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5-store Price Comparison

 

 

Whole Foods Market

Address:  90 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week.

The Whole Foods Market is located right on the Post Road, just on the edge of the Greenwich business district, neighboring a Starbucks, pet store, convenience store, and Chinese food restaurant. The parking lot is ill equipped to deal with the influx of customers especially at the busiest shopping hours, and despite a full time attendant directing traffic the parking lot almost always managed to be a stressful, nail-biting experience. The fact it is right off a busy section of the post road adds to the difficulties in successfully navigating the Whole Foods Parking lot.

As the name would suggest, Whole Foods Market places heavy emphasis on fresh, organic health foods that appeal to those more nutrition conscious shoppers in Greenwich. Specialty health foods are in abundance here, from the average organic products to more exotic health foods such as lime coconut water and vegan seitan imitation meat. The selection of health foods is rivaled perhaps only by (the much larger) Shoprite. With limited space Whole Foods manage to present a selection so diverse and “off the (b)eaten path” that the only danger is that it may leave those shoppers just in search of some normal comfort food unhappy. People looking for a junk food pick-me-up are advised to walk to the gas station next door, or settle for organic, lo-fat potato chips or low-carb, high-fiber dark chocolate chip cookies.

Whole foods also has a well-stocked fish market, a wide variety of organic and processed meats, a gourmet cheese shop, and the entire northern wall is occupied by their prepared foods and bakery. The wide aisles and sensible placement of the shops ensure little to no crams, jams or stoppages, even during peak hours. Whole Foods’  support of local farms and companies means you’ll find cheeses, meats, baked goods and fish from as close as Wilton, Glastonbury, Newport and Old Greenwich, though Whole Foods also imports meat and other products from as far away as Canada and Norway

Note the “Grass Fed” and “Local” signs

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The store opens in the produce section, where the organic focus of the store is evident in their colorful array of fruits and vegetables, along with a large display of flowers, useful for any last minute or forgetful-minded shoppers.

Whole Foods also caters to more specific dietary needs past just health foods. Categories such as kosher meats, gluten-free foods or imitation dairy products for lactose-intolerant customers are all covered. The international foods section was slightly lacking in their diversity of selection, although enough so that the casual shopper could probably fulfill their needs without going out of their way to a specialty market.

There seems to be a sense that organic and other health-conscious foods will trim your wallet as well as your waist, and while there is some truth to that (see 10-item price chart) the benefits of Whole Foods outweigh the occasional slight increase in price. The emphasis on “green” actions continues at the cashier, where they sell reusable tote bags emblazoned with the Whole Foods logo (something that everyone should keep in the trunk of their car). The olive green interior lends a somewhat calming ambiance although occasionally one feels like the green/environmentally friendly aspects of the store are being overplayed.

Pros: Organic/Health foods in abundance, supports local farmers, high quality specialty foods and environmentally friendly building/business practices.

Cons: price, low variety of international foods, parking lot, difficulty finding what some may call “normal” foods

Stop & Shop

Located at:  11 Glen Ridge Road Greenwich, CT 06831

Hours: 7am-9pm daily

The Glenville Stop and Shop is perfect if you’re a resident of Glenville, and if you aren’t really an adventurous shopper. The small size of the store means that there is limited variety. There is nothing spectacular about the store that we would go out of the way for, but as I said before, if you live in Glenville and just need to buy a loaf of bread, Stop and Shop will suffice (but, that’s partly just because there is no other competition). The overall feeling of the place was crowded; the organic/health foods aisle in particular felt cramped and because of this, it came across as disorganized. Walking around the store during its busier hours was tedious and there was always the worry that I would knock over a shelf, or a stack of boxes. The range of Specialty foods (as in vegan, Kosher, and international food options) seemed especially expensive and the selection was rather limited. The availability of fresh produce, both organic and nonorganic was decent, as were delis and meats.

 

I was really disappointed by the bakery section of the Glenville Stop and Shop. They had the basic muffins, breads, and cookies, but no Hallah bread, scones, or apple pie. The space allocated for the bakery was small and it seemed like an afterthought.As far as coupons and opportunities to save, Stop and Shop faired reasonably well against their competitors. They also have an online shopping service which isn’t offered by any other supermarket in the Greenwich area. We spoke for a bit with the manager and a couple of the  people who work at the deli and they were all friendly and eager to help. Unlike the A&P fresh in Riverside, everyone we talked to seemed really interested in the project and were excited about being a part of it.

 

Pros: Friendly, online shopping, can recycling

Cons: size, organization, health food section, small bakery

A&P Fresh

Located at: 1261 East Putnam Ave. Riverside, CT 06878

Hours:  Monday-Saturday 7am-12am, Sunday 7am-9pm

The Riverside A&P Fresh, conveniently located in Riverside Commons, is comfortably sized and very well kept. The lighting is noticeably dimmer in A&P, but instead of feeling dingy and depressing, it comes off as high end and gourmet. The angled arrangement of the produce and the low level shelving also added the impression of great-quality food.

Though the ambience is pleasing, the pricing is less so as the cost of most basic foodstuffs at A&P Fresh is slightly higher than their competitors. The aisles are quite narrow and the refrigerated aisle on the far left feels extremely cramped. The aisle is broken up by bins in the middle making it difficult for carts to pass each other and for shoppers to move about. In general, the variety of food is decent, but we were particularly impressed by the amount of international foods given the size of the place. The bakery is fairly well stocked and the assortment of freshly baked bread was notable. We agreed that the meat selection is somewhat lacking however. There aren’t a whole lot of organic options available, and where some supermarkets have 4 or 5 varying degrees of leanness in their meats, A&P has no more than 3.  Their seafood variety is also deficient, but relative to the size of the store, it is by no means a deal-breaker.

A&P can however, boast of having an attached liquor store as well as coin and can machines. A&P also stays open the latest and is surrounded by other shops and restaurants (CVS/Pharmacy, DiMare, Starbucks, Verizon, CoCo Nails, the United States Post Office, and Staples).

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Pros: ambience, convenience, liquor store, coinstar, can recycling, self ceck-out, hours

Cons: price, size, variety of produce, bakery

ShopRite

Located at: 1990 West Main Street Stamford, CT 06902

Store Hours: 7am-11pm daily

ShopRite was easily our favorite grocery store in the Greenwich area—they just have EVERYTHING! The produce section is massive; you can buy bok choy, aloe vera, plantains, and organic fruits that I’ve never even heard of. But unlike some big supermarkets, the choice is not overwhelming, and the organization of the food is logical. The width of each aisle is enough to comfortably fit two shopping carts (which is more than can be said for either the Greenwich or the Glenville Stop and Shops). As you move through to the back of the supermarket there is an eat-in grill/dining area. Here you can grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat—perfect if you are in a rush. Then there is the bakery, which makes fresh bread everyday, as well as takes custom orders on cakes and various other desserts. There is also a wide selection of rolls, bagels, muffins, and pastries available for individual purchase, as well as the standard cakes, cookies and pies.

Then on the right, you’ll find the “Cheeses of the World” section where gourmet cheese are available, but unlike Whole Foods or Balducci’s there are more economical options as well. Then there is also the salad bar and hot food buffet area which boasts of the largest selection in Greenwich, and scores second best in price. ShopRite also has an in house sushi chef right next to the deli area at the back right side of the store. The deli itself is not that different from many of the other deli’s we visited, but ShopRite has this great service where you can electronically place your deli order upon entry. There is station with a touch screen, and all you have you to do is punch in what you want and it will estimate a time for you to pick up your order. If you miss the pick-up time, they will announce your number on the intercom so that you know its ready.

ShopRite also has the largest selection of natural/health foods. With two full “Live Right” aisles and a nutritionist on site, ShopRite has the perfect set up for healthy shopping. What’s unique about ShopRite’s “Live Right” section is that it includes frozen and refrigerated foods. The organic milk is right next to the cage free eggs, and the whole wheat-gluten free pancake mix. Health conscious costumers can get pretty much all they need from these two side-by-side aisles, saving them from the time and hassle of trekking around the store from the produce section to the dairy section and back round to the check out. We were also impressed by ShopRite’s selection of international foods which contains an assortment of products from Jamaica, India, China, Brazil, and various other countries.

The fact that ShopRite is a relatively new supermarket also means that the building and it’s surrounding areas are in excellent condition. In the ShopRite shopping complex there is a liquor store, a gym, office buildings, a nail salon, a dentist, and a couple of restaurants.

Pros: Self-Check out, deli service, nutritionist, pharmacy, sushi, eat-in café, produce, health foods

Cons: busy, but only at certain times of the day

Porricelli’s Market

Located at: 26 Arcadia Rd Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 8am-6pm

For over 60 years Porricelli’s has been a staple food supplier all around Greenwich. Though today the Old Greenwich venue is the sole location in Greenwich (one other in Trumbull), at a time there were locations scatted throughout Greenwich on the ave, and in the heart of Cos Cob. Porricelli’s Market in Old Greenwich has existed since 1950, and at a time competed with over 7 other grocer’s markets in Old Greenwich. It’s continued existence is a testament to the quality of service and dedication to customer satisfaction that the Porricelli family espouses daily.

Though Porricelli’s is small compared to A&P Fresh Riverside and Shoprite, both of which are located less than 5 minutes away from it, it manages to pack in a bakery, butcher shop, fresh seafood section, a liquor section, a small buffet and a sushi station, with fresh rolls made daily on the premises.

While these specialty sections are an impressive addition given the limited space of 26 Arcadia Rd, Porricelli’s main downside is it’s size. The salad bar, produce section, and health foods section are noticeably lacking, larger chain stores such as Whole Foods Market and Shoprite are able to fill whole aisles with organic/health foods while Porricelli’s Market simply cannot compete in size with its counterparts. The 10-section salad bar seems paltry when compared to the 40+ selection available in larger stores.

     

It’s possible that Porricelli’s Market would not still stand as a titan of the industry today on the strength/diversity of it’s food selection alone. However Company President and Director of Store Operations  Jerry Porricellli Jr. believes that the best aspects of the store have little to do with food. In it’s time at Arcadia Road Porricelli’s has raised over 1 million dollars for local charities through food drives, and sponsorship of events such as the Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament. According to their website, “The overwhelming factor contributing to the Porricelli’s success is their genuine affection for the people they employ as well as the customers, or friends as they are called, whom they serve. “ In our numerous trips to the store we were greeted by friendly faces, and more than one employee asked us if we needed any help (being experienced shoppers we did not, but the offer was still appreciated.) The ambiance was definitely one of the nicer ones we encountered during our research, and in contrast with other small stores like the Glenville Stop and Shop, Porricelli’s manages to make a more homely, cozy feel rather than an overly cramped one.

Pros: Friendly atmosphere, family business, entrenched in Greenwich community, fresh made sushi bar, proximity to train station and located in the heart of Old Greenwich

Cons: small size leads to smaller selection, limited evening hours,

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