I found WinCo--a mega grocery store with probably the lowest prices on the basics--meat, eggs, milk, ice cream, cheese, bread, and rice. They keep the prices down by keeping a bare number of employees (so you must bag your own groceries), simple warehouse lay-out, and robot cart collectors. They have an in-house brand, Flavorite, that is lower in price than most: catsup, canned goods, pasta, spices. They even have buy-in-bulk--where one can buy the quantities suited for your needs, big or small. And since buy-in-bulk has no brand or packaging, it is almost half-the price on the average. Good deal for those who can't store the big Costco quantities. And in WinCo, you don't even have a member. Plus, it is open 24 hours a day!!
I can spend a lot of time in between these wide aisles and spotless vinyl. There are magazines, inspirational books, and there's also a small pizza counter (Their pizza has become a family staple) for hungry shoppers.
The dizzying selection took my breath away: cashews, almonds, peanuts, pecans--honey raosted or plain, bread flour, pancake flour, whole-grain flour, candy, popcorn, snacks, cuury powder, all-spice, cinnamon, pizza seasoning, croutons, raw pasta (rotilli, radiatore, penne, linguini). Most interesting near the fresh honey section is the almond and peanut butter churner--turning the nuts into butter before your eyes--nothing added. Talk about natural!
And the most fragrant section of all: coffee! Take a load of their in-house Cascade Pride brand Mocha java, Guatemala Antigua,Colombia Supremo, Sumatra Dark Roast, Mexican Altura, Double French Roast, and Viennese Blend, among others. And if that doesn't give Starbucks a run for their money at $5.98/pound, check out the irresistible Butterscotch Praline, Caramel, Choco Macadamia Nut, Vanilla Nut, Irish Creme, hazelnut, and Chocolate Raspberry (Yep, still coffee flavors).
WinCo is definitely a winner with their wide grocery selection, their prepared food (fried chicken, fries, deli sandwiches, sushi packs) and their salads: Ginger chicken Salad, Krab Salad, Jalapeno Artichoke, macaroni, Chinese Chicken Salad) for the hurried homemaker who is too tired to cook at $2.98/pound.
Okay, I have to grab a barrel of chicken and a tub of salad now as my big brood awaits!
3 comments:
This place looks interesting and I'm sure their prices are affordable! Hmmm ... I miss those salads and other prepared foods you can buy by the pound :)
Here in NZ wellington, Pak n save is WinCo's equivalent. Pack your own stuff... we don't have the unbranded stuff though.
Ehmm.... I don't think Ice cream belongs to the basic food group category. :) hahahahaha... kidding.
senorito, basic yon, promise! :)
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