We polled community members via washingtonfamily.com/poll and across local parenting groups, and the results of “Where do you like to grocery shop as a family?” are in!
Overall, there was a three-way tie between Giant, Aldi and Wegmans, but our largest pool of responses came from Montgomery County, Maryland — in which Wegmans was the victor.
The majority of our results fell into the “other” category, and we’ve heard you! The next time we feature community businesses in our poll, we will explore a better way to determine multiple choice options that are the most representative of our local areas.
But we still wanted to share your results. Here’s what MoCo parents had to say about their favorite stores, including honorable mentions for local standouts and tips on where to shop and when.
Affordable, Practical and Fun
Aldi was the best choice for cost, with praise for its “Finds” aisle, seasonal selections, low-cost “perimeter” foods like meat, dairy and produce, affordable organic options and most of all, the best bang for your buck on staple items. But shoppers agreed favorite items would not always return or be in stock, making additional shopping necessary.
“I like Aldi for fun, new cost-effective seasonal items. I also do like how some of their produce is prepacked so it makes it easier to grab what you need for a lower price. However, as for ‘regular’ grocery stores I do prefer Giant; they have a good selection of items and are usually nicely stocked. I can also find some items marked down or on clearance frequently like meats, which helps stretch my grocery budget. — Farah, Clarksburg, MD
Reliable and Wide Selection
Giant won points for its predictability of stock and a large selection with gluten-free and organic options for the price. It also has the convenience of mobile ordering and pickup.
For the most allergy-friendly options, the choice was Trader Joe’s (or MOM’s Organic Market), with a shout-out for its delightful (even if sometimes “gimmicky”) seasonal selections like gingerbread ice cream sandwiches.
Big and Convenient
Trader Joe’s and Costco both got a red mark for overcrowded and inconvenient parking, but Costco still reigned supreme for bulk shopping for party foods (hello, pre-made street tacos!) and snacks. Its bulk grocery counterpart, Sam’s Club was also said to have a good selection and better parking, but for a couple of shoppers, it was its Scan and Go that made it worth coming to again and again.
Best of All Three: Affordability, Availability and Quality
When compared with other stores for quality, price and selection, though, Wegmans came out on top. It was lauded for having fresher meats, high-quality produce and specialty items, and while not the least expensive, it was the most affordable for quality products with consistent availability. Safeway was also similarly commended for having a good balance of quality and price, with good deals on buying meat in bulk.
Other positive mentions for Wegmans were its to-go food options and the fair treatment of its employees, including fair hiring practices with the employment of adults with specialized needs.
Local Leaders
There were also a number of local stores that received praise, including Grosvenor Market in the North Bethesda/Rockville area, Outlet Grocery in Calverton (for its low prices, selection of cheeses and gluten-free, organic and halal options), Sprouts in Burtonsville (allergen-friendly options) and Balducci’s bakery (a crowd pleaser, especially for kids).
One shopper said of Grosvenor Market:
“We live across the street and it’s a community mainstay. In addition to a great produce department, their prepared foods, deli and butcher are terrific. The team members are friendly and are great with kids in particular. They also have a number of gluten free and local products.”
Thank you for participating in our poll. Look for our next poll question, “What’s the best way to teach kids about money?” at washingtonfamily.com/poll.
