Numerous factors have sent grocery prices skyrocketing. Even before these events, the following grocery store chains had much higher prices than their competitors. Here are the 30 most expensive, overpriced grocers in the world.
30. Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is a bit confusing when you get down to it. It started as a grocery store but then became a department store. It still does sell some quality food, but it will come at a hefty price tag. Want some tea and biscuits in London? Fortnum & Mason is the place to go!
29. Dean & DeLuca
If you are looking for gourmet foods in New York City, then look no further than Dean and DeLuca. You will get high-quality food for high prices. This store has expanded since it started, first throughout the United States and then globally.
28. Fauchon
Paris has a lot of high-end stores, so it is no surprise that it has the high-end grocery store Fauchon. It sells deli meats, cheeses, wines, spirits, and more. If you are ever in Paris, this store is definitely a place to experience.
27. Eataly
Eataly is an Italian jack-of-all-trades place. It has a food hall, retail space, bakery, and a cooking school. Some might accuse it of not being a grocery store, but it does sell some grocery items, which is why it is on this list.
26. La Grande Épicerie de Paris
This grocery store in Paris is not a cheap one at all. If you want delicacies, then this is the place to go. La Grande Épicerie de Paris has some of the finest wines and international foods around.
25. Balducci’s
Balducci’s is big in the Midwestern United States (a surprise, I know). The store has a luxurious feel to it, and the prices will reflect that. The special part about Balducci’s is it might be an American store, but it has a wide selection of international food.
24. Peck
Peck is an Italian grocery store that has all things Italian. It is also a food hall, giving you the chance to enjoy the delicious food it has to offer. All the products there are gourmet, meaning that they are expensive!
23. Bergdorf Goodman
A department store might be a weird choice for this list, but this department store does offer some food options. On their website, there is a whole section for gourmet food and sweets. It’s not a traditional grocery store, but the food they offer is fantastic and also expensive.
22. The Alaskan Commercial Company
The Alaskan Commercial Company will only be found in Alaska, but it is known for having higher prices. Some have compared the store to Walmart, but say the comparison stops when looking at price tags. Shipping goods to Alaska is expensive, so locals are used to outrageous prices almost everywhere.
21. Waitrose
Waitrose is a London-based grocery store that has high prices. A lot of the food sold there is gourmet, so it makes sense that the price tags are a bit higher than in other places. You have to pay for quality!
20. City’super
City’super is mainly located in Hong Kong, but it does have other locations in Asia. It provides customers with fresh produce and other delicious food. But be warned – since it is on this list, that means it is not cheap to shop there. But I guess that doesn’t matter when you taste the delicious food housed in the food court.
19. La Rinascente Food Hall
La Rinascente is technically a department store, but it also has a food hall that sells gourmet food. The Italian food hall offers a nice selection of food to try! This is another one on the list that is a bit of an exception. But I like exceptions, especially when it involves good food.
18. Jelmoli Food Market
Jelmoli Food Market is another department store that has a food section. There seems to be a theme with these, and it is that the food is gourmet and it is expensive. The store has wine and cheeses for you to sample and fresh produce and herbs.
17. Isetan Food Hall
The Isetan Food Hall is like a hidden treasure since it is located underneath a department store. It has a lot of high-quality foods with those high price tags. But you will want to pay the price for fresh fish and even Bento boxes!
16. Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s is a British supermarket. It might not be the most expensive store on this list, but it is still more expensive than other cheaper stores. You might be able to buy a whole meal here at a cheaper price, but your wallet will still feel it later.
15. Pusateri’s Fine Foods
Located in Toronto, Pusateri’s Fine Foods might not be known to many since it is only local to that area. However, those shopping there are going to spend more than at other stores. But to be fair, Pusateri’s does more than sell groceries – it also caters and can create meal plans for you.
14. Ginza Mitsukoshi Food Hall
Ginza Mitsukoshi Food Hall is home to gourmet foods, which means it is home to higher prices. It might be a food hall but you can also get some groceries there, which is why it is on this list.
13. Jones the Grocer
Jones the Grocer started in Australia but doesn’t have any stores there anymore. It is now mainly located in the Middle East and South Asia. Even with the new locations, prices haven’t gone down in this store. The food is high-quality though, which makes it semi-worth it to pay the price for it.
12. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is known for their gimmicky products. They do have some good pricing on certain products, but others are very much on the expensive side. This is one of the middle-of-the-road stores, where prices could be worse, but they could also be better.
11. Sprouts
Sprouts is an American-based chain that provides customers with quality organic and natural foods. Organic is more expensive, so this store has higher prices than others. This is another middle-of-the-road store, which could be more expensive than it is but could also be cheaper.
10. PCC Community Markets
PCC Community Markets was founded by 15 Seattle families who formed a food-buying club. Now, it’s the largest consumer-owned food co-op in the US. Fresh, seasonal, local, organic, and sustainable produce is its top priority. Customers say the chain of 15 stores is easily the most expensive in the Seattle area and other Washington locations.
9. Gelson’s
Founded in Burbank, California, in 1951, Gelson’s might be the first “luxury grocery store.” Nearly all its Southern California stores are in upper-class neighborhoods. There’s a juice bar, Wolfgang Puck’s build-your-own pizza station, a coffee bar, a bakery, and its own CBD-infused beauty products. Everything’s pricey. Gelson’s charges about $3 more for a gallon of milk than average stores.
8. Giant Eagle
Five families established Giant Eagle in 1936. While it’s known as one of the most innovative grocery stores around, it’s equally known for high prices. Giant Eagle consistently comes out on top for the highest prices compared to other grocery stores in its area. Still, customers love its wine and beer tastings, restaurant-quality prepared foods, and huge selection
7. Publix
Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the US, was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida. It added a bakery in 1957. Publix is known for charging significantly more for groceries than other stores. For example, eggs are double that of other Florida stores, and milk is 50% higher. The company cites customer service and experience to justify its prices.
6. Wegmans
Wegmans was founded in 1916 in Rochester, New York. Despite its high prices, people love the grocer. Wegmans offers an amazing ambiance, outstanding customer service, and top-quality, gourmet prepared foods. There’s also a large international section. Customers argue the prices are worth it. Wegmans ranked second to Disney World as the most-loved off-line brand in 2017.
5. The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market was founded in 1982 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The goal was to create a European-style open market. But you pay a premium for that farmer’s market atmosphere. There are also many pricey private-label products sourced from all over the world. Simply put, this isn’t a store for savings. The primary demographic is not the average shopper.
4. Acme Markets
What is now Acme was founded in 1891 by Irish immigrants in South Philadelphia. Today, this chain is popular in the mid-Atlantic. Acme’s prices are 12% higher on average. The store claims prices reflect high-quality products and friendly service. However, Acme ranked as one of the lowest in the US for quality and convenience, according to a Consumer Reports survey.
3. Harris Teeter
Harris and Teeter merged their separate markets in 1960 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kroger acquired the Southern-only chain in 2013 for $2.5 billion. Some experts say it’s the second-most costly grocer in the US. The chain focuses on high-quality and premium offerings, as well as prepared foods to go. They also have an enormous selection of alcohol and wines.
Read More: 20 Grocery Store Rip-Offs You Should Never Buy
2. Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods, now a subsidiary of Amazon, started as a vegetarian natural food store in Austin in 1978. It’s been joked: “Whole Foods? More like your whole paycheck.” Prices are 20% higher than typical grocers on average. They were fined $800,000 for misleading customers and overcharging. Despite exorbitant prices, customers love them for their high standards and environmental stance.
Read More: 10 Overpriced Products That People STILL Buy
1. Erewhon Market
Erewhon was founded in Boston in 1966 and moved to LA three years later. Who knew shopping at a particular grocery store was a status symbol? Celebrities flock to this luxury market such as Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian, Jake Gyllenhaal, Demi Lovato, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more. Vanity Fair reported a full shopping cart at Erewhon runs more than $1000.
Want to shop cheaper? Here’s our cheat sheet on what to buy (and what never to buy) at Walmart and Sam’s Club.
