dpKroger offers shoppers the least-expensive food items, according to a study by Restaurant Furniture Plus.
The B2B online distributor and wholesaler of commercial-grade foodservice furnishings compared 15 popular everyday items from four major grocery stores—Kroger, Walmart, Aldi and Albertsons—to determine the lowest overall cost. Kroger was the least expensive with an overall basket cost of $30.
The Cincinnati-based grocer offered the lowest prices on 10 of the 15 items analyzed, topping all retailers. Kroger excelled in the pantry category, offering the lowest prices on items such as canned diced tomatoes (72 cents for a 14.5-ounce can), spaghetti (96 cents for a 16-ounce pack) and granulated sugar ($2.56 for a four-pound bag). A dozen large eggs ($1.29) and a 20-ounce loaf of wheat bread ($1.40) also ranked lowest for the group.
Walmart finished second with a total basket cost of $30.95. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer had the lowest cost in three of the 15 items analyzed. The retailer performed best in the staple pantry and protein categories, offering the lowest-price chicken breast ($1.95 per pound), white rice ($1.34 for a two-pound bag) and canned black beans (85 cents for a 15-ounce can).
Aldi finished third with a total basket cost of $33.15 and had the lowest price in two of the 15 products. The Batavia, Ill.-based grocer had the cheapest gallon of whole milk ($3.05).
Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, finished fourth with a total basket cost of $35.58.
In May, Kroger announced it was working on a plan to cut prices on thousands of items. CEO Greg Foran said the company will test price reductions before rolling them out more broadly and phasing them into stores.
To cut costs, Kroger plans to reduce internal expenses, including importing merchandise directly and using technology more effectively.
