Business & Tech
Shopping Around: How Does Whole Foods Compare?
Does the store live up to the nickname "Whole Paycheck?"
Darien is all abuzz about the opening of the new Whole Foods, a store where food is treated like theater. But after the novelty wears off, will anyone be able to afford to shop there? Does the store live up to the nickname "Whole Paycheck?"
I took my wife's shopping list and did a completely unscientific analysis of a few staples on Friday afternoon, and the results are below.
The prices are for the cheapest store brands, or in the case of Stop & Shop, national brands as noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the prices are per pound and include a frequent-shopper discount if available. Several of the items were on sale.
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Skim milk, 1 gal.
Stop & Shop: $2.99
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Palmer's: $4.69
Whole Foods: $2.99
Organic skim milk, 1 gal.
Stop & Shop: $5.99
Palmer's: $4.49 (1/2 gal.)
Whole Foods: $5.99
Half & half, 1/2 gal.
Stop & Shop: $2.99
Palmer's: $5.69
Whole Foods: $3.49 (qt.)
Eggs, 1 dozen large grade A
Stop & Shop: $2.19
Palmer's: $1.69
Whole Foods: $2.69
Strawberries, 1 pint
Stop & Shop: $1.32
Palmer's: $3.99/lb.
Whole Foods: $1.99
Bananas, 1 lb.
Stop & Shop: $0.64
Palmer's: $0.79
Whole Foods: $0.79/$0.99 (organic)
Vine ripe tomatoes
Stop & Shop: $2.49
Palmer's: $1.99
Whole Foods: $2.99
Green peppers
Stop & Shop: $1.89
Palmer's: $1.99
Whole Foods: $2.99
Ground beef (burgers)
Stop & Shop: $4.99
Palmer's: $1.99
Whole Foods: $6.99
Starbucks coffee beans
Stop & Shop: $11.99
Palmer's: $12.39
Whole Foods: $11.98*
Hamburger buns
Stop & Shop: $1.25
Palmer's: $2.99
Whole Foods: $2.89
Hot dog buns
Stop & Shop: $2.00
Palmer's: $2.99
Whole Foods: $3.39
Cole slaw
Stop & Shop: $3.49
Palmer's: $8.99
Whole Foods: $2.99
Potato salad
Stop & Shop: $2.99
Palmer's: $8.99
Whole Foods: $6.99
Cheerios, 8.9 oz box
Stop & Shop: $3.59
Palmer's: $3.59
Whole Foods: $3.00*
Whole wheat bread, 1 loaf
Stop & Shop: $2.00
Palmer's: $2.99
Whole Foods: $3.45
Notes:
1) Many items at Palmer's were hard to price because no prices were posted.
2) At Whole Foods they don't sell name brands like Cheerios, but offer their own equivalent shown by the * symbol.
3) Whole Foods sells conventional and organic versions of many foods.
