheaper somewhere else, I wasn't going to drive around town to pick it up because it would waste time, energy, gas, etc.
Now that I'm older, living in a smaller town and able to do so, I have been checking the prices of food at the local United Supermarket, whose name brand is Best Choice. I think Best Choice is mainly associated with a group called "Associated Wholesale Grocers". Homeland stores carry the brand as well. We have one about 1.5 miles from my house. I pulled into the parking lot today around 9:30 a.m. (Saturday) And I counted the cars. There were 12. Twelve cars, and that did include the workers as well.
I walked around the brightly lit store, and I was virtually alone. I had a list, a prepared list of things we needed, but also things I hadn't recently purchased anywhere. I wanted to get my long receipt and compare the prices with both Walmart and Kroger to see which store(s) were cheapest and most reliable. The result of my little experiment may or may not shock you. I was able to get everything on my list, and then I picked up something else that was NOT on the list, but I absolutely could not have refused it -- they were not only on sale, but they were also practically giving them away.
Frito brand chips were 3/$5.00, and they are the 9.25 oz size bags! You bet I did that. I bought the honey BBQ twists, the chili cheese, and a bag of original chips so I can make Frito pies. I never buy corn chips, but did today! Laura was quite happy when she saw them. At $1.66 a bag, I'm not saying no. Someone I know says, "You can't leave them on the shelf at that price", and I agree wholeheartedly. They came home with me, along with beef franks, Polish sausage, olives, pickles, frozen veggies, milk, sour cream, butter, and a few other things that you can get at all three of the stores I was using for the comparison.
Once finished, my bill was $119.35 after tax. Oklahoma doesn't charge a food tax, but there is still a city and county tax to pay. I'm happy it was only 4.5%. It makes a difference when you shop online at Kroger, and they charge more. Walmart had literally everything United had, no exceptions, but their Frito products were upward of $3.79. Where that's not a bad price, we just never buy corn chips. Now, I suppose if I'm driving around and get a hankering for corn chips, I'll pull into United before I pull into Walmart. They are also located closer to the front of the store.
OK, so here's the final tally -- and like I said, it may or may not surprise you. United is 3% cheaper than Walmart (generally speaking) on the items that I purchased, but there were several times that Walmart was cheaper. It's just that what I ended up buying today favored United. If I shopped mostly at Walmart for staples like flour, sugar, meats, and produce, Walmart would win every time. Kroger, sadly, even though I wanted it to be different, failed. They are upwards of 27% higher than United and 22% - 25% higher than Walmart. Then, when you tack on the tax and tip -- well, they lose.
We recently bought a week's worth of groceries at Kroger, just to get things started at the new home. I paid $102.00, and it lasted 6 or 7 days. I just spent $119 at United, but I didn't buy the meats or produce, so I can't say for sure how long it will last. I'm positive, however, that if I were to buy my meats and produce at United, it would be at least 10% higher than Walmart. I do have the added benefit of going to a store that is virtually empty, and I can get in and out without any issue. That is a big factor, and it will make a difference depending on when I'm out and about doing my weekly shopping.
Walmart, unlike Kroger or United, has many more things in the store to pick up if I'm already there. I could never, and I mean never, do that in Oklahoma City proper, for fear of being followed, stalked, or even accosted. Any store that has to have metal detectors and people scanning your receipts to see if you stole from them is not a place I want to shop at or give my money to. I want peace. I want tranquility. I like good, friendly, genuine customer service, and I get it at both the El Reno Walmart and United Supermarket. (I get it at Kroger too, but that's because it's online shopping.)
There you have it. United for the win if I'm running in to pick up this or that. Walmart is my main shopping spot, and I don't think I'll hit up Kroger again. Sadly, they are probably out the door. They do, however, have orange DreamCycle ice cream, and I can't get that at United or Walmart. It's a sad thing, but true. I have Braum's! I don't know if they have that flavor, but I can write to them and ask them to start making it. When I tell you it's great, you have to know, it is SO VERY wonderful.
Photo Credit: Me
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