halcyon - 28 October 2009 10:35 PM

They should not be competing with Fresh Market or Greenlive because they do not sell the same things.
(snip)
In the free market their should be more variety than there is here, and Ingles obviously wants this to not be the case.

Actually I do most of my shopping at ALDI and Bi-Lo, because they are MUCH more reasonably priced on most things.
...
Food Lion
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Monopoly? No choices?

Let’s just hope it never comes to that.

And like I said I don’t know how anyone can count Food Lion, is there even one anywhere? ALDI is small and does not have a lot of things. Bi-Lo, well there are 2, both on the outskirts of town. Greenlife/Fresh Market/etc is a lot of money for groceries, I’d be spending probably $200 every week or two if I shopped there exclusively. I am speaking of major grocery store chains, not health/organic groceries or small discount groceries. And as of now, there are only two store chains that are accessible here. Ingles has flooded the market with their stores within town to an unbalanced level.

halcyon - 28 October 2009 10:51 PM

It’s all in the same damn boxes! It all comes from the same place anyway! There are only going to be certain few grocery items from local growers/farms/etc, regardless of store. Do you really think of Ingles as a local company? They may have started here but they don’t care about this town. It’s obvious.

no, i don’t mean Ingels offers that opportunity any more than Bi-Lo. I mean in the larger discussion about ‘cheap food’. I’d say a good portion of what I buy comes from the region, but i dont shop at ingels much (except for their cheap Bryers!).

I understand what you are saying, my mistake. Where do you go?

halcyon:  If Bi-Lo is the better choice for you that is great. I, personally, think the food is bad.  But if you’re planning on cooking that night it’s fine, it just isn’t fresh.  The meat is horrible. Frozen for years it tastes like.  I’ll eat Greenlife meat every time!  Ingles is in between the two.  I shop there every week for other things. Inconvenient to go to multiple stores but I do.  But that is just my opinion.  It’s great to live where I have so many choices!!

Considering Ingles started in Asheville and is based just outside Asheville, it should not be suprising that they saturate Asheville!

Step outside of Asheville and they are not nearly as dominant. That’s where you see more Food Loins and Publix.

I’m all for having choices and competition to keep prices lower, but really, Ingles is a great grocery store on most levels, and I have no complaints.

Random fact: The Advantage Card is one of the last loyalty cards that don’t require you to fill out your real name and address to obtain. That rocks, in my opinion. However, you won’t win any sweepstakes if you don’t put your real info in there.

halcyon - 28 October 2009 11:20 PM

I understand what you are saying, my mistake. Where do you go?

First a disclaimer: when I was a teenager I worked at a Bi-Lo so I have a small bias towards them.

To answer your question:
Sam’s for large quantity items.
Aldi if I am passing by and they have 1 or 2 items I want. Truth is I go through and always leave unimpressed with price or inventory.
Wal-Mart for items that are only price based and actual quality is standardized across the board.
Amazing Savings to see if anything they have that day fits my general needs.
The Farmers Market for great prices on in season fruits and vegetables.
The Sunbeam plant for 2 for a $1 perfectly good bread, snacks for my daughter to take to school, and hamberger/hotdog buns as needed.
Ingle’s for most meats, looking especially for the “reduced for quick sale stickers”, special items that no other store has, and finally vegetables and fruits out of season because the same items at Walmart are much smaller. Case in point Lettuce. I happened to notice lettuce at Ingles yesterday and then had to run to Wal-Mart (Halloween supplies) and noticed the lettuce was half the size of Ingle’s. Interesting note, same vendor was on the wrapping for both stores.

Please note I do not waste gas but I do plan out my shopping carefully. I take a route that passes all planned stops so I don’t double back on myself and I shop once a month rather than making several trips. Admittedly milk, eggs, bread and fresh fruits and vegetables can’t be purchased once a month and forgotten.

Mom Feeds Family of Six on About $4 a Week

halcyon - 28 October 2009 11:20 PM

I understand what you are saying, my mistake. Where do you go?

when i’m in asheville, i am blessed to live on and around farms, so i dont haveta go to the store for much. although i’ve been known to buy dairy and eggs and coffee from amazing savings at times. (yes, because it’s cheap).

I’ve just always found the idea of nitpicking over 50 cents or a dollar here or there for food to be kinda silly. i think it’s becuase i dont have a lot of expenses of any kind, so i can afford to pay a little extra for “good” food. which is why i’ve never had a problem paying extra for ‘local organic’ or whatever at a place like earthfare or greenlife (i like how greenlife labels where their produce cam from). Plus, as i’m sure tatttms already pointed out, the girls at greenlife are ####### beyond hot.

But when i first moved to spartanburg, it was kinda eye opening to see most of the same stuff at ingles was significantly cheaper down there than near asheville or black mountain.

Yona101: sounds kinda like how I shop, except I tend to do it more frequently. It’s the best way to get groceries here. It sure would be nice to have a Publix, or better yet a Kroger here. I’m sure it will happen eventually.