Say goodbye to Waitrose, Tescos and Sainsburys and hello to a whole new way of shopping. As with supermarkets at home, your shopping habits are dependant on your budget, which shops are nearest and what your tastes are. American Supremarkets aren"t exactly a one stop-shop experience -no filling up with petrol straight after filling the car with food, no more buying clothes and cucumbers in the same shop . Shopping trolleys ( sorry carts!) tend to be smaller than the ones in the UK and the package sizes are bigger (milk comes in quart volumes not pints!), so I find myself making more trips to the shops than I would at home. I also seem to visit more types of food shop to get fruit and veg, organic and the occasional treats ( there isnt't the same "Taste the Difference" type product that most of the supermarkets have at home).
Most supermarkets here have loyalty cards. Beware, if you don't have the loyalty cards, shopping can be very expensive so it's worth signing up on your first shopping trip. These will give you access to lower prices and advertised special offers. Discounts are often advertised as "buy 10 for $10" but that does not mean that you need to buy 10. Each of the items will be $1, though this is often only availableto loyalty card holders,
Giant: Large supermarket, often in precincts with a CVS drug store near by. Loyalty card gives you discounts on petrol at Shell Garages. Giant has an internet home delivery arm called Peapod. They also have hand scanners for you to scan as you shop. Hand the scanner to a cashier - you can take it though the 12 items or less aisle!- pay, and away you go! For parents this can be a lifesaver. Giant often has a small section ( usually a bookshelf at the end of an aisle) with some selected British products such as Marmite, Chicken Bisto, Roses Marmalade and chocolate fingers.
Safeways: Just like Safeways at home. Loyalty card gives you access to instore discounts. Also does home delivery.
Wholefoods: Often seen as the mecca of organic and wholesome foods. Their fresh foods are great. Good organic meat range and fish counters that display the sustainability of the fish available. Lovely bread and cakes counter. But you would struggle to do your weekly shop there if you required anything by Heinz!
Balducci's: Once again, you wouldn't do your entire weekly shop here. But this is great for fresh food and their deli counter is great. It has a loyalty card but the rewards only kick in after you spend $250.
Trader Joes: Organic and Eclectic products. Trader joes offers a smaller range of products than most of the other supermarkets and the majority of the lines are own label.
Harris Teeter : great shop for snacking as you go round. The fresh fruit and veg section always has several types of fruit cut up for tasting and there's always crackers, cheese and food being cooked as you go round. A great one for taking the kids and keeping them happy!
Wegmans: These are few and far between. But everyone I know who has been to one raves about it. Quality foods, friendly staff and a large range of produce. Some stores have kidzones wher you can drop kids off to play while you shop.
Costco: Wholesaler that anyone can join for $55 annual fee. This gives you access to packs of 50 toilet rolls and kiwis that come in boxes of 25.
Most supermarkets here have loyalty cards. Beware, if you don't have the loyalty cards, shopping can be very expensive so it's worth signing up on your first shopping trip. These will give you access to lower prices and advertised special offers. Discounts are often advertised as "buy 10 for $10" but that does not mean that you need to buy 10. Each of the items will be $1, though this is often only availableto loyalty card holders,
Giant: Large supermarket, often in precincts with a CVS drug store near by. Loyalty card gives you discounts on petrol at Shell Garages. Giant has an internet home delivery arm called Peapod. They also have hand scanners for you to scan as you shop. Hand the scanner to a cashier - you can take it though the 12 items or less aisle!- pay, and away you go! For parents this can be a lifesaver. Giant often has a small section ( usually a bookshelf at the end of an aisle) with some selected British products such as Marmite, Chicken Bisto, Roses Marmalade and chocolate fingers.
Safeways: Just like Safeways at home. Loyalty card gives you access to instore discounts. Also does home delivery.
Wholefoods: Often seen as the mecca of organic and wholesome foods. Their fresh foods are great. Good organic meat range and fish counters that display the sustainability of the fish available. Lovely bread and cakes counter. But you would struggle to do your weekly shop there if you required anything by Heinz!
Balducci's: Once again, you wouldn't do your entire weekly shop here. But this is great for fresh food and their deli counter is great. It has a loyalty card but the rewards only kick in after you spend $250.
Trader Joes: Organic and Eclectic products. Trader joes offers a smaller range of products than most of the other supermarkets and the majority of the lines are own label.
Harris Teeter : great shop for snacking as you go round. The fresh fruit and veg section always has several types of fruit cut up for tasting and there's always crackers, cheese and food being cooked as you go round. A great one for taking the kids and keeping them happy!
Wegmans: These are few and far between. But everyone I know who has been to one raves about it. Quality foods, friendly staff and a large range of produce. Some stores have kidzones wher you can drop kids off to play while you shop.
Costco: Wholesaler that anyone can join for $55 annual fee. This gives you access to packs of 50 toilet rolls and kiwis that come in boxes of 25.
