I think it depends on what is on sale each week and what you are buying. There are times when Whole Foods has the best deals. You just have to look at the weekly ads online. Personally, I tend to buy whatever is on sale, stock up and plan meals accordingly.

In terms of quality, I find that it depends on the store and the area where you live. I really like the Giant near us and think their produce is decent but my husband feels that the meat at Safeway is superior to Giant. The HT near us has great produce but its not nearly as close as Giant or Safeway so I rarely go there unless we want a place to grocery shop and eat lunch.

In the end, I tend to shop at Giant 99% of the time because I know the store, I know the layout and they generally have everything I need/want (I live near a large Giant though). The time that I save in knowing exactly where to go to get what I want is worth a few extra pennies.

I'm not sure which Safeways you all shop at, but I always find Safeway to have the highest prices by far. I usually do Giant and Target.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - and it sounds like I should try Safeway more regularly. I have been a few times but Giant was just more convenient.

The Gas rewards a PP mentioned was one of the reasons I stuck to Giant but I never got close to $1 off of gas.

I could go to a Shoppers (actually the one mentioned by a PP at Seven Corners) but I find their fruit and produce to be of lower quality by the time I get to it and they also seem to never have everything I need on my list meaning I have to make a second trip to Giant anyway.

We do go to Trader Joes and Whole Foods for certain items once a month.

I noticed someone mentioned Magruders. I just realized there is one a few miles from me but haven't been there since I was a kid. Do they really have better produce?

Not sure where you are located, OP, but it sounds like maybe Arlington. If so, watch the prices at Safeway in Cherrydale. More than once things have been marked on sale, but then when I get to the register to pay, they come up full price. Their lines are also the worst, worst, worst. They are the only store with no self checkout and they are frequently under-staffed.

OP here - and it sounds like I should try Safeway more regularly. I have been a few times but Giant was just more convenient.

The Gas rewards a PP mentioned was one of the reasons I stuck to Giant but I never got close to $1 off of gas.

I could go to a Shoppers (actually the one mentioned by a PP at Seven Corners) but I find their fruit and produce to be of lower quality by the time I get to it and they also seem to never have everything I need on my list meaning I have to make a second trip to Giant anyway.

We do go to Trader Joes and Whole Foods for certain items once a month.

I noticed someone mentioned Magruders. I just realized there is one a few miles from me but haven't been there since I was a kid. Do they really have better produce?

Anonymous wrote:Is there an Aldi near you? Worth the drive, if not.....

Have tried several times to shop at Aldis. I don't get the attraction. They had very little produce....what do you buy there that's such a great deal?

Harris Teeter is expensive, but their sales are great - especially their Buy One Get One Free stuff. You only need to buy 1, and you still get it for half price. I just went there earlier in the week and saved $36 on an $80 bill.

Safeway

I don't have a Harris Teeter close by, but I feel that Giant has lower overall prices than Safeway. However, Safeway sale prices are better and their produce is better. I do the majority of my shopping at Giant (love the gas discount, too) and shop Safeway for the sales.