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Local News / Investigation

Wednesday, 31 August, 2011 2:40 AM

Exclusive: Where To Find The Cheapest Lunch Foods in Metro Detroit - 2011 Edition

Photo credit: www.crossroadsgrocery.com

 

by Jason Rzucidlo
americajr@americajr.com

 

|

In July, we told you where to find the cheapest breakfast foods that you can prepare at home. This month, I am tackling lunch foods that you can prepare on your own. I'm talking frozen meals, canned tuna, soup and bread to go with it.

Do you know where the lowest prices are? You may think the cheapest prices will be at the grocery store. Our exclusive investigation will surprise you. I visited 10 different retailers to compare prices on the same 10 lunch foods that you can make without leaving your house.

The stores that I visited were Hillers, Busch's, Kroger, Meijer, CVS, RiteAid, Walgreen's, Target, Kmart and Wal-Mart. I visited all the stores during the week of August 6 - 10, 2011. All the prices that I compared were regular prices. I did not take sale prices or clearance prices into consideration.

If a store didn't have the product I was comparing, you will notice a N/A in that column. It could also indicate the store didn't have the size I was looking for. The store may have a smaller or larger sized item, but the price will be significantly different than the products I am comparing.

Here's the results to my exclusive investigation that can be found only on AmericaJR.com:

PRODUCTS
Hot Pockets 2 pack Pepperoni flavor
Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese 12 oz. box
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hillers
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
Kroger
$2.25
$2.47
$2.14
$2.08
$2.14
$2.49
$2.34
$2.06
$1.99
$2.19
Busch's
$2.39
$2.47
$2.29
$2.19
$2.19
$2.45
$2.39
$2.49
$2.99
$3.35
Meijer
$2.25
$2.69
$2.50
$2.08
$2.14
$2.49
$2.69
$2.06
$2.04
$1.98
RiteAid
$2.99
$3.49
$3.69
$3.59
$3.79
$2.49
$3.49
$3.29
$2.99
N / A
Walgreen's
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$2.59
$2.59
$2.59
$2.59
$2.79
CVS
$3.59
$3.89
$3.89
$3.89
$3.89
$2.69
$2.99
$2.99
$2.99
$3.29
Target
$2.19
$2.59
$2.19
$2.14
$2.14
$2.29
$2.59
$1.97
$1.99
$1.97
Kmart
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N/A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
Wal-Mart
$2.33
$2.16
$2.00
$2.00
$2.00
$1.76
$1.88
$1.75
$1.88
$1.96

Lowest Prices are in BOLD.

PRODUCTS
Tyson Chicken Wings Hot 'n Spicy 11 oz. (changed from 14 oz. to 32 oz. in 2008, 25.5 oz. in 2009, 25 oz. in 2010, 11 oz. in 2011)
Stouffer's Corner Bistro Panini Turkey Club 6 oz. box
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hillers
$4.59
N / A
N / A
N / A
$3.99
$3.39
$3.59
$3.49
$3.49
$3.49
Kroger
N / A
N / A
$9.99
N / A
N / A
$3.09
$2.91
$2.88
$2.88
$2.59
Busch's
N / A
$9.79
$7.59
$10.59
N / A
$2.85
$3.65
$3.65
$3.35
$3.35
Meijer
N / A
$8.59
$7.99
$7.19
N / A
$3.29
$2.85
$2.98
$2.99
$2.68
RiteAid
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
$4.99
N / A
$3.99
$4.49
N / A
N / A
Walgreen's
$3.99
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
CVS
$4.99
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
$3.99
$4.29
N / A
N / A
N / A
Target
$3.69
$8.49
N / A
N / A
N / A
$2.89
$3.09
$2.54
N / A
N / A
Kmart
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
Wal-Mart
N / A
$7.28
$7.48
N / A
N / A
$2.37
$2.68
$2.50
$2.50
$2.53

Lowest Prices are in BOLD.

PRODUCTS
Stouffer's French Bread Pizza 2 pack Pepperoni flavor
Digorno Pizza 28.3 oz. Pepperoni flavor
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hillers
$3.29
$3.39
$3.39
$3.39
$2.99
$6.49
$7.49
$7.89
$7.89
$7.89
Kroger
$3.49
$3.49
$3.49
$3.49
$3.59
$4.85
$8.29
$7.69
$6.99
$5.64
Busch's
$3.49
$3.75
$3.65
$3.89
$3.79
$4.99
$7.89
$8.29
$6.99
$7.29
Meijer
$3.32
$3.42
$3.00
$2.75
$2.99
$4.85
$5.69
$5.75
$5.99
$5.99
RiteAid
$3.59
$3.99
$4.19
$4.29
$4.49
$3.49
$6.29
$6.49
$6.29
$6.99
Walgreen's
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
$3.19
$5.99
$6.99
$6.99
$6.99
$7.49
CVS
$3.89
$6.79
$4.29
$4.29
$4.29
$5.99
$6.79
$6.79
$6.99
$6.99
Target
$2.54
$2.69
$2.69
$2.54
$2.54
$4.99
$5.54
$4.29
$5.79
$5.29
Kmart
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
N /A
N / A
N / A
N / A
Wal-Mart
$2.37
$2.68
$2.50
$2.50
N / A
$4.98
$5.75
$5.75
$5.75
$5.27

Lowest Prices are in BOLD.

PRODUCTS
Kraft Parmesan Cheese 8 oz. canister
Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna 5 oz. (changed from 6 oz. to 5 oz. in 2009)
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hillers
$2.99
$5.99
$3.49
N / A
$4.79
$1.79
$1.79
$1.89
$1.89
$1.79
Kroger
$5.15
$5.49
$5.09
$2.80
$2.80
$1.89
$1.89
$2.09
$2.09
$2.19
Busch's
$2.99
N / A
$3.49
$4.99
$5.59

$2.05

$1.85
$1.99
$1.89
$1.95
Meijer
$3.49
$4.29
$4.99
$3.49
$3.99
$1.25
$1.25
$1.79
$1.67
$1.35
RiteAid
N / A
N / A
N / A
N / A
$4.99
$1.79
$1.79
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
Walgreen's
$4.79
$5.99
$5.49
$5.49
$5.79
$1.59
$1.69
$1.69
$1.69
$1.79
CVS
$4.59
$5.99
$5.79
$5.79
$5.29
$1.49
$1.79
$1.99
$1.99
$1.87
Target
$2.99
$4.29
$3.79
$3.74
$3.14
$1.32
N / A
$1.59
N / A
$1.67
Kmart
N / A
$5.29
$4.99
$4.99
$4.99
$1.69
N / A
$1.49
$1.49
$1.59
Wal-Mart
$2.82
N / A
$3.44
$3.48
$2.98
98¢
78¢
$1.08
N / A
$1.28

Lowest Prices are in BOLD.

PRODUCTS
Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup 10-3/4 oz. can
Wonder Bread Classic White 20 oz. loaf
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hillers
$1.19
99¢
95¢
95¢
95¢
$1.59
$1.79
$2.99
$2.49
$2.59
Kroger
$1.79
85¢
71¢
68¢
79¢
$2.39
$2.69
$1.99
$2.49
$2.69
Busch's
87¢
85¢
79¢
93¢
93¢
$1.79
$2.69
$1.99
$2.49
$2.69
Meijer
87¢
85¢
85¢
65¢
79¢
$2.39
$2.69
$1.99
$2.79
$2.59
RiteAid
$1.19
$1.29
$1.39
$1.39
$1.39
$2.29
N / A
N / A
$2.49
$2.69
Walgreen's
$1.19
$1.29
$1.39
$1.39
$1.19
N / A
$2.49
$2.79
$2.79
$2.79
CVS
$1.19
$2.19
$1.49
$1.49
$1.19
$2.39
$2.69
$2.79
$2.49
$2.69
Target
64¢
6
69¢
72¢
87¢
$2.09
N / A
N / A
$1.97
$1.99
Kmart
99¢
$1.19
$1.29
$1.29
$1.39
$2.39
$2.69
$2.99
$2.49
$2.99
Wal-Mart
64¢
68¢
68¢
68¢
79¢
$1.57
$1.88
$1.78
$1.88
$1.68

Lowest Prices are in BOLD.

 

A lot has changed in a year when I last did this investigation at around the same time. Many of the products that I checked the prices on are now in smaller packages. However, some of the packages are in larger quantities.

As you may have noticed, Kmart does not sell frozen food items. I believe this is a huge distraction for the customer. It may also keep shoppers from visiting Kmart because those items are not available. However, Kmart is now selling fresh ground beef and hot dogs in its coolers. Maybe they will add frozen food within the next year. Who knows? As restaurants raise their prices, more people are eating at home instead so this is a missed opportunity for profit.

Wal-Mart is the store with the most lowest-priced lunch items. It had the cheapest price on seven of the ten items. Hiller's had the lowest price on the Tyson Chicken Wings while Target had the cheapest price on the Stouffer's French Bread Pizza. Meanwhile, Kroger had the lowest price on the Kraft Parmesan Cheese. There was a three-way tie for the cheapest price on the Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. This indicates that Wal-Mart has done more price checking with it competitors and then lowered its own price thereafter.

The price of Hot Pockets went up or remained the same at almost every store. The biggest increase was at RiteAid where the price went from $3.59 in 2010 to $3.79 in 2011. Kroger and Meijer both raised their prices by six cents. Wal-Mart kept its price the same at $2.00 per box of Hot Pockets and is still the lowest.

Another interesting point is that CVS raised its price on the Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese by 30 cents and lowered its price on the Kraft Parmesan Cheese by 50 cents. The macaroni and cheese was $2.99 last year and it is $3.29 this year. The parmesan cheese canister was $5.79 last year and it is $5.29 this year. Shelf tags were not found on the Stouffer's French Bread Pizza or on the Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese during my visit to the store. The manager came out and said he would get right on it.

In terms of the Tyson Chicken Wings, almost all of the stores offer different quantities of the same product. Hillers and RiteAid both sell the 11 oz. size so I decided to compare those two stores. Hillers has the lowest price of $3.99 while RiteAid has a higher price of $4.99. Target and Wal-Mart both sell the 28 oz. bag. Meanwhile, Meijer sells the 32 oz. size and Busch's offers the 42.4 oz. portion.

Three of the stores lowered their price on the Kraft Parmesan Cheese 8 oz. canister this year. Hillers started carrying it again after an absence on the shelf last year. RiteAid is carrying it for the first time since I started checking the prices in 2007. The cost of the cheese canister went up at Walgreen's, Meijer and Busch's. The highest price was at Walgreen's, which sells it for $5.79 each. Kroger has the lowest price of $2.80 per canister once again.

Prices on some of the items I checked have actually gone up at Wal-Mart. For example, the retailer raised its price on the Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup by 11 cents, Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese by eight cents and the Stouffer's Corner Bistro Panini Turkey Club by three cents. The big box retailer stopped carrying the Stouffer's French Bread Pizza. Meanwhile, it once again offers the Bumble Bee Chunk White Albacore Tuna after an absence in 2010.

The price of Digorno frozen pizza went down by $1.35 at Kroger. The grocery store was selling the frozen pizza for $6.99 in 2010 and now it is $5.64 this year. Target also lowered its price on the Digorno pizza by 50 cents. However, RiteAid increased its price by 70 cents and Walgreen's raised its price by 60 cents. The cheapest price on the frozen pizza is at Wal-Mart, which is selling it for $5.27 per box.

Wal-Mart has the lowest price on a 20 oz. classic loaf of Wonder White Bread for $1.68, 20 cents less than last year. Kmart raised its price on the bread by 50 cents from last year. CVS, RiteAid, Busch's and Kroger all raised their prices by 20 cents more. Meanwhile, Meijer lowered its price by 20 cents and now sells it for $2.59 each.

Hopefully, this report will influence your shopping decisions. If you are on a budget, now you know where to get the best deals on lunch foods for your family. Even if you aren't on a budget, this report should make you think twice about where to get the best value for your money.

This proves that the grocery store doesn't always have the cheapest price on groceries. To summarize: Wal-Mart has seven of the lowest prices. Hillers, Target and Kroger all have the lowest price on one item. In addition, there is a three-way tie for the cheapest price on the Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup at 79 cents each at Kroger, Meijer and Wal-Mart.

Related Story: Exclusive: Where To Find The Cheapest Breakfast Foods in Metro Detroit - 2011 Edition

 

RETAILERS Location Visited for this Investigation
Hillers 15455 Haggerty Road (at 5 Mile Road), Plymouth, MI 48170
Kroger 17447 Haggerty Road (north of 6 Mile Road), Northville, MI 48168
Busch's 37083 6 Mile Road (at Newburgh Road), Livonia, MI 48152
Meijer 20401 Haggerty Road (at 8 Mile Road), Northville, MI 48167
RiteAid 37399 6 Miile Road (at Newburgh Road), Livonia, MI 48152
Walgreen's 17001 Newburgh Road (at 6 Mile Road), Livonia, MI 48154
CVS 40900 Ann Arbor Rd. E (at Haggerty Road), Plymouth, MI 48170
Target 20100 Haggerty Rd. (near 8 Mile Road), Livonia, MI 48152
Kmart 40855 Ann Arbor Rd. E (at Haggerty Road), Plymouth, MI 48170
Wal-Mart 13507 Middlebelt Road (at I-96), Livonia, MI 48150

 

 

 

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Copyright © 2011 AmericaJR.com. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or use of Text, Photos, Videos, Site Template, Graphics and or Site Design is Prohibited by Federal and International laws. See our Notice/Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.

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