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Groceries: Publix or Walmart?

grip

grip

Slow 🅖 Hand
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FL - Daytona
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We don't have Kroger's, Safeway or other grocery chains here in central FL. We had an Albertson's and Food Lion for awhile. Winn Dixie is just not that good, cheap or convenient, so I don't consider them. Publix has always been a premier food store and though Walmart has plenty of similar name brands, often at better prices, their bakery used to be one of the reasons I wouldn't shop there. It was terrible cakes, pies and bread. And there are several brands of foods I like that Walmart simply doesn't carry.

But their bakery, a couple years ago, had suddenly gotten dramatically better than Publix's even. Their breads, desserts and even rotisserie chicken is better. I can save an average of $20-$30 -per weekly order- over Publix and will have to either, get my missing items at Publix or forgo them.

What do you think of the groceries at Walmart and have you tried their Pumpkin Roll?
 
I might be a bit biased but I like the walmart grocery
 
grip said:
We don't have Kroger's, Safeway or other grocery chains here in central FL. We had an Albertson's and Food Lion for awhile. Winn Dixie is just not that good, cheap or convenient, so I don't consider them. Publix has always been a premier food store and though Walmart has plenty of similar name brands, often at better prices, their bakery used to be one of the reasons I wouldn't shop there. It was terrible cakes, pies and bread. And there are several brands of foods I like that Walmart simply doesn't carry.

But their bakery, a couple years ago, had suddenly gotten dramatically better than Publix's even. Their breads, desserts and even rotisserie chicken is better. I can save an average of $20-$30 -per weekly order- over Publix and will have to either, get my missing items at Publix or forgo them.

What do you think of the groceries at Walmart and have you tried their Pumpkin Roll?
Click to expand...

Walmart. *sigh* A necessary evil, I think. I really don't like going there, because mostly the customers are rude, the staff is rude, the aisles are narrow and the stock is never where it should be. But I do have to shop there from time to time.

I love Publix. I do. I love their bakery, and their jalapeno cheddar bread is just amazing. Their deli is great, their sandwiches and chicken tenders are some of the best I've had. But they are definitely pricey.

I am lucky, and get to shop at the Commissary. I usually shop there for everything, and then run to the Winn Dixie that is a half-mile away for fresh things I need during the week, like fruit and veg. Publix is a place I go if I want something really nice, something that is really "pampering" to me. Nice breads, delicious seafood salad, etc.
 
Publix is perhaps the best grocery store on earth. Hardly expensive because about a third of the store is usually a buy 1 get 1 free deal, or on sale in some other way. Always clean, always well stocked and organized. If there were a Publix around I would never shop anywhere else, certainly not Walmart.
 
Mizuho said:
Publix is perhaps the best grocery store on earth. Hardly expensive because about a third of the store is usually a buy 1 get 1 free deal, or on sale in some other way. Always clean, always well stocked and organized. If there were a Publix around I would never shop anywhere else, certainly not Walmart.
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I disagree. I was in Publix tonight, and the only stuff they have on sale are the prepared, processed stuff like canned soup and bags of cookies or cakes. For real food, it's rarely on sale for a decent price, and never buy one, get one free.
 
Superfly said:
Walmart. *sigh* A necessary evil, I think. I really don't like going there, because mostly the customers are rude, the staff is rude, the aisles are narrow and the stock is never where it should be. But I do have to shop there from time to time.

I love Publix. I do. I love their bakery, and their jalapeno cheddar bread is just amazing. Their deli is great, their sandwiches and chicken tenders are some of the best I've had. But they are definitely pricey.

I am lucky, and get to shop at the Commissary. I usually shop there for everything, and then run to the Winn Dixie that is a half-mile away for fresh things I need during the week, like fruit and veg. Publix is a place I go if I want something really nice, something that is really "pampering" to me. Nice breads, delicious seafood salad, etc.
Click to expand...

Holy ****, you nailed the Walmart staff down pat. I think it's the cheap wages and general atmosphere created by upper management? Publix staff are a delight in comparison, cleaner store, deli is A#1 and I'm just hooked on their variety, Publix generic brands and organized isles. Unlike Walmart, they almost never change where to find stuff. Though, Publix cakes and pies are still better, I find their baked breads to have too hard a crust. If I had dentures, they end up on the floor from trying chomp thru that leather.

Wally World is a necessary evil for now. If Publix would just come down a little more in overall prices, though their '2 for one's' are usually a buy when I can get them.

I sure won't buy hamburgers or other food at McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's anymore, they have burnt their bridges with me and their cheapness. :(
 
grip said:
Holy ****, you nailed the Walmart staff down pat. I think it's the cheap wages and general atmosphere created by upper management? Publix staff are a delight in comparison, cleaner store, deli is A#1 and I'm just hooked on their variety, Publix generic brands and organized isles. Unlike Walmart, they almost never change where to find stuff. Though, Publix cakes and pies are still better, I find their baked breads to have too hard a crust. If I had dentures, they end up on the floor from trying chomp thru that leather.

Wally World is a necessary evil for now. If Publix would just come down a little more in overall prices, though their '2 for one's' are usually a buy when I can get them.

I sure won't buy hamburgers or other food at McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's anymore, they have burnt their bridges with me and their cheapness. :(
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There's no such thing as a free lunch. :lol:

And we like crusty bread. Publix is the only place we can get it down here. It's a New York thing, and we don't have a lot of bakeries here.

I do like how Publix is brighter, cleaner and friendlier. A lot like most Targets I've ever shopped at, although the one here where I live is pretty rough. You wouldn't think Target would be rough, but it is. Not as bad as Walmart, but still rough.
 
Superfly said:
I disagree. I was in Publix tonight, and the only stuff they have on sale are the prepared, processed stuff like canned soup and bags of cookies or cakes. For real food, it's rarely on sale for a decent price, and never buy one, get one free.
Click to expand...

I don't live in a place with Publix anymore but the one where I used to live regularly had fresh produce and meats on sale. I'm not a very picky eater though so I would shop around the buy 1 get 1 free deals. Publix branded stuff is also just as good, if not better in many cases, than whatever name brand I preferred.
 
Superfly said:
There's no such thing as a free lunch. :lol:

And we like crusty bread. Publix is the only place we can get it down here. It's a New York thing, and we don't have a lot of bakeries here.

I do like how Publix is brighter, cleaner and friendlier. A lot like most Targets I've ever shopped at, although the one here where I live is pretty rough. You wouldn't think Target would be rough, but it is. Not as bad as Walmart, but still rough.
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I knew the crusty bread thang had to be a matter of taste, but it's gotten worse over the years at our local branch. I simply like the softer crust, because when you bite down on a sammich, the fillings don't squeeze out. And it's not an exercise in mastication.

Our Target is on the main stretch of town that was high end retail, but it's gotten to be a seedy area. And our Walmart is, literally, right across from the Publix but the parking lots, especially at night, are completely different in aspect. The Walmart customers are ruder, nastier and as unhappy as the staff, plus they speed thru the lots. I live in the upper end of living quality in our town, and can't imagine what the older areas are like anymore, because it don't feel safe out there like it used too?



Mizuho said:
I don't live in a place with Publix anymore but the one where I used to live regularly had fresh produce and meats on sale. I'm not a very picky eater though so I would shop around the buy 1 get 1 free deals. Publix branded stuff is also just as good, if not better in many cases, than whatever name brand I preferred.
Click to expand...

Walmart produce and meats are substantially better than other cheaper stores and at a midway level for Publix. But Publix's, overall variety, and top level is much better. For instance, a Porterhouse at Publix is going to be a different taste experience than a Porterhouse from Walmart. And some cuts they don't even provide.
 
I shop at Wal-mart and some of the local chain stores for groceries, Despite what Wal-mart says they do not always have the lowest prices and many times do not have things many of the other stores have.
 
jamesrage said:
I shop at Wal-mart and some of the local chain stores for groceries, Despite what Wal-mart says they do not always have the lowest prices and many times do not have things many of the other stores have.
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I agree, their pricing is up and down on many items, you've got to pay attention before just blanket shopping for all your needs in one place. And that's one of the big complaints I have, that apparently a lot of manufacturers don't sell to Walmart, probably, because they're not willing to take the cost cutting for a deal. I imagine, Walmart either gets it on the cheap or they won't buy, which is a lot of leverage with all their store purchasing power.

For now, I've found them a necessity, rather than lurching all over at Dollar Stores for deals. But a time will hopefully come that some competition will carry the same variety of items at low enough prices. Walmart is just an icky experience sometimes.
 
grip said:
We don't have Kroger's, Safeway or other grocery chains here in central FL. We had an Albertson's and Food Lion for awhile. Winn Dixie is just not that good, cheap or convenient, so I don't consider them. Publix has always been a premier food store and though Walmart has plenty of similar name brands, often at better prices, their bakery used to be one of the reasons I wouldn't shop there. It was terrible cakes, pies and bread. And there are several brands of foods I like that Walmart simply doesn't carry.

But their bakery, a couple years ago, had suddenly gotten dramatically better than Publix's even. Their breads, desserts and even rotisserie chicken is better. I can save an average of $20-$30 -per weekly order- over Publix and will have to either, get my missing items at Publix or forgo them.

What do you think of the groceries at Walmart and have you tried their Pumpkin Roll?
Click to expand...


I shop occasionally at Walmart, they just opened one of those neighborhood type grocery stores not too far. But I still prefer the Hy-Vee right up the street from me, which is a local midwest chain. The employees there are just always so friendly and helpful and the store has a pretty good bakery and kitchen. They also offer a gas rewards program which is always nice. I also have an Aldi nearby which I love because the fruits and vegetables there are also very fresh and super cheap.
 
grip said:
We don't have Kroger's, Safeway or other grocery chains here in central FL. We had an Albertson's and Food Lion for awhile. Winn Dixie is just not that good, cheap or convenient, so I don't consider them. Publix has always been a premier food store and though Walmart has plenty of similar name brands, often at better prices, their bakery used to be one of the reasons I wouldn't shop there. It was terrible cakes, pies and bread. And there are several brands of foods I like that Walmart simply doesn't carry.

But their bakery, a couple years ago, had suddenly gotten dramatically better than Publix's even. Their breads, desserts and even rotisserie chicken is better. I can save an average of $20-$30 -per weekly order- over Publix and will have to either, get my missing items at Publix or forgo them.

What do you think of the groceries at Walmart and have you tried their Pumpkin Roll?
Click to expand...
We don't have Publix, we have Fareway and Hy-Vee.

Fareway is limited in selection, but good quality. Hy-Vee is good, but outrageously expensive. I did a mini-comparison a few years ago on a wide variety of about two dozen common items, and Hy-Vee averaged roughly 30% higher priced than Walmart.

I shop primarily at Walmart because the price difference is too hard to ignore. I usually buy produce at Hy-Vee, though, for the difference in freshness and quality.
 
Mizuho said:
Publix is perhaps the best grocery store on earth. Hardly expensive because about a third of the store is usually a buy 1 get 1 free deal, or on sale in some other way. Always clean, always well stocked and organized. If there were a Publix around I would never shop anywhere else, certainly not Walmart.
Click to expand...

Publix is very good and I would choose it over WalMart. I used to think Publix is better until we got surrounded by Wegmans. These are the smartest people I've ever heard of in the food industry.
 
americanwoman said:
I shop occasionally at Walmart, they just opened one of those neighborhood type grocery stores not too far. But I still prefer the Hy-Vee right up the street from me, which is a local midwest chain. The employees there are just always so friendly and helpful and the store has a pretty good bakery and kitchen. They also offer a gas rewards program which is always nice. I also have an Aldi nearby which I love because the fruits and vegetables there are also very fresh and super cheap.
Click to expand...

I love Aldi's. I miss Aldi's. :(
 
AliHajiSheik said:
Publix is very good and I would choose it over WalMart. I used to think Publix is better until we got surrounded by Wegmans. These are the smartest people I've ever heard of in the food industry.
Click to expand...

Wegman's is awesome. It's pricey, but oh so worth it.
 
americanwoman said:
I shop occasionally at Walmart, they just opened one of those neighborhood type grocery stores not too far. But I still prefer the Hy-Vee right up the street from me, which is a local midwest chain. The employees there are just always so friendly and helpful and the store has a pretty good bakery and kitchen. They also offer a gas rewards program which is always nice. I also have an Aldi nearby which I love because the fruits and vegetables there are also very fresh and super cheap.
Click to expand...



radcen said:
We don't have Publix, we have Fareway and Hy-Vee.

Fareway is limited in selection, but good quality. Hy-Vee is good, but outrageously expensive. I did a mini-comparison a few years ago on a wide variety of about two dozen common items, and Hy-Vee averaged roughly 30% higher priced than Walmart.

I shop primarily at Walmart because the price difference is too hard to ignore. I usually buy produce at Hy-Vee, though, for the difference in freshness and quality.
Click to expand...

It seems like most people have to double shop for groceries at multiple stores now days. It's a little annoying and time consuming, but unavoidable to get the things you want.

I think one of the main things that Walmart overlooks is the customer experience is not a friendly or memorable one, if the staff is unhappy and unfriendly. That along with more product variety, attention to customer service and store tidiness would help their image.
 
In my area my go to store for groceries is HEB, I also shop Walmart for some
packaged items, and paper products.
The one thing I do not do, is try and get fresh meat from Walmart.
 
Count yourselves lucky to have a Publix AND a Walmart. Where we live, the nearest grocery is a nasty Ruler and it's 13 miles away. We do snowbird in sunny FL and the situation definitely is better there. We have 5 Publix within 5 miles. Some are better than others but all are decent. We have a Winn-Dixie that is as nice as the Publix and prices usually are a little cheaper. We also have Walmart and Sam's. Both have good prices but we usually buy only prepackaged stuff there. Our biggest complaint about Walmart is it's always very crowded. Sam's sells most stuff only in quantities that are more than we can use or store. We used to have a nice Albertsons but they closed. Supposedly we're getting an Aldi. We have shopped them in the past and prices usually are cheaper.

My better half is the real grocery shopper. She reads all the sale ads, clips coupons, etc, then makes the weekly circuit. Regardless where you shop, you can save quite a bit by putting some effort into it.
 
grip said:
It seems like most people have to double shop for groceries at multiple stores now days. It's a little annoying and time consuming, but unavoidable to get the things you want.

I think one of the main things that Walmart overlooks is the customer experience is not a friendly or memorable one, if the staff is unhappy and unfriendly. That along with more product variety, attention to customer service and store tidiness would help their image.
Click to expand...
My local Walmart has very good variety. If a company makes 14 flavors of something, they will carry 10 of them, whereas Target might carry 4, and the local grocery store only 2 or 3.

Numbers made up for example purposes to convey the idea.
 
When I lived in NoCal I loved Raley's, even though they are expensive as hell. I never was a fan of Safeway.
 
grip said:
We don't have Kroger's, Safeway or other grocery chains here in central FL. We had an Albertson's and Food Lion for awhile. Winn Dixie is just not that good, cheap or convenient, so I don't consider them. Publix has always been a premier food store and though Walmart has plenty of similar name brands, often at better prices, their bakery used to be one of the reasons I wouldn't shop there. It was terrible cakes, pies and bread. And there are several brands of foods I like that Walmart simply doesn't carry.

But their bakery, a couple years ago, had suddenly gotten dramatically better than Publix's even. Their breads, desserts and even rotisserie chicken is better. I can save an average of $20-$30 -per weekly order- over Publix and will have to either, get my missing items at Publix or forgo them.

What do you think of the groceries at Walmart and have you tried their Pumpkin Roll?
Click to expand...

I'm not a big fan of Walmart. I don't like their meat and produce as much as other grocery chains. Fortunately we have Meijer and Kroger both close by so it's not an issue.

Oddly enough though, my wife went there yesterday to get something and brought back one of those pumpkin rolls. It was pretty good.
 
radcen said:
My local Walmart has very good variety. If a company makes 14 flavors of something, they will carry 10 of them, whereas Target might carry 4, and the local grocery store only 2 or 3.

Numbers made up for example purposes to convey the idea.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I like Walmart's overall product selection and prices, especially for non grocery items. Bought my last TV, PC Monitor and printer from there. And their socks, underwear and generic anti-acid's (prilosec-zantac) are way lower priced.

Also, their frozen food section blows Publix away, particularly the entree's. Being single, I don't always want to cook full out meals, so to get some variety, I try to pick & choose among different brands for decent meals. I can get Alfredo Chicken or garlic Shrimp dishes, Fried fish, Beef tips and broccoli, etc from Stouffer's or Marie Calendar's that Publix had a limited selection on.
 
Weekly shopping at walmart on cost. Specialty shopping where they have what i want.
 
molten_dragon said:
I'm not a big fan of Walmart. I don't like their meat and produce as much as other grocery chains. Fortunately we have Meijer and Kroger both close by so it's not an issue.

Oddly enough though, my wife went there yesterday to get something and brought back one of those pumpkin rolls. It was pretty good.
Click to expand...

Our neighborhood Wally has pretty good beef and pork selection, and local produce that's edible and fresh.

The pumpkin roll was suggested to me from an employee there, and I loved it. A pumpkin flavored cake wrapped in cream cheese, then I top it with cool whip. :mrgreen:
 
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