Grocery store snob

[EeyoreEma]

Am I the only one who is a grocery store snob? We moved to our town about 7 years ago and I am still not used to the stores here. We only have 3 to choose from - Wal-Mart, a local chain, and a Piggly Wiggly. None of the 3 are very nice, nor do they have great selection. Usually, we drive 45 mins to get to a Publix for our grocery shopping. This weekend, though, we couldn't make it so I went to the local chain. NO fat free sour cream (you could only buy the large tub of reduced fat), NO reduced fat cheese, NO fiber one bars, and the produce... Ugh. I had to throw about 1/3 of the mushrooms I bought out because they were just not good. I hardly bought any fruit because most of it looked awful. Thankfully my freezer was well stocked with meat. I guess the rest of the produce that I needed I'll find out about as the week goes on Yeesh, I went there because I knew Wal-Mart would be packed on a Saturday, but I had no idea there was such poor selection at the other store.

Please tell me I'm not the only grocery store snob. I'd be thrilled if we had a publix. I know we'll never get a Fresh Market or Earth Fare, but I surely do love it when we can get to those places!

 

[HeatherH]

I don't think it's snobbish at all to want decent fresh produce in a store! And to not have reduced and fat-free cheeses? Do they think NO ONE in your market area would want those items?

I completely agree with you, if I had those kind of choices I would be upset too. Luckily, where I live, there are TONS of markets, specialty markets, farmer's markets, etc. Healthy ingredients make healthy meals. I feel for you!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

I too live in a small town and really you should be thankful for what you have. My choices are a VERY small Albertsons and a small local grocer. Our closet Wal-Mart is a 3 hour round trip.

Given the choice I buy my meat directly from the farmer 2x a year and my freezer is full of meat. All summer I grow our own Vegatables and supplement from the farmers market and can & freeze as much summer goodness as I can.

Anything considered exotic (Avocados for example) in Northern Montana I have no choice I have to buy it where I can find it and in the winter when our fruit & vege supply gets low and driving 3 hours is not only irresponsible it can be dangerous.. I make do with what I can get.

Small town stores don't only have to pay big bucks to get their merchandise shipped to them off the beaten path in order to be there for the customer they also have limited space to have as much of what everyone wants as they can squeeze in.

You have already proved to not loyally shop local (which keeps the money in your town and helps these businesses survive & thrive and keeps your town alive) so why would the store stock your favorites? If you want non-fat sour cream and want it there maybe 2x a year when you need it..they cannot cost effectively stock it just for your occasional purchase. On the other hand if you shop local any small town grocery store whether it be chain (like our Albertson's) or locally owned will bend over backwards to make you happy. If for example you need soy milk, or non fat SC or organic vegetables and you let these local businesses know they WILL likely stock your wants & needs..if you shop there regularly for them having what their customers request is life & death.

I did not grow up this way. I grew up in Southern California where there were multiple choices minutes away. Then I lived in Arizona during the "Supermarket Wars" When to stay in business all the stores had to reduce prices and increase quality or be swallowed up by those that did. It is an adjustment living in smallish town America but there were reasons you did it.

 

[epcotprincess]

If I could personally justify the high prices, you'd never find me anywhere but Whole Foods.

I never used to shop at places like Kroger, but recently my Kroger got a very large natural and vegetarian/ vegan foods area with multiple aisles and many brands my family loves, so I go there now. (We are vegetarians.) It's great because I can get everything in one place now, whereas before I'd have to go to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's for the better selection of veg items and then a place like Meijer or Kroger for other things.

 

[tasha99]

Wanting clean, fresh food isn't being a snob. Neither is wanting a good smelling store. I refuse to buy anything that isn't packaged or canned at my local Albertsons. Sometimes I get such an obnoxious wiff from their seafood area, it makes me want to heave. I'm not the only one I know who notices this. I was told by a friend that it's because they don't break down the seafood counter every day to clean in the grooves. Yuck.

In my area, my favorite is Market of Choice. I rarely shop there except for items exclusive to their store (a particular local brand of salsa) or loss leaders. Wayyy to expensive, but they have good food.

 

[Minnie]

I don't see this as snobbish rather being used to availability of items.

We shop at the local butcher for specific proteins (no red meat), an orchard for the best applies you've ever tasted, etc. However my diet requires specialty products (gluten free, dairy free, etc) so I have to shop out of town for most of these products (local grocer sells Rice Milk but that's about it).

Supporting local stores is necessary for the local economy. However there is no reason not to order or shop out of the area for products that you need or choose

 

[Imzadi]

We have lots of smaller stores here. With such limited shelf space, they can't really stock a lot of varieties or specialty items. So things like reduced or low fat get left out.

But, not having fresh, quality items sounds awful. Probably not very many people shop there, so there is low turn over in selection of fresh stuff. That just makes the problem worse, as people won't go back.

 

[MIGrandma]

I don't think that wanting fat-free choices, and good produce, would be a "grocery store snob." Groceries are expensive, we all want to get the best for our buck, right?

We have a very good local store, that I shop at almost weekly. They recently changed their name, and are having "grand opening" specials, plus if you spend $75 you get a coupon for $1 off per gallon of gas so THAT is a BIG incentive to shop there since gas here is now $4.18/gallon.

I do shop at our local Wal-Mart for most staples, and in June the new supercenter will be opened across the road so I imagine I'll be buying most of my groceries there from then on. Except for produce and meat. I've never thought either of those were very good quality at the super Wal-marts.

We go to Meijer, about 45-minutes away, once a month or so. They have everything imaginable, and a wonderful produce section.

 

[monkeybug]

I am a grocery store snob!! We have the second largest Whole Foods in the country here, a Fresh Market, Trader Joes, and a Commisary (for cheap staples!)
Where we are moving has none of those things! BOO!!!
They have lot's of little mom and pop natural food stores, but they charge more than Whole Foods (who knew that was even possible?), so I plan on loading up on some things before we head out.
We bought a full share at a CSA so hopefully that means we will have nice produce.
I think I'm going to cry a little the last time I go into Whole Foods for two for Tuesday wood fire pizzas....

 

[golfgal]

In our old town none of the grocery stores had good produce or meat. We got our meat from a meat market or bought part of a cow. For produce I learned which days they got new produce in and bought on those days for the "best" selection and quality. Grocery stores can buy different quality produce and their price is based on that. The better stores buy A quality-which should be fresh, free from mold, etc. Most "discount' type stores buy B quality or lower which results in a shorter shelf life and the consumer ends up with a lot of waste. If I need really good produce I go to the upscale grocery store in the next town over (but it is only 8 miles from our house).

 

[Swan4Me]

Wow-my local Walmart would have all that stuff and great produce-you really must live in the boonies
I go to the upscale Fresh Market for baked goods and quick lunch

But I dont know if I'd drive 45 min with the price of gas like it is now

 

[Goofyluver]

Oh, do I ever understand!

It's not being snobby when all ya' have is crap to choose from, or if you're very limited in available merchandise.

Our tiny town has two teeny stores, with nothing in 'em.

I usually shop in the town where I work, instead.

 

[hulagirl87]

Consider me a snob! I don't know what I would do if we ever moved because leaving Wegmans would take some adjusting! Best grocery store ever!!! I happen to live closest to the biggest one in our town (sometimes that's not the best as it happens to be a tourist attraction) but it also gets the best groceries. if you can't find it there, you don't need it

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We have four main grocery store chains within 3 miles of us:

• Wegmans
• Price Chopper
• Tops
• Super Walmart

We ONLY shop at Wegmans because they carry the stuff we desire like organic foods including locally grown and more unique items like whole snapper, oysters, etc. Additionally their stores are clean, comfortable, employees are well trained and lines are very short. We actually live near the second largest Wegmans in the chain (Dewitt) and it's nice to have the selection of products that they do (had to change this as I guess the Leesburg Wegmans is 145,000 sq ft and ours is stated at 141,000 sq ft).

It's funny, we have a few friends who have moved to various places (ie. Long Island, DC, Orlando) and they all say the same thing, they miss Wegmans because outside of WholeFoods, no place comes close.

 

[bethd]

Count me as a snob too. Growing up in NJ we had Wegmans, Shop Rite and Trader Joes within 10 miles. Then we moved to Myrtle BEach and for the past 9 years I have dreaded grocery shopping. The choice of stores Kroger, Food Lion, Walmart and Piggly Wiggly all leave a lot to be desired. I shop at Kroger the most since it's the closest, but they are no bargain. Produce never looks fresh and seems to go bad so quick once you bring it home. Meat department is small and nasty so I buy most of our meat at CostCo.

I have on 2 occasions in the past year went to Charleston (2 hours each way) to shop at the closest Whole Foods. I love that store but with the price of gas, I can't justfy it anymore. A Fresh Market is opening 35 minutes away I will have to check that out after tourist season ends.

 

[The_Alice]

Nope, you're not alone. We make a weekly trip to the neighboring town to a Whole Foods store. The produce at our local grocer was simply awful: soft grapes, roots on the potatoes after only having them at home a couple of days, etc. We still buy our meat there because it is actually pretty good.

 

[Elmo9607]

I'm a bit snobbish. I love pretty much anywhere more than Wal-Mart. Whole Foods is my favorite but it's way, way too expensive for me to shop there for anything other than items I can't find anywhere else. We also have an AWESOME local grocery store at home called Caputo's (anyone who lives by Chicago would know about that one) that has everything under the sun.

Unfortunately, Wal-Mart is where I end up doing most of my shopping just because the other two are over an hour drive away.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Our small town has one large chain (DIRTY and lousy selection) and a couple of small locals ( NO selection and expensive).
I drive 20 miles to shop at Wegman's. They are my old reliable!