A few decades ago, going to the supermarket was a big deal because there weren’t that many of them. When I was younger, when we went to a supermarket instead of a smaller local grocery store, it was like a big family trip.
These days, you can find a supermarket almost anywhere. In many New Jersey towns, there are several supermarkets within a few miles of each other, and everyone has a favorite.
To find out which supermarket chains are the best and worst in the US, the website Solitaired read through thousands of Google Reviews and review sites for grocery stores.
On the list of the 10 Worst Major Grocery Store Chains, there are three located in New Jersey:
*ACME: 70 Locations in New Jersey, Ranked 6th Worst Supermarket Chain
A long time ago, ACME was the best supermarket in the Northeast. The supermarket used to be very popular, but it had trouble keeping up with its competitors after changing hands several times in the last 30 years.
Today, ACME’s prices and grocery choices are geared toward people in the upper middle class. People from the working class, who used to be the main customers, are now paying too much in many places. A few decades ago, their main customers were low- to middle-income people. These days, that’s not the case.
Walmart: 60 Locations in New Jersey, Ranked 4th Worst Supermarket Chain
The supermarket that is easiest to get to is also the one that causes the most debate among customers. Many people don’t like Walmart’s fruits and vegetables, even though most of their grocery items and name-brand goods are cheaper than other stores.
Additionally, their store’s generic brand, Great Value, is not always a good alternative to name brands. Either you have to buy name brands or you have to skimp on quality to save money.
*Save-A-Lot: 12 Locations in New Jersey, Ranked 2nd Worst Supermarket Chain
Save-A-Lot is like a Dollar Store for groceries. They are known for having a lot of fake brands on their shelves. They have “Dr. Pop” instead of “Dr. Pepper” and “Oreos” from Nabisco instead of “Fine Cream Betweens” from Lecour.
A lot of bad reviews for Save-A-Lot are about how their grocery items aren’t very good and how bad their customer service is.
