Cheapest ‘essential’ groceries are at this chain with North Carolina locations, national study shows

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A national survey conducted by BravoDeal.com has ranked grocery chains in the U.S. based on affordability, including nine with locations in North Carolina. This survey analyzed the cost of 12 essential grocery items frequently purchased by a household of three, comparing prices across major grocery stores.

Essentials and Stores Analyzed:

Essentials:

• A dozen eggs
• A gallon of milk
• A loaf of bread
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Frozen pizza
• Honey Nut Cheerios
• Six-pack of Coca-Cola in cans
• Boneless chicken breasts
• Ham
• Laundry detergent
• Olive oil

Results:

Top Three Affordable Stores:

1. Aldi: $43.38
2. Lidl: $54.24
3. Trader Joe’s: $60.58

Additional Rankings:

• Albertsons: $63.18
• Walmart: $64.98
• Target: $65.38
• Kroger: $65.78
• Publix: $70.19
• Whole Foods: $73.98
• Sam’s Club: $106.47
• Costco: $267.94

Caveats:

• The method of price checking (in-person or online) was not specified by BravoDeal. Online prices can sometimes be higher.
• The ranking was based on cost per product, not cost per unit, which explains the significant price difference between stores like Walmart and Costco, the latter of which sells items in bulk.

Notable Omissions:

• Food Lion, a major North Carolina-based grocery chain with over 1,100 stores nationwide, was not included in the survey despite being a significant player in the market.

Contextual Comparison:

• A 2022 analysis by News & Observer found Wegmans to have the lowest prices in Raleigh, followed closely by Aldi and Lidl. Target also outperformed Walmart in this research. The analysis did not include bulk stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, but an upcoming report will cover those.

The findings emphasize Aldi's position as the most affordable option for essential groceries among the chains surveyed, making it a top choice for budget-conscious shoppers in North Carolina.