US guys: Which are really big supermarkets?

[joe_in_philly]

A couple of years ago Walmart in its infinite wisdom, reduced the variety and number of sizes of products that they carried. It was not met with much enthusiasm, and they have since been increasing the variety of their offerings. But in the stores I have recently visited that contain a full grocery section, the selection is much less than other dedicated grocery stores, like Shop Rite or Wegman's.

I love Jungle Jim's! Whenever I am back to my old hometown in Ohio I visit that place. It has the greatest international selection of any store I have been to, with different isles or rooms dedicated to a country. If you are anywhere near Fairfield, OH, it is definitely worth a visit.

Last night I stopped by Wegman's to pick up some of the Dr. McDougall's soups I keep at my office for a quick meal. They are cheaper than Whole Foods. Wegman's had 5lb bags of all-purpose flour for 99 cents, along with other baking items on sale. I always manage to find at least a few great deals when I am there. I much prefer to visit Wegman's on a weeknight than during the weekend when it is a complete madhouse.

Link to a story about Walmart increasing selection:

http://talkbusiness.net/article/WAL-MART-CHANGES-PRICING-INVENTORY-POLICIES/1762/

 

[veroroger]

The memories......

this thread has brought back! As a kid, growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I remember our trips to Grand Rapids to visit family and getting to go to Meijer's Thrifty Acres (as I was told it was called). So much different than anything I'd experience up home! Huge stores with everything imaginable to one my age at that time. When we go back, we ALWAYS plan on visiting those stores while there. Love the little stores inside the big store, and the restaurant/cafeteria they have so you can sit for a bit while shopping. AND... they are always cleaner, have friendlier people, and a better selection than our WalMart stores at comparable prices.
When I lived in the Dallas area, all the major grocery stores had the restaurant/cafeteria in them - and were judged by the quality/cleanliness of same. I have missed that feature. Recently, Publix built a very large store here in Vero (I'm not allowed to go there alone, nor to Fresh Market either, as I tend to spend WAY too much!) and it has something similar. It's a table area where you can get something to eat from the deli section and eat while shopping. Of course, in their wisdom, they put the seating area on the OPPOSITE side of the store from the deli area so you have to juggle a tray across the store, dodging carts and kids, to eat your meal. Too bad they didn't ask a real shopper before building.
Roger Brown

 

[mark_wpduet]

OH!

I remember that Food Lion report! Gross! I think it was on 20/20 maybe early 90s?

I've never heard the term hypermarket.

But wouldn't Meijer be a hypermarket? I know there are two Meijer stores here in Lexington and they sell pretty much everything and they are pretty decently sized.

 

[mattl]

Over the years Meijer has trimmed their inventory.  Years ago when they first opened near me, they even had a small lumberyard in the store, along with a fairly decent  hardware section.  The lumber is long gone and the hardware section is trimmed down to the most basic stuff.

 

[volsboy1]

When I was in Albany,N.Y. I went to the Walmart and it is HUGE two stories to be exact.It depends when it comes to size of them

,a lot of  Walmarts were regular size stores that have been around for years, then redone to be a Super center they tend to be smaller but then you have the monster stores like in N.Y. One building that shocked me was the Pentagon,T.V. does that building no justice that is one HUGE building when your driving by it.I don't like going to these huge super stores,I prefer Ingles ,Piggly Wiggly and Publix forget Food lion that place is a joke.They always have one person checking out everybody and the meat department is a joke.Ingles and Fresh Market has the best deals and quality and there is always a butcher there a very nice looking one at that  to help you.

 

[~sudsshane]

Florida Supermarkets

Publix, I would have to say, is the largest supermarket in Florida. We also have The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Sweetbay, (Hannaford up in New England), Winn-Dixie, Albertson's, and Food Lion. Of course there is Super Target and Walmart Super Center. I still miss ShopRite and Waldbaums up in NY.

I frequent Publix and The Fresh Market most often these days. Also, on occasion, Sweetbay.

 

[Jsneaker]

My Favorite Markets

I LOVE Wegmans and Shop-Rite. There's nothing as good as Wegmans downstate NY, but my Shop-Rite is great. Unfortunately, the(expletives wild)Unions prevent non-union stores like Wegmans to bring us the best in supermarkets on Long Island!

Jason