Ohio Is Home To Two Of The Most Overpriced Grocery Stores In America

Grocery shopping has become a luxury for some, a struggle for others, and not even a thought for the rest. It was already expensive to feed your family as the food industry always has varying prices but then the Covid-19 pandemic hit causing the supply and demand to skyrocket while the shelves were being emptied in a panic. Coming out of the global pandemic hasn't been any better as the time off cause many companies to inflate their prices to minimize their losses.

Many people have turned to going to Aldi, which has been labeled as the most cost-effective grocery store in the country but even their prices are starting to rise. One of the toughest things about grocery shopping is that it has to be done but with so many options and competitors, everyone is able to find what suits them and some of us like to choose the cheaper options. If that's the case, grocery shoppers in Ohio should steer clear of these two grocery stores as they are two of the most expensive in the nation.

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Delish, the food website took it upon themselves to research and write about the most overpriced grocery stores in America. As it turns out, Ohio has multiple locations for two of the worst in the country. Do you think you can guess what they are? I think one of them is a little bit easier to think of or figure out than the other is but both of them are pretty well known.

The first of the two is one that has been considered to be one of the most expensive grocery stores in the country since its creation, that would be Whole foods. In 2017, it was purchased by Amazon, which led to price decreases, but Whole Foods still remains financially inaccessible to many shoppers. And now, with the rising cost of living, the store’s exclusivity is even more blatant. When describing how pricey Whole Foods can be, Delish said this:

There’s a reason why Whole Foods is often referred to as “Whole Paycheck.” Since being founded in 1980, Whole Foods has earned a reputation for being one of the most overpriced grocery stores in the country. It’s faced scandal after scandal, from selling a bottle of water with three stalks of asparagus for $6, to their former CEO blaming America’s obesity crisis on “making poor choices” and “ignorance.”

The other of the two, which is harder to guess is The Fresh Market and I can't say that I have ever personally been to one of their locations but a name like The Fresh Market just sounds expensive. America was graced with The Fresh Markets based upon the open-air market vibe in Europe and they are committed to providing high quality groceries which is driving their prices up. Here's what Delish had to say about them:

The Fresh Market was founded by Ray and Beverly Berry in 1982 after they took a trip to Europe and were inspired by all the open-air markets. They now have 159 locations in 22 states and are dedicated to offering high-quality groceries.

The Fresh Market sells great products in every department. You can stock up on house-made croissants, freshly cut floral arrangements, specialty cheeses, and luxurious private-label products sourced from artisans all over the world. It sounds like the grocery store of everyone’s dreams—but there’s a catch. It’s pricey. With most of its locations situated in affluent areas, it’s clear that their primary demographic is not the average shopper.

There are 4 The Fresh Market locations in Ohio with 2 in Cincinnati, 1 in Toledo, and 1 in West Chester. Meanwhile there are a total of 10 Whole Food locations scattered across the state of Ohio. I'm not saying that you should avoid these stores because they do have great products and groceries, but your wallet would probably appreciate a trip to Aldi or another grocery store from time to time.