Tale of the (Register) Tape

In the last week of August, we compared the prices of 15 common food and household items at the three different chain grocery stores in Lorton: Giant, Shoppers Food Warehouse and Bloom. Our items included bread, milk, cereal, laundry soap, veggies, pet food and more.

Here's what we found:

KEY: G = purchased at Giant; S = purchased at Shoppers Food Warehouse; B = purchased at Bloom

Product

Bread: G - $2.99  (Dutch City); S - 2.79 (Stroehmann); B - 2.19 (Stroehmann)

Hot Dog Rolls (store): G - $1.25; S - 1.59; B - 2.00

Milk (store): G - $1.59 quart; S - 1.39 quart; B - 1.79 quart

Honey Bunches of Oats: G - $3.99; S - 3.69; B - $2.79

Bumble Bee Tuna Light Chunk (regular size cans): G - $1.59; S - 1.59; B - 1.75

Caesar Salad Dressing: G - $3.29; S - 3.19; B - 2.99

Dawn Dish Detergent: G - $3.19; S - 3.19; B - 2.99

Tide (Loads of Hope) 50 oz: G - $8.49; S - 7.79; B - 8.39

Swiss Cheese (deli style): G - $3.29 (Sargento); S - 3.99 (Kraft); B - 2.89 (Sargento)

Vine Tomatoes (per pound): G - $1.77  lb; S - 1.99 lb; B - 2.99 lb

Head Lettuce  (per head): G - $1.89; S - 1.29; B - 1.49

Purina Dry Cat Food: G - $6.69; S - 6.58; B - 5.49

Paper Towel (store): G - $1.00; S - 1.00; B - .99

Toilet Paper (store) (4 roll): G - $1.00; S - 3.00; B -1.29

Bananas (per pound): G - $.68; S - .55; B - .58

Smoked Turkey (Deli): G - $3.49 Hormel; S - 3.99 Oscar Meyer; B - 3.99 Oscar Meyer

Note: Most items were available in all stores. Where similar (rather than same) items were compared, the brand name is indicated with the price.