Meijer: 3 Cheap Foods You Should Buy
Meijer Retail Location. Meijer is a large supercenter type retailer with over 200 locations. stock photo
While major food corporations boast record profits, average families are still crunching their grocery budgets as the cost of essentials rises. Grocery store prices have continued to increase at a rate that outpaces inflation in other categories, with a 25 percent jump over the last four years compared to 19 percent for the cost of goods overall. In the checkout line, this looks like a cart of groceries that would have rung up at $100 in December 2019, now totaling around $125 in 2024.
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For consumers in the Midwest, how does Meijer, the family-owned regional retailer, stack up? Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the grocery store with humble depression-era beginnings now has more than 240 stores in six states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Wisconsin. The pioneer of the modern supercenter for one-stop shopping, Meijer is well-known for an emphasis on excellent customer service, a robust selection of items and fresh, local produce.
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How Do Meijer’s Prices Compare to Other Grocery Retailers?
When it comes to overall cost at checkout in larger markets like Chicago, Meijer’s prices are, on average, around 11 percent cheaper than other major grocery retailers. This puts Meijer on par with cost-saving stores like Walmart — with a total cart variance of only a few dollars in Walmart’s favor. However, according to Consumers’ Checkbook, the quality of goods at Meijer is rated 36 percent higher than the same items at Walmart, providing better value per dollar, especially for produce. Given Walmart’s recent class-action lawsuit alleging the national chain has been overcharging customers by falsely inflating the weight of bagged citrus and meat, reports highlighting Walmart as the cheapest option for these items should no longer be considered accurate.
While almost no retailers can beat the discount supermarket chain Aldi on overall cart price, Meijer is still a cheaper choice for a select list of items. Fluctuations in regional and seasonal pricing, weekly sales, and customer loyalty program benefits can also impact these price differences, but Joyfully Thriving recently compared the cost of over 180 common items across four major grocery retailers, including Meijer, which can be found here. Products that came in cheapest at Meijer as of April 2024 included animal crackers, 12-count applesauce pouches, Brawny paper towels, Huggies diapers, Meijer-brand lunch meat, Kraft macaroni & cheese, Old Spice deodorant, and more.
Score Cheap Foods from Meijer with the Freshfood App
With more than one in eight American households currently experiencing food insecurity, one of the best ways to access an up-to-date list of cheap foods you should buy from Meijer is through the Freshfood app. Meijer piloted a program with Freshfood in 2019 before expanding to all its stores in 2021. Using the app, consumers select items like meat, dairy, produce, prepared foods, and bakery products nearing their sell-by date for a discounted price, many at up to 50 percent off.
Through Flashfood, the top three most-purchased Meijer products are as follows:
- Ground beef
- Atlantic salmon
- Produce boxes (with various seasonal fruits and vegetables)
The results of implementing this program have been significant. “Working with Meijer has given thousands of shoppers access to affordable, high-quality groceries while reducing the impact of retail food waste,” said Brady Slacer, Flashfood’s head of growth, in a 2023 release. Meijer’s innovative partnership with the app is credited with diverting 10 million pounds of potential food waste while providing families with a more affordable grocery option — a huge win in any economy.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Meijer: 3 Cheap Foods You Should Buy