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Read The News & Observer for tips and advice to make the best choices while shopping for groceries — and more — at traditional grocers and wholesale clubs in North Carolina.
Read more We price-checked groceries at 12 Raleigh stores to find the best value for 2026
The News & Observer visited 12 major grocery stores in Raleigh this September, price-checking 30 items across stores to see where shoppers can find the best value.
We only compared regular prices, but rewards programs and store sales can help shoppers reduce costs every time they shop.
Many of the grocery stores The News & Observer price checked displayed sale prices in addition to regular prices. Some sales are locked into the price at checkout while others require a loyalty number to unlock more savings.
Of the stores checked, Target, Lidl, Publix, Food Lion, Lowes Food and Wegmans offer free access to their loyalty programs. Some, like Trader Joe’s, don’t have a set program to offer all customers deals, or they have tiered memberships that may or may not have a free option.
Here’s a roundup of store deals and loyalty programs to help you shop more affordably.
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Paid grocery store memberships can be a splurge for some families, while others say it helps them save a lot of money.
For their lowest-level annual memberships, Sam’s Club costs $50, BJ’s costs $60 and Costco costs $65.
“A Sam’s Club membership is worth it for the prices,” Robyn Minyard said in a local Walmart. “They have good quality food and good prices on toilet paper and paper towels. You can also save on gas.”
Andrew Clagon also shops at Sam’s Club but feels like it is only sometimes worth it. “It really only helps if you’re buying in bulk,” he said.
Organic grocery stores also provide rewards for customers when affordability can price some shoppers out. Sprouts offers a loyalty program through their app, and Whole Foods uses Amazon Prime for their customer rewards and loyalty programs.
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We hope to price check wholesale clubs and organic grocers in the future.
This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 5:30 AM.