does Walmart stock their foodshelves with older food than other stores. I often wondered about that when buying there. And I wonder about Target also. I thought maybe they get their stuff cheaper because its dated and therefore can sell cheaper.
?---is Walmart food as fresh as supermarket foods
- Thread starter georgevan
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If you are worried about that, check the best before dates on the stuff you are considering buying.
buckytom
Chef Extraordinaire
I can't speak for the results of either business model and execution, but the proof is in the pudding.
Have you noticed lesser quality ingredients from either store? Or is it just conjecture at this point?
Speaking plainly, have ypu had bad experiences with foods from either store?
Have you noticed lesser quality ingredients from either store? Or is it just conjecture at this point?
Speaking plainly, have ypu had bad experiences with foods from either store?
Just Cooking
Master Chef
My goodness. 
Ross
Ross
cookwewill
Senior Cook
Wallmart or any other huge chain are massive operations with logistics fine tuned to the T, they cannot count on some producers having some old leftover foods to supply them with for cheap
At the same time, they have HUGE buying power and can negotiate better prices than the smaller competitors. Many producers are willing to take lower margins in exchange for the security of a massive longterm contract that allows them to plan better, produce non-stop etc...
Some of their products might be, and definitely are, of lower quality, especially when it comes to the private brands. These are meant to be cheap and the quality and contents reflect it... thats the same all over the world.
karadekoolaid
Head Chef
Just had a quick look at Walmart online.
Over 4,700 supermarkets in the US.
Processes about $36,000,000 per HOUR in sales.
That means they have incredible bargaining power and the ability to purchase enormous quantities of foodstuffs at the cheapest prices possible.
I seriously doubt they´d be buying food that´s not as fresh as other companies.
What might happen at a particular store is that some products won´t sell as quickly as others, that´s all, so turnover is longer.
Over 4,700 supermarkets in the US.
Processes about $36,000,000 per HOUR in sales.
That means they have incredible bargaining power and the ability to purchase enormous quantities of foodstuffs at the cheapest prices possible.
I seriously doubt they´d be buying food that´s not as fresh as other companies.
What might happen at a particular store is that some products won´t sell as quickly as others, that´s all, so turnover is longer.
Not speaking about Walmart in particular, but some house brands are lower quality and some are really good and others are somewhere in between. You have to figure out which house brands are good for which products. Many items sold as house brands were actually manufactured by the big label companies, just with a different label.
cookwewill
Senior Cook
Yup, I didn't want to sound like I look down on all private/house brands. But I treat these with a bit of caution, especially when they're much cheaper than their big label counterparts.
You're right that some of these are actually of very good quality and I do personally buy some, but most often than not, I stay away from them.
Cooking Goddess
Chef Extraordinaire
The main reason private label products are cheaper? No advertising costs. Lots of money spent on advertising Cheerios, none for Trader Joe's version...and Himself preferred TJ's version. Same with Rice Crispies vs Aldi Crisped Rice - we both prefer Aldi's.
Shout out to Aldi and their products. I first started shopping there in the mid-1980's for my Ohio Girl Scout troop. Hungry girls camping will eat anything! For the family, though, I got mostly milk and eggs. Aldi wasn't in New England until about twenty years later, after we had lived here five years. I could not believe the enormous improvement in the quality and flavor of their grocery products. It does take some adjustments to the difference between them and a regular U.S. grocery store, but I like saving money.
Shout out to Aldi and their products. I first started shopping there in the mid-1980's for my Ohio Girl Scout troop. Hungry girls camping will eat anything! For the family, though, I got mostly milk and eggs. Aldi wasn't in New England until about twenty years later, after we had lived here five years. I could not believe the enormous improvement in the quality and flavor of their grocery products. It does take some adjustments to the difference between them and a regular U.S. grocery store, but I like saving money.
Linda0818
Head Chef
I enjoy Aldi as well. I picked up a huge bone-in ham (my favorite) for Christmas dinner this year (er, well, last year) for $11. I hit Kroger after that for a few things I needed that Aldi didn't have and checked out their hams, for the heck of it. Basically, the same size and type of ham I got at Aldi for $11 was priced at $25 at Kroger.
As to the OP's question, I've never had any issues with food from Walmart, as far as cheaper stuff goes. I have, however, had many issues with finding outdated foods at dollar stores. Those you really have to watch. A lot of their items are already expired or about to expire.
Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Walmart food is sometimes too fresh, especially frits, and veggies. Try and find properly ripe bananas, or ripe melons. Even the plumbs and peaches can be under ripe. Just when the bananas start to get brown spots, showing they are just right, they're removed from the shelves as many people won't purchase them.
As for other goods, because of their purchasing power, they can dictate to some companies how the products are to be made,, which is sometimes of lesser quality so that thee item can be sold for less. I won't name the brand, but I purchased a well known, high quality brand hunting boot from Walmart. They didn't hold up, or perform nearly as well as the same boot from a higher end store, that specialized in high quality goods. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
On the other hand, I found pork sirloin roasts at Walmart that were superior to the dame cut from other supermarkets. Meyer stores had the best food quality, and best selection of any store in our area. Their prices were higher though.
Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
As for other goods, because of their purchasing power, they can dictate to some companies how the products are to be made,, which is sometimes of lesser quality so that thee item can be sold for less. I won't name the brand, but I purchased a well known, high quality brand hunting boot from Walmart. They didn't hold up, or perform nearly as well as the same boot from a higher end store, that specialized in high quality goods. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
On the other hand, I found pork sirloin roasts at Walmart that were superior to the dame cut from other supermarkets. Meyer stores had the best food quality, and best selection of any store in our area. Their prices were higher though.
Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
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