Grocery Stores Ranked (Best and Most Expensive)

Safeway has the overall highest prices among Washington, D.C., area grocery chains, and that doesn’t translate into the happiest customers.

A survey by Washington Consumer’s Checkbook says buyers give the highest marks for superior quality to Wegmans. The Rochester, N.Y.-based chain has 10 Washington area locations with plans for more and shoppers love it. The chain had a 94 percent superior” overall ranking.

As a bonus, its prices are about 11 percent lower than average prices at Safeway.

»What grocery store is your go-to? Does price, convenience or quality of goods matter most? Tell us in comments.

At the low end of the price scale is Aldi, Walmart, Food Lion and Target. Filling your food pantry at those stores can save a family an estimated $700 to $1,700 a year.

Harris Teeter – which typically keeps its prices between Safeway and Giant -- earned much higher rankings than either of those chains for quality of fresh produce, quality of meats and overall quality.

The survey ranked Whole Foods Mark as the most expensive chain in the area, but it also ranked fairly high for quality, WTOP reports.

Customer ratings for quality as “superior” overall:

• Wegmans: 94 percent
• Whole Foods Market: 77 percent
• Balduci’s: 77 percent
• Harris Teeter: 73 percent
• Giant: 39 percent
• Food Lion: 38 percent
• Shopper’s Food Warehouse: 38 percent
• Safeway: 34 percent
• Target: 29 percent
• Walmart: 26 percent

Washington Consumers’ Checkbook is providing WTOP.com readers a look at the full ratings for a limited time.

»Patch file photo of Giant store