[Diddle E. Squat]

Sorry, the only grocers whose political leanings/contributions I know of were listed above.

IMHO Winn-Dixie just had an image problem in Dallas, many of its stores were older, and it just didn't have a 'hip' image(for lack of a better term) in the Dallas area. Plus grocery margins have always been tight.

Yeah, Target has really come in like gangbusters. Every new store(and many older expansions) adds a grocery section, and is marketed as a 'Supertarget'. A little pricier and not a huge selection, but the quality is high, a nice mix of specialty items and produce, so the all-in-one convenience is a big plus. Walmart is also moving toward superstores, with more selection and rock bottom prices. Personally I don't see how Minyards will be able to hang on for long(same older image as Winn-Dixie), and wouldn't be surprised if Albertson's pulls out(newer facades and supersize, but the stores are often trashy/dirty inside).

[Grampa Dave]

Some of the WalMarts out here on the West Coast have huge grocery sections. Ours is an upgraded 7-11. They carry some good local bakery breads and a few other things. Our local target has a 7-11 type area. Store rental/square foot is very expensive, and a grocery store item might not pay for the rent.

[Clemenza]

A&P was still pretty good when I was a kid in the 80s, although the best service was provided by my local C-Town Co-op. My personal favorite grocery store of any type is independent and expensive. As far as the mainstream chains are concerned, I find Publix to be reliable in Florida, Acme in Pennsylvania, Jewel in Chicago and Pathmark in New York.