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That's really sad that Kroger pulled out of - ALL of Florida?? Wow. Was the competition from Publix too much?

Here in Bluffton, SC, we have a massive new "super" Kroger - it even has a bar with a bartender - so you can sample all the wines Kroger sells - and I guess sample other drinks (I haven't actually taken advantage of the "Kro-Bar" yet.)

Plus this Kroger has a giant "dept. store" like a Walmart or Target. It's a massive box store - I understand it's the largest Kroger in the Southeast US.

I don't know why, but there is another Kroger not far from the big one I mentioned above. I think it's just a supermarket - I actually haven't been there yet. And that Kroger is close to yet another Publix.

We have two Walmarts (not far from each other) and a Sam's Club. Plus a Target, which has somewhat of a grocery store - very limited selection though.

I've never understood the appeal of Aldi. Been to stores both in CT and SC. We have one in Bluffton and there's a fancy new one in nearby Beaufort, SC. It's fun to find an occasional delicious item from Germany or Switzerland, but other than that, I'm not a fan.

There are two gorgeous Harris-Teeter supermarkets on Hilton Head Island. HHI is nearby, but also kind of a hike with the traffic. Wish they'd put one here in the Bluffton area. Beautiful store - just like the ones I was used to up in the northeast.

We've never had a Winn Dixie nor Piggly Wiggly in this area (that I know of). There used to be a Whole Foods on Hilton Head Island, but for some reason, it went out of business. There is a Fresh Market there, which I love, but it's expensive and has limited selection. It's not a store I would regularly shop at.

Kroger delivery didn't last long at all in SE FL. They pulled out of there about two years ago. Due to traffic, it took delivery drivers two hours to get from the Miami area up to Jupiter. That's a long haul one way.

In the Tampa Bay area, the Kroger delivery service was great.

I used to love shopping at Harris Teeter when living in NC. They were my fav by far. HT's own label President's Choice was always great quality. Kroger's own better label Private Selection is also excellent quality.

Aldi doesn't care about shopping ambience. They do, however, chase after quality with ongoing testing of stocked brands and items to ensure ingredients and quality continue to be as good as they were when companies pitched the products to Aldi for shelf space.

Kroger is unionized, and on a death spiral. A once great family run grocery chain from Ohio.

Publix is profit-sharing private company— employees are well compensated. Quality of the stores and presentation are all top notch. Drove Kroger out of FL.

And, uh, Aldi— picked up 400 former Winn-Dixie locations as well as the huge Jacksonville, FL refrigerated and other warehouse/railroad/shipping hub. Aldi owns Trader Joes. They are German— there’s Aldi Nord, and Aldi Sud. Perhaps overextended, but their main target is wally world and the mystery meat they sell (from mehico, unattributed).