New York City is not the most affordable metro in the nation, but according to a new market study, several grocery stores located within the five boroughs offer the lowest food prices in the United States.
According to a recent report by MarketForce, which surveyed over 4,300 shoppers, highlighting the grocery stores that balance affordability with quality, five of the seven grocers bringing significant value to shoppers are located in New York City. And at least four of those grocers have stores in Staten Island.
Here’s a look at where you can currently find the lowest food prices, according to the report:
Lidl
Lidl, which currently has three locations in New York City, including one in New Springville, keeps its overhead low by minimizing staffing and using a streamlined warehouse-style setup. According to the MarketForce study, an impressive 81.4% of customers return to Lidl because of its unbeatable value.
WinCo Foods
WinCo operates a warehouse-style model focusing on low prices by cutting out the middleman. It buys directly from manufacturers and even has customers bag their own groceries.
And while there are no New York City WinCo Foods stores — the brand is only located in the western and southwestern United States — 73.1% of shoppers surveyed said the brand delivers the best prices.
Grocery Outlet
Grocery Outlet, which sells overstocked or discontinued items at discounted prices, landed a place on MarketForce’s list for exceptional value. The grocer, which has 500 locations across the country, does not have a New York City presence, but there is a store located in nearby Hazlet, New Jersey.
Aldi
The MarketForce study found that 70.4% of shoppers favor Aldi’s prices and no-frills approach. There’s currently more than 130 Aldi stores in New York state, including one in Greenridge Plaza, and another is opening soon in New Dorp.
Wegman’s
Family-owned Wegman’s, which operates more than 110 stores, has become well-known for its affordable prices. A solid 68.7% of MarketForce respondents cited value for money as their main reason for choosing Wegman’s. Located predominantly in the Northeast, there are two Wegman’s locations in New York City, one in Brooklyn and another in Manhattan.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s, which has one store in New Springville and is planning another in Pleasant Plains, was ranked sixth on MarketForce’s most affordable list, with 67.2% of study participants praising the store’s value.
Costco
Despite carrying an annual membership fee, 61.4% of customers who were surveyed said they continually return to Costco, which has a location in New Springville, for its impressive deals.
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