Food4Less?

[yipee]

Anyone ever walk to the Food4Less on Katella for groceries? I've seen Vons, Instacart and Prime Now mentioned a lot for grocery delivery, but we're from Canada... not sure if we'll be able to order? We have a vegan in our group, and I want to make sure she has lots to eat while we're there...

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[bcla]

I haven't seen one for a while. It's now owned by Kroger, which isn't in my area. I'm more familiar with similar stores like FoodMaxx (Save Mart), Pak 'N Save (Safeway owned), and Winco Foods. The Food4Less locations that were around my area are gone. It's kind of a low to no frills supermarket where customers are expected to bag themselves. I believe the regular checkouts would have a divider where the previous customer can be bagging while the next customer is getting items rung up. It should be fine but it's going to be a different experience than a typical supermarket.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Posters from Canada have said that they've been able to place online orders to DLR area hotels. I think there is a trick about which zip code you enter. Maybe someone who's done this can post about it here. There is a Target about one mile south of the parks on Harbor, if you think you might want to take Uber/Lyft there to stock up on groceries. Food4Less is "no frills" as the pp described. For lots of vegan items, you might have better luck at the Sprouts on Harbor in Fullerton, about 10 minutes north of the parks. They carry lots of health food type items. You can look at their website to see if they carry what you want.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Food4Less (F4L) is Ralph's sister grocery chain; as mentioned, it's owned by Kroger, which has steadily downsized both chains since acquiring them twenty years ago. Most of F4L's locations are in/around Los Angeles, although there's a few outliers, such as this location. "Once upon a time," F4L had its own brands, its own inventory and its own grade of produce, but today it's largely the same as Ralph's. That's good news, because F4L is much cheaper (especially on health & beauty items). Most items at F4L are cheaper than even Walmart and Target, and the grade of produce is superior to that of Walmart's.

This particular F4L uses a format that caters to the Hispanic community (the area surrounding Disneyland has become majority Hispanic in recent years, and the legacy Ralphs, Vons/Pavilions, Albertsons/Lucky, etc. have become mostly local Hispanic grocers) so you'll see a lot of Hispanic groceries, including the service meat department. Some of the meat is of a lower grade than what's sold at Kroger stores, and probably what you're use to, so be careful with your selections. And although the store has a large selection of organic produce and other pricier groceries, it carries a limited assortment of premium, and virtually no gourmet, groceries. Most shelving is warehouse-style, and inventory assortment generally favors lower-cost goods (think larger selection and variety of cheap laundry detergents than Tide). Carts are oversized and are free (they don't require a deposit), there are no self-checkouts but you do need to bag your own groceries. As with any other grocery stores in California, you will need to pay for bags if you don't bring your own.

I don't think F4L delivers, but I know Walmart, Ralphs and Vons do. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, Amazon Fresh is now included in SoCal. Unless you're limiting yourself to sale items, Ralphs and Vons aren't particularly cheap (but Ralphs is less expensive)... and often what's on sale, isn't discounted for delivery. IMO, I'd recommend taking a ride share to Aldi or Walmart Neighborhood Market (both are a couple miles from the Resort) -- you'd save a lot of money over delivery. F4L is also a very good option.

 

[SeaDis]

I would not walk it unless you are staying on that southwest corner of the park. Those are long city blocks; It's a 2 mile walk from HOJO, for example. Carrying back groceries is the other issue.

Grocery services are based on your delivery address (hotel) so I don't "think" you would have a problem, but not sure. You might try to order from .com instead of .ca ?

Otherwise, I second the Uber/Lyft idea. Another idea: Check out Go Lansky (formerly DK Livery) for your ride from the airport. It's a little more money but they will make a 20-minute grocery stop on request, included in price. They've been around a long time.

 

[mich311e]

Side note, since you have a vegan in your group: https://happiestveganonearth.com/

 

[Becca1007]

+1 for the Sprouts store for Vegan options.

 

[LizzyS]

I haven't seen one for a while. It's now owned by Kroger, which isn't in my area. I'm more familiar with similar stores like FoodMaxx (Save Mart), Pak 'N Save (Safeway owned), and Winco Foods. The Food4Less locations that were around my area are gone. It's kind of a low to no frills supermarket where customers are expected to bag themselves. I believe the regular checkouts would have a divider where the previous customer can be bagging while the next customer is getting items rung up. It should be fine but it's going to be a different experience than a typical supermarket.

I'm still salty my Food4Less here closed years ago. The prices were great and the store closest to my house was nice and large.

*cries*

 

[bcla]

I'm still salty my Food4Less here closed years ago. The prices were great and the store closest to my house was nice and large.

*cries*

I'm OK with it not being around me. There are similar no frills supermarkets. My personal favorite is WInco Foods. On our last trip to Disneyland I was hoping to go to one on the way just to get assorted stuff like their bulk items. There really are none within 40 miles miles of where I live.

 

[LizzyS]

I'm OK with it not being around me. There are similar no frills supermarkets. My personal favorite is WInco Foods. On our last trip to Disneyland I was hoping to go to one on the way just to get assorted stuff like their bulk items. There really are none within 40 miles miles of where I live.

In the area close to my home, we just don't have that anymore since Food4Less left. We have a Winco, but I've never been. How is the pricing there? For some reason, I thought they sold a lot in bulk; is that true?

 

[bcla]

In the area close to my home, we just don't have that anymore since Food4Less left. We have a Winco, but I've never been. How is the pricing there? For some reason, I thought they sold a lot in bulk; is that true?

Pricing is good at Winco, but the one caveat is that they don't accept credit cards - just cash or debit. The specials at Winco are very good, and their regular pricing is exceptional. However, I haven't seen any place with as a extensive a bulk item selection.

 

[Aurora0427]

Food4Less (F4L) is Ralph's sister grocery chain; as mentioned, it's owned by Kroger, which has steadily downsized both chains since acquiring them twenty years ago. Most of F4L's locations are in/around Los Angeles, although there's a few outliers, such as this location. "Once upon a time," F4L had its own brands, its own inventory and its own grade of produce, but today it's largely the same as Ralph's. That's good news, because F4L is much cheaper (especially on health & beauty items). Most items at F4L are cheaper than even Walmart and Target, and the grade of produce is superior to that of Walmart's.

This particular F4L uses a format that caters to the Hispanic community (the area surrounding Disneyland has become majority Hispanic in recent years, and the legacy Ralphs, Vons/Pavilions, Albertsons/Lucky, etc. have become mostly local Hispanic grocers) so you'll see a lot of Hispanic groceries, including the service meat department. Some of the meat is of a lower grade than what's sold at Kroger stores, and probably what you're use to, so be careful with your selections. And although the store has a large selection of organic produce and other pricier groceries, it carries a limited assortment of premium, and virtually no gourmet, groceries. Most shelving is warehouse-style, and inventory assortment generally favors lower-cost goods (think larger selection and variety of cheap laundry detergents than Tide). Carts are oversized and are free (they don't require a deposit), there are no self-checkouts but you do need to bag your own groceries. As with any other grocery stores in California, you will need to pay for bags if you don't bring your own.

I don't think F4L delivers, but I know Walmart, Ralphs and Vons do. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, Amazon Fresh is now included in SoCal. Unless you're limiting yourself to sale items, Ralphs and Vons aren't particularly cheap (but Ralphs is less expensive)... and often what's on sale, isn't discounted for delivery. IMO, I'd recommend taking a ride share to Aldi or Walmart Neighborhood Market (both are a couple miles from the Resort) -- you'd save a lot of money over delivery. F4L is also a very good option.

This is seriously such a helpful post for this new San Diegan in my regular life! We’ve been killing our wallets grocery shopping... really missing our HEB back in Texas. We are stuck with Ralph’s or Vonn’s in our neighborhood, but there’s an Aldi and a Stater Bros not too far away, and we have Food 4 Less too. May have to branch out!

 

[Fuzeon]

Piggybacking on another thread. How do you have groceries delivered via Amazon Fresh to the GC? Do you just order and set delivery address as the hotel address. Does the front desk call you when they’ve arrived?

thank you for your help!

 

[LizzyS]

Pricing is good at Winco, but the one caveat is that they don't accept credit cards - just cash or debit. The specials at Winco are very good, and their regular pricing is exceptional. However, I haven't seen any place with as a extensive a bulk item selection.

Ah, crap! I use my credit card everywhere for the rewards. Thanks for the info, anyway. I'll have to check it out sometime.

 

[SeaDis]

Piggybacking on another thread. How do you have groceries delivered via Amazon Fresh to the GC? Do you just order and set delivery address as the hotel address. Does the front desk call you when they’ve arrived?

thank you for your help!

1) Set address to GCH
2) GCH will accept groceries and put in cold storage if they deliver before you arrive (note this in the order comments). If there is alcohol in order, you need to be there to sign for it or the order will be returned. If in storage, use bell services desk to retrieve or deliver them to room.
3) Amazon app gives alerts and shows real-time delivery status and driver location during your delivery window. Use this to know when to meet them at the porte cochere.

 

[Fuzeon]

1) Set address to GCH
2) GCH will accept groceries and put in cold storage if they deliver before you arrive (note this in the order comments). If there is alcohol in order, you need to be there to sign for it or the order will be returned. If in storage, use bell services desk to retrieve or deliver them to room.
3) Amazon app gives alerts and shows real-time delivery status and driver location during your delivery window. Use this to know when to meet them at the porte cochere.

Thank you! We will do this to save time and money at breakfas.

 

[yipee]

Side note, since you have a vegan in your group: https://happiestveganonearth.com/

Thanks for that link! Great information!!!

 

[SeaDis]

Thank you! We will do this to save time and money at breakfas.

For us, it's a must. Just be aware of your fridge size (mini) if staying in typical room. Go for 1/2 gallon milk to fit in the door, etc. Or pack a soft cooler and use the ice machine as needed.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

This is seriously such a helpful post for this new San Diegan in my regular life! We’ve been killing our wallets grocery shopping... really missing our HEB back in Texas. We are stuck with Ralph’s or Vonn’s in our neighborhood, but there’s an Aldi and a Stater Bros not too far away, and we have Food 4 Less too. May have to branch out!

Native San Diegan here. I shop 90% at Trader Joe’s now that there is pretty much one in every neighborhood here. Occasionally, they won’t have some things, it’s usually a specific spice. I go to Vons for those things. I have experienced the opposite of what the poster above said, Vons and their now “sister” store Albertsons have better prices than Ralph’s here, with Albertsons having the lower of the three. I tried Food4Less a couple years ago and Aldi when it first opened, but was very disappointed in their produce selection. We buy primarily organic and they just didn’t stock enough of it to make it worth shopping there.

 

[bcla]

Native San Diegan here. I shop 90% at Trader Joe’s now that there is pretty much one in every neighborhood here. Occasionally, they won’t have some things, it’s usually a specific spice. I go to Vons for those things. I have experienced the opposite of what the poster above said, Vons and their now “sister” store Albertsons have better prices than Ralph’s here, with Albertsons having the lower of the three. I tried Food4Less a couple years ago and Aldi when it first opened, but was very disappointed in their produce selection. We buy primarily organic and they just didn’t stock enough of it to make it worth shopping there.

Since Safeway (which included Von's and Pavilions) sold out to the Albersons parent company they haven't really changed that much that I can tell. What have they done to Von's and Pavilions? Safeway still has its HQ in Pleasanton but I've seen the labels for house brands now don't mention Safeway Stores but "Better Living Brands" with a Pleasanton address.

I'm not really much for big supermarket produce. We've got local produce sellers in my area like Berkeley Bowl or a smaller place called Monterey Market that really specialize in high quality produce at better prices.