Grocery Deals Guide: Save money at Raleigh area supermarkets with these tips and apps

Grocery shopping is getting more expensive.

Food prices have been rising for the past few years, and shoppers have seen about a 3% increase on their grocery bills since the end of 2022, according to recent research by NerdWallet.

To combat the rising price of groceries, The News & Observer put together a grocery store deals guide to help you save the most money while doing your weekly supermarket shopping.

Combining weekly savings ads, free rewards programs, store credit cards (with no annual fees) and linked fuel rewards points can help cut down dollars on the non-negotiable necessities.

We looked at the most popular and abundant national chain grocery stores and wholesale clubs in the Raleigh/Durham area and broke down the following offerings for our readers:

• Weekly ads and deals

• Rewards accounts offered by the supermarket

• Store credit cards and their cash back offerings

• Gas station rewards

• Store apps

• Insider tips you may not know about (some can help you save even more money)

• How many store locations there are in the Triangle

A few notes:

• Details are hyperlinked within the story. Print readers can find all this information on each store’s main website, which can be found with a quick internet search.

• We found most but likely not all cost-saving tricks at popular chain grocery stores in our region. This article is intended to provide a snapshot overview of store offerings to help slash receipts, not to give financial advice. If you have tips we missed that you think other readers might benefit from, send us an email at ask@newsobserver.com.

Here’s how you can track sales and cut your final receipt price at your favorite grocery stores in the Triangle:

How to save money at ALDI

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at ALDI:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. Ads are listed online, and shoppers can sign up using their email address to get them delivered straight to their inbox. On ALDI’s website, you can search products by category and even add items to your shopping list. ALDI also gives a sneak peek to deals featured in next week’s ad.

• Rewards account: Not offered.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The ALDI App has a shopping list tool that can help you create your own list while shopping store deals. The app’s QR code scanner can also help you learn more about items while shopping in store. Download the app on the App Store or through Google Play.

• Insider tip: ALDI lets customers “save up to 40% on their grocery bill compared to traditional retailers,” spokesperson Krysta Cearley said. The store doesn’t offer coupons or loyalty programs, instead offering the lowest possible prices. ALDI requires customers to pay a quarter to use a shopping cart (which gets reimbursed upon cart return) so the store doesn’t have to hire extra staff to restock the carts.

• Triangle locations: There are four stores in Raleigh, three in Cary and two in Garner. Apex, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina, Hillsborough, Holly Springs and Wake Forest each have one location.

This information was verified by Krysta Cearley, vice president of Aldi’s Salisbury division, in June 2024.

How to save money at Carlie C’s

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Carlie C’s IGA:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. The print ad is available online. Digital deals are also available online, which are separate from the deals featured in the weekly print ad. Digital deals do not have capped start and end dates, but are mostly available while supplies last.

• Rewards account: Carlie C’s Family Rewards accounts let customers clip digital coupons to be applied at checkout. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The Carlie C’s IGA app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: Carlie C’s Raleigh location also has a full-service pharmacy that accepts most major insurance carriers, offers vaccinations and allows online prescription refills.

• Triangle locations: One in Raleigh, one in Durham and one in Zebulon. (The Garner location closed this spring.)

This information was verified by Malia Allen, Carlie C’s marketing director, in June 2024.

How to save money at Dollar General

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Dollar General:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Sunday. You can find the Weekly Ad online or in the DG App (more below).

• Rewards account: My DG has digital coupons, cashback and personalized offers for shoppers. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: Dollar General offers two debit cards (not credit cards). The spendwell Cash Back Visa debit card offers unlimited 1% cash back that can only be applied to future Dollar General purchases. It costs $5 per month to have the card, which can be waived with any amount of direct deposit each month. The spendwell Visa debit card has no monthly usage fee but doesn’t offer cash back. Each card costs an additional $1 to activate. Neither card requires a minimum balance.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The DG App can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. The app lets you make a list to calculate your cart total ahead of time.

• Insider tip: Dollar General often offers a $5 off $25 purchase coupon with their receipts. True to their name, there’s a “Value Valley” aisle in each store (often called the Dollar Aisle) with regularly changing items that are all $1, which can include food, health, household/cleaning, toys and other items.

• Triangle locations: There are dozens of stores across the Triangle, including in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Carrboro, Garner, Zebulon and other towns.

This information was verified by the Dollar General public relations team in June 2024.

How to save money at Food Lion

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Food Lion:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. Ads are listed online, and you can digitally clip coupons online as well.

• Rewards account: The MVP Program offers instant coupons, a weekly flyer and monthly rewards on products. You can activate offers in your Digital MVP Account and redeem your Shop & Earn Rewards as grocery savings or charitable donation by the end of the month. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The Food Lion App has a shopping list tool that can help you create your own list while shopping store deals. Download the app on the App Store or through Google Play.

• Insider tip: Cha-Ching is another store brand that boasts affordability among a variety of products, including bread, snacks, baking, condiments, cereal and more. Cha-Ching brands can be even lower prices than store brand (marked “Food Lion”) versions. Most stores also offer to-go pickup for $1.99 and home delivery for $3.99 with a $35 minimum purchase.

• Triangle locations: There are a few dozen store locations in Raleigh alone, as well as stores in Apex, Cary, Garner, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville and more Triangle towns.

This information was verified by Katherine Kirby, Food Lion’s external communications manager, in June 2024.

How to save money at Fresh Market

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at The Fresh Market:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. Ads are listed online, and shoppers can sign up using their email address to get them delivered straight to their inbox.

• Rewards account: The Ultimate Loyalty Experience gives shoppers members-only prices, the opportunity to earn dollar-off rewards and access to digital coupons. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The Fresh Market App is available through the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: “Scan By Diet” is a new in-store offering that pairs with the store’s app. You can filter by allergens, health diets, lifestyle diets and ingredient inclusion. The app will display a green check or a red X after scanning the barcode to show you whether the item does or does not match your diet selections.

• Triangle locations: There are two stores in Raleigh. Chapel Hill, Cary and Durham also each have one location.

This information was verified by Meg McDonald, The Fresh Market’s manager of public relations, in June 2024.

How to save money at Harris Teeter

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Harris Teeter:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. Ads are listed online and can be found in the Harris Teeter App (details below).

• Rewards account: Harris Teeter offers three rewards accounts: VIC Card members (free), HT Plus ($59 annually) or the deluxe HT Plus ($99 annually). The free VIC Card program offers fuel rewards (details below), plus weekly coupons and specials. The paid programs offer double fuel points on transactions, plus extra discounts and free delivery perks.

• Credit card: The Harris Teeter Rewards Mastercard offers 5% cash back when using it in your mobile wallet and within the Harris Teeter App (details below) and 2% cash back on in-store purchases. Limited 3% cash back is offered on fuel and dining purchases as well. There is no annual fee.

• Gas station rewards: HT Fuel Points partner with your VIC Card. Partner stations include Harris Teeter Fuel, BP and Amoco. VIC Card members automatically save $0.03 per gallon at partner locations on every fill-up, but every $1 spent (when linked with your VIC Card) is 1 fuel point. Buying eligible gift cards and prescriptions at Harris Teeter gives you extra fuel points.

• App: You can download the Harris Teeter App on the App Store or through Google Play.

• Insider tip: Sign in to your account (linked to your VIC Card) to clip digital coupons. When you enter your mobile number or scan your card at check-out, the coupons will be applied to your order. Shoppers over 60 can take advantage of a 5% discount every Thursday when shopping with their VIC Card.

• Triangle locations: There are over a dozen stores in the Triangle across Raleigh, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Chapel Hill and Durham.

This information was verified by Cindy Sellars, senior account manager at Harris Teeter’s public relations agency, in June 2024.

How to save money at Lidl

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Lidl:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday, and you can find the ad online. Customers should use the weekly ad within the myLidl app (more below) to get the most out of Lidl’s promotional offers, said spokesperson Aimee Campbell.

• Rewards account: myLidl members can access coupons through the myLidl rewards program, which is free to join. Members can scan their app or enter their account phone number to earn rewards, which can be redeemed toward future purchases.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: The myLidl app is available in the App Store or through Google Play. myLidl members get a $5 off $30 coupon when they sign into the app for the first time.

• Insider tip: Many of Lidl’s pastries are imported from overseas and baked fresh in-store multiple times a day. Featured items are the butter pastries from France and pretzels from Germany.

• Triangle locations: There are two stores in Raleigh, plus one each in Cary, Apex and Garner.

This information was verified by Aimee Campbell, Lidl’s director of corporate affairs, in June 2024.

How to save money at Lowes Foods

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Lowes Foods:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. Click on offerings using the online digital ad to put items on your shopping list.

• Rewards account: The Fresh Rewards Card lets you take advantage of the weekly ad deals and gas rewards (details below). It’s free to sign up for the rewards program, and you can activate it in-store by entering your phone number or scanning your card at checkout.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Purchases made using your Fresh Rewards Card can be redeemed for discounts at participating Speedway and Lowes Foods gas stations. You need to first link your Fresh Rewards Card to your Speedy Rewards card (which is a free gas station rewards card, and a customer service rep can help you get this card at a Lowes store). You get $0.05 off per gallon for every $100 spent at Lowes Foods with your Fresh Rewards Card.

• App: The Lowes Foods app can be downloaded on the App Store or through Google Play.

• Insider tip: Lowes prides itself on being “more than just a grocery store,” said spokesperson Kelly Davis, highlighting its original areas that make the supermarket feel like an open-air market with different vendors and stands — Pick & Prep has a sous chef prep fruits and vegetables on demand (and the produce section lets you snip your own in-soil herbs) and Chicken Kitchen has fried chicken, wings, tenders, pot pies and more. Lowes also has daily specials Wednesday through Sunday for items like wine, chicken wings, sushi, ribs, focaccia and mimosas.

• Triangle locations: There are a few dozen stores across the Triangle, located in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro and more.

This information was verified by Kelly Davis, Lowes’ senior director of guest engagement, in June 2024.

How to save money at Publix

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Publix:

• Weekly deals: Ads are published on Wednesdays. Click on offerings using the online digital ad to put items on your shopping list. You can filter deals on Publix’s website to BOGO Savings (buy one get one free), and you can look for “Stacked Deals,” which have a BOGO discount plus a coupon offered to lower the price further. You can also add the “Publix Brand” filter (on top of your other cost-cutting filters) to find some store-brand versions of your favorites for less. Rewards members (details below) can access the weekly ad one day earlier than everyone else.

• Rewards account: Club Publix lets you clip digital coupons and pay with the app at checkout. The rewards offering (and coupled with the app, detailed below) personalizes recommendations for items and deals, helping you save money on future items based on your buying history. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Publix doesn’t offer a consistent gas rewards program, but there’s a workaround to get discounted gas while already shopping at Publix. Many online money-saving blogs have pointed out that the weekly ad sometimes offers a coupon for $10 off a $50 gas gift card, which can then be used at the station specified.

• App: You can download the Publix app from the App Store or through Google Play. The store also offers the Publix Delivery and Publix Pharmacy apps as separate app downloads.

• Insider tip: Publix has a special items request system that lets customers request an item that’s not currently in-store. There’s also a 5% senior discount on Wednesdays for customers 60+.

• Triangle locations: There are two store locations in Raleigh and three in Cary, plus one in Durham, Apex, Wake Forest and Clayton. More locations will open in 2025 in Raleigh, Garner and Rolesville.

This information was verified by Jared Glover, Publix’s media relations manager, in June 2024.

How to save money at Sprouts

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Sprouts Farmers Market:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday, and you can find the ad online. Sprouts account holders (details below) can get the ad delivered to their inboxes on Tuesdays. Sprouts also offers monthly deals, and you can use their website to filter your selections to “On Sale” to shop the weekly ad in another way.

• Rewards account: The Sprouts account can pre-load your deals onto your account and let you digitally clip coupons for in-store use. It’s free to sign up and connects with the Sprouts app (details below).

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: You can download the Sprouts app from the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: A Sprouts coupon and a manufacturer coupon can be combined on the purchase of a single item. Sprouts also offers an automatic 10% discount on select items when the entire case is purchased, and this discount can be coupled with coupons.

• Triangle locations: There’s one location in Raleigh and one in Durham.

This information was verified by Sprouts’ media relations team in June 2024.

How to save money at Target

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Target:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Sunday. You can see the weekly ad online or on your Target app (details below).

• Rewards account: Target Circle automatically provides discounts at checkout and lets you earn Target Circle Rewards, store credit that can be used as payment toward future purchases. Target Circle is a free program, while Target Circle 360 is a paid membership that includes more perks, like same-day delivery, an additional 30 days on returns and free two-day standard shipping. It’s $99 per year, but Circle Card holders (see below) get this discounted to $49 per year.

• Credit card: Circle Card offers a 5% discount on every Target purchase, on top of Target circle deals. There are three options: credit, debit or reloadable cards. Credit cards also let you earn 2% cash back on dining and gas purchases and 1% on all purchases. There is no monthly or sign-up fee required to have any of the three cards.

• Gas station rewards: None offered, but you can get 2% cash back when using your Circle Card credit card at applicable gas stations. (Debit and reloadable cardholders don’t have this benefit.)

• App: Download the Target app from the App Store or Google Play to save digital coupons, see the weekly ad and connect your Circle Card to your digital wallet.

• Insider tip: You can stack up to three coupons per item for the ultimate discount. Target accepts only one manufacturer coupon, one Target category offer and one Target item-level offer for one individual item.

• Triangle locations: There are six store locations in Raleigh, two each in Durham, Cary and Garner. There’s one store in Chapel Hill, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Wake Forest and Knightdale.

This information was verified by Olivia Olson, Target’s senior media specialist, in June 2024.

How to save money at Trader Joe’s

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Trader Joe’s:

• Weekly deals: Not offered. Trader Joe’s doesn’t have a weekly flyer, but the monthly Fearless Flyer features products, deals and recipes, highlighting new and seasonal items.

• Rewards account: Not offered. “We simply offer everyday low prices every day. No coupons, no membership cards, no discounts, no glitzy promotions or couponing wars at our stores. We can do this because we work directly with our suppliers and minimize our costs wherever possible so that we can share those savings with our customers,” said spokesperson Nakia Rohde.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: Not offered.

• Insider tip: Take a moment to admire the signs around the store, as most of them were handwritten and decorated by local artists to “inform and delight customers,” Rohde said. Each Trader Joe’s location has its own team of artists to hand-make the shelf tags, product signs and wall murals that are unique to each store location’s neighborhood.

• Triangle locations: There’s one store location each in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill and Morrisville. Another Raleigh location will be opening soon.

This information was verified by Nakia Rohde, public relations manager, in June 2024.

How to save money at Walmart

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Walmart:

• Weekly deals: Walmart doesn’t have a weekly ad, but you can shop deals on their website or app (details below). Using the website or app, filter by “Clearance” or “Flash Deals” to save big on appliances, furniture and other household items typically sold at a high price.

• Rewards account: Walmart+ (or W+) is $12.95 per month or $98 per year, plus tax. This program offers free delivery (including groceries) and gas station savings, along with other perks like auto care and travel cash back rewards.

• Credit card: Walmart Credit Card holders get 5% cashback when shopping online at Walmart.com and 2% cashback for in-store purchases. The credit card has no annual fees and is offered through Capital One. If you add this credit card to Walmart Pay, you can also earn 5% cash back in store for 12 months. Walmart’s MoneyCard is a debit card with possible monthly fees that offers up to $75 cash back per year through in-store and online purchases.

• Gas station rewards: Walmart Credit Card holders get 2% cash back at Walmart and Murphy’s fuel stations. Walmart+ members get 10 cents off each gallon at participating Exxon, Mobil and Sam’s Club stations.

• App: Download the Walmart app from the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: Walmart offers Sensory-Friendly Shopping 8-10 a.m. every day across a number of stores in the Triangle. Call ahead to see if your local Walmart offers sensory-friendly hours each morning, which would include dimmed lighting, the radio turned off and in-store TVs set to a static, low-sensory image.

• Triangle locations: There are Neighborhood Stores and Supercenters across the Triangle with locations in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina, Clayton, Knightdale and more.

Walmart did not respond to requests to verify this information. Everything presented in this article has been taken directly from Walmart’s website as of June 2024.

How to save money at Weaver Street Market

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Weaver Street Market:

• Weekly deals: Weaver Street is a co-op, meaning the store is owned by shoppers and employees (but anyone can shop at the co-op). An owner share is $75, which comes with weekly rewards. Owners’ specials begin every Wednesday and can be found online, along with other rotating specials featuring seasonal produce and holiday offerings. EBT cardholders can get a free owner’s share and a 20% discount on most items through the FOOD for ALL Program.

• Rewards account: The loyalty program looks different at co-ops than traditional grocery stores, as members are owners and buy into the store itself. (In profitable years, owners may receive a patronage dividend, said spokesperson Brenda Camp.) Owners can create WeaverConnect accounts to receive emails with weekly specials, upcoming events and more.

• Credit card: Not offered.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: Not offered.

• Insider tip: Weaver Street doesn’t use paper or plastic bags, encouraging their shoppers to bring reusable bags for all items. You can instead buy a “bring it back sack,” a bag made of recycled plastic that can be reused up to 125 times, for 15 cents. The “bring it back jar” is sold with dried fruits and nuts, and Weaver Street gives customers a $1.25 deposit refund when they bring back the jar and lid. The store also offers 10% case discounts for 12 or more bottles of wine.

• Triangle locations: Weaver Street Market is unique to the Triangle with only four locations: Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh.

This information was verified by Brenda Camp, marketing professional for Weaver Street Market, in June 2024.

How to save money at Wegmans

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Wegmans:

• Weekly deals: Wegmans only publishes flyers a few times throughout the year, centered around holidays.

• Rewards account: The Wegmans Shoppers Club lets you save more with the store’s regular sale prices, and the membership offers digital coupons and personalized recommendations based on your shopping history. It’s free to sign up.

• Credit card: The Wegmans for Business Charge Card is only available for businesses and not individual customers. You must be a Wegmans for Business member to apply for this card, which has an annual fee of $100.

• Gas station rewards: Not offered.

• App: You can download the Wegmans app from the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: You can double up on coupons, using both a Wegmans coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon, on eligible items. Plus, manufacturers’ coupons with a face value of $0.99 or less are doubled.

• Triangle locations: There are store locations in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, West Cary and Wake Forest.

This information was verified by Marcie Rivera, Wegmans’ senior public relations coordinator, in June 2024.

How to save money at Whole Foods

Here’s what to know about cost-cutting at Whole Foods Market:

• Weekly deals: Specials begin every Wednesday. You can see the weekly ad online or on your Whole Foods app (details below).

• Rewards account: Amazon Prime members are considered rewards members at Whole Foods. Prime members get an additional 10% off sale prices, excluding alcohol. There are also Prime-specific deals, which you can find online and in app (details below).

• Credit card: Prime Visa card members can earn 5% cash back online or in-store at both Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership. A Whole Foods Market credit card design is available for Prime members.

• Gas station rewards: Store purchases don’t translate to gas rewards, but Prime Card holders get 2% cash back at eligible gas stations.

• App: You can download the Whole Foods Market app through the App Store or Google Play.

• Insider tip: Amazon One “palm payment” is now available in all Whole Foods locations, letting Prime members link their palms to their Amazon accounts and payment methods to literally pay with a quick wave of their hands. Prime members can also subscribe to unlimited grocery delivery (on orders over $35) for $9.99 per month, and customers with registered EBT cards can get this subscription for $4.99 per month without a Prime membership.

• Triangle locations: There are two store locations each in Raleigh and Cary, plus one each in Chapel Hill and Durham.

This information was verified by Carrie Rodgers of Whole Foods’ corporate communications team in June 2024.

This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 8:00 AM.

Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

The News & Observer

919-419-6630

Kimberly Tutuska (she/her) is the editor of North Carolina’s service journalism team.