'The Kroger Company is the largest supermarket operator in the U.S. by revenue[12] and the country's fifth-largest general retailer.[13] The company is one of the largest American-owned private employers in the United States.[14][15][16] Additionally, Kroger is ranked No. 17 on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest U.S. corporations by total revenue.[17] It is frequently listed as being a good dividend stock for investors in 2024.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroger

'With 2,253 stores as of the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 and 270,000 employees as of fiscal year 2019,[3][8][6] the company is the second-largest supermarket chain in North America after Kroger.[9][10] Albertsons ranked 53rd in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.[11] Prior to its January 2015 merger with Safeway Inc. for $9.2 billion,[12] it had 1,075 supermarkets located in 29 U.S. states under 12 different regional banners.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertsons

I'd say that we were lucky, but what I've noticed is the use of plastic - for everything. Baked goods, vegetables, meat products, deli items, even paper products - everything comes in or is wrapped with plastic. And yet as of several years ago they no longer use plastic bags in stores.

have plastic bags, tho paper available.

NJ daughter seems to have different shopping available, and nearby daughter more mobile than I (out of necessity; younger grand daughter entering kindergarten later today, and her brother in 5th grade!!!)

And school is starting already? When I was in school I went away to summer camp and we stayed until the end of August - no matter what state the girls came from, Canada, too. The first day of school in these parts is Thursday, September 5th.

NJ kid's public school starts Sept. 5 too. MY NY State schools (Nassau County, '54!!!) started after Labor Day (Aug 29 was my parent's wedding anniversary; brother and I were adopted by Dad's new wife some months later, and I entered 5th grade just after Labor Day.) Don't know when exactly I returned from summer camp (in Conn.)

Is the highest priced regular grocery store in our area of north Texas. A few years ago, they bought Randall's Foods which own Tom Thumb grocery. Their prices shot right up.