Comparing Southern Grocery Stores to Northern Chains

[snowwite]

In Florida (I don't know if you are talking about TN), you don't need to type in your phone number to get the weekly sales and BOGOs. But that will access any digital coupons you've clipped from the Publix website.

I don’t have a Publix Card but if I put my phone number in it brings up my card so I get all the coupons, discounts and deals.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I only like unsweetened iced tea and they LOVE their sugar so I do specify or I wind up with a glass of sugar water.

So true! Sweet tea is like syrup! You can ask for "unsweetened sweet tea", which sounds stupid, but you can then add the sweetener of your choice, to your own taste.

 

[Einstein509]

We also use Costco. Lots of semi-prepared meal choices and cheaper than Publix.

 

[hrhdhd]

I don’t have a Publix Card but if I put my phone number in it brings up my card so I get all the coupons, discounts and deals.

But that's what I am saying. If I don't put my number in, I get the deals anyway. They are just prices offered to every customer; there is no "card" like at CVS or Harris Teeter. The only thing tied to my phone number are the digital coupons I have clipped, and I often don't buy something with a digital coupon.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Yeah, on the BOGO, you have to buy both, but if it’s an advertised special such as two for $4, then you can typically just buy one for $2. So you have to pay attention to how it’s listed.

I shop exclusively at Publix, so I don’t know if it’s a Florida thing or a Publix thing.

I think it's a publix thing. We have publix where I am in SC and it's the same here. Some of our other local stores also have that rule too.

 

[nyy]

I only like unsweetened iced tea and they LOVE their sugar so I do specify or I wind up with a glass of sugar water.

So true! Sweet tea is like syrup! You can ask for "unsweetened sweet tea", which sounds stupid, but you can then add the sweetener of your choice, to your own taste.

Good to know! The Snapple Tea I drink is the no sugar variety!

 

[snowwite]

I think it's a publix thing. We have publix where I am in SC and it's the same here. Some of our other local stores also have that rule too.

Gotcha i wish we had a Publix in MA. My husband loves their bakery rolls. I love the fresh fruit station where you can get yummy prepped berries, melons, pineapple and those luscious yogurt parfaits!

 

[QueenIsabella]

Publix DOES have really good fresh food. I don't shop there regularly--too pricey for me--but for things like my kids having a dance performance weekend, that's where I send them for food.

On vacation, I'm less picky about saving money, so I'd go Publix in Florida, every time.

 

[cvjw]

I think it's a publix thing. We have publix where I am in SC and it's the same here. Some of our other local stores also have that rule too.

Not a Publix thing. I am in Georgia and you can buy just one item and get it for half price. No need to buy two. I always have to remember that Florida Publix have different rules!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Nothing compares to Wegmans. I found the prices at Target much better than Publix especially with items such a suntan lotion.

 

[Tink3815]

I was told in March at the store , you do not need the card or phone number to get the sale prices, You need to enter your phone number or to get credit towards their reward program. I looked on line at my store and brought up their ad, which seems to switch mid week. Had my shopping list ready to go before we got there. They have a great sandwich shop next to deli that made excellent subs for a reasonable price. Publix is similar to Wegmans but with good sale prices.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Yeah, in the south, grocery ads run Wed.-Tues., while up north they run Sun.-Sat. It took a little getting used to. Walmart, Target, etc. still run Sun.-Sat. everywhere, as far as I know.

 

[loves to dive]

I just signed up online and started browsing - thanks so much for the idea!
I was thrilled that they sell my favorite flavor of Snapple; I was hoping it was available in FL! I thought maybe Southerners would be very picky about their ice tea. Lol.

Florida, while physically in the south, is for the most part not southern. Orlando is a tourist town so even if it originally was "southern" it isn't any more. By the way, I'm from Georgia and drink unsweet tea. Now days, mostly only in smaller towns will you need to specify sweet or unsweet tea, it's mostly unsweet in restaurants now.

 

[hrhdhd]

Yeah, in the south, grocery ads run Wed.-Tues., while up north they run Sun.-Sat. It took a little getting used to. Walmart, Target, etc. still run Sun.-Sat. everywhere, as far as I know.

Publix ads in Florida run either Thursday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Tuesday. In Orlando, it's the former. In the Panhandle, it's the latter. I'm not sure where the dividing line is.

 

[jimmymc]

Publix tends to be more expensive, but they have a very nice deli and are usually clean and well-stocked.

Using Walmart as the main grocery store is pretty common down south, and they'll have the cheapest prices. Targets also tend to have better food selections than up north.

 

[_19disnA]

Have lived in the both the North & the South. What I find tends to matter more is if you live in/near a larger metropolitan area, there will be more and better grocery choices since the higher volume of shoppers means more turnover, larger stores and greater variety of products. Locations in many tourist destinations also have a better selection of to-go foods that the vacationers buy more frequently.

If you live in a very small city, there won't be enough traffic for that store to carry a large variety of items. That is true regardless of where you live.

 

[Bama Mom]

Another suggestion for Publix. Their fruit is so fresh.