I visited Food Lion for the first time, and the grocery store is truly a coupon lover's dream

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I visited Food Lion for the first time, and the grocery store is truly a coupon lover's dream
  • Food Lion is known for consistently offering great deals on a variety of groceries.
  • While on a recent trip to South Carolina, I went to check out what this supermarket was like.
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I love food shopping, so I was excited for my first trip to the regional Food Lion chain.

I love food shopping, so I was excited for my first trip to the regional Food Lion chain.
I was excited to check it out for myself.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Food Lion, a grocery store owned by Ahold Delhaize USA with locations in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, prioritizes affordability, freshness, and community engagement, according to the company's website.

Grocery shopping is probably one of my favorite activities. I love spending time in the produce section and scanning the different aisles for ingredients that inspire me. Part of the fun, in my opinion, is exploring different stores and markets wherever I go.

So on a recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, I spent some time walking the aisles of Food Lion to see what it was like.

I immediately noticed how open the large space was.

I immediately noticed how open the large space was.
There was so much floor space.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

With tall ceilings and loads of floor space between sections and aisles, this Food Lion location felt like a true supermarket rather than just a grocery store.

I didn't see anyone struggling to get their cart past another customer's (something I see and experience myself a lot in New York), and there was ample space for checkout lines to form.

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It was impossible to miss the abundance of sale signs posted all over the store.

It was impossible to miss the abundance of sale signs posted all over the store.
It seemed like everything was marked down.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Each aisle was plastered with yellow-and-red sale signs in numbers too high to count. From the company's website, I knew that it was big on affordability, but these just confirmed that they put that value into practice.

Walking through the dry goods aisles, I saw there was a lot of variety in brands and items on offer.

Walking through the dry goods aisles, I saw there was a lot of variety in brands and items on offer.
There were so many at-home baking goodies to choose from.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I'm not used to seeing seven shelves stretching almost the entire length of a long grocer aisle filled with at-home baking mixes. Usually, at the smaller stores I visit, it's just a few rows that are maybe five or six boxes wide.

This selection was overwhelming in the best way, and they seemed to have plenty of each mix in stock.

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This carried over into things like snacks, mac and cheese, and even tomato sauce.

This carried over into things like snacks, mac and cheese, and even tomato sauce.
I counted at least nine brands of sauce visible in this photo alone.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The shelves were fully stocked with more than nine different brands. From marinara to vodka sauce, blends that included garlic and ones that featured herbs, shoppers had plenty to choose from.

I also saw that Rao's (which is one of my favorite jarred sauces) was on sale for $5.90. I seriously contemplated buying two jars and bringing them back to NYC with me where they typically sell for just under $9.

While there were lots of brands on offer, there was also a huge range of products under the Food Lion label.

While there were lots of brands on offer, there was also a huge range of products under the Food Lion label.
I wasn't used to such a wide variety of store-brand goods.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I saw store-brand products ranging from frozen meatballs to milk jugs to packaged pasta.

These products generally seemed to be priced lower than the name-brand alternatives, though that was dependent on whether there was a sale.

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The meatballs were featured in an island-type cold case, but the store also had an extensive freezer and refrigerator section.

The meatballs were featured in an island-type cold case, but the store also had an extensive freezer and refrigerator section.
There were a lot of freezers and refrigerators at this Food Lion.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I'm used to seeing one or two aisles of freezers and refrigerators, but not as long as they were at this Charleston Food Lion.

Filled with the usual frozen fruits and veggies, ice cream, frozen dinners, and, of course, french fries, I was impressed with how many of these items were also on sale.

With the freezers and dry goods in the center aisles, sections for more fresh goods lined the walls of the store. The first one I noticed was the bakery and deli.

With the freezers and dry goods in the center aisles, sections for more fresh goods lined the walls of the store. The first one I noticed was the bakery and deli.
There was a selection of already made foods.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Directly to the right of the store's entrance, I saw a small section of prepared foods, which included ready-to-grab, already hot fried-chicken pieces. I see this in my local grocery stores as well, so it felt familiar.

This was part of the deli section, where customers could order sandwiches and meats as well.

Next to the chicken station was the bakery. There were already-made cakes available for purchase in all shapes, sizes, and colors, as well as a station where you could order a custom cake.

I tried one of the store's plain vanilla sheet cakes for myself, and while I didn't love the sugary icing, I thought it would have been OK as a last-minute addition to a celebration.

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As I continued along that right wall of the store, I saw the produce and floral sections.

As I continued along that right wall of the store, I saw the produce and floral sections.
The produce section was moderately sized in comparison to others I've seen in smaller stores.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Neither section was as overwhelmingly impressive as the store's dry-goods options, but I think there were still plenty of sales to make it worth your while.

Next to the produce, along the back wall of the store, there was the largest variety of packaged deli meats I've ever seen.

Next to the produce, along the back wall of the store, there was the largest variety of packaged deli meats I've ever seen.
I was overwhelmed with lunch meats.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

In my experience with this one Food Lion location, packaged goods seem to be where the store's ability to provide variety really shines.

There were more options for packaged deli meats here than I've seen at other stores I'm used to visiting.

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Continuing along the wall, there was a small dairy section, and then the meat and seafood section.

Continuing along the wall, there was a small dairy section, and then the meat and seafood section.
This was the fresh meat and seafood section.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Options dwindled again when it came to milk and eggs.

I also noticed that this store didn't have a butcher. Instead, it offered a range of already-cut steaks, poultry, pork, and fish.

Walking through the freezer and refrigeration section on the left wall, I saw an extensive beer and wine section ahead of me.

Walking through the freezer and refrigeration section on the left wall, I saw an extensive beer and wine section ahead of me.
This section took up half of the store's front area.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Making my way back to the front, I came across a vast alcohol section. The store was selling just beer, hard seltzer, and wine, but that was still something I'm not used to in New York because of state laws — though I have seen it in other parts of the country.

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While I love my small markets in New York, I left Food Lion wishing I had one closer to home.

While I love my small markets in New York, I left Food Lion wishing I had one closer to home.
I wish there was a smaller version in my home city.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

While some departments were more robust than others, and I do love being able to speak with a butcher during my shopping trips, I left Food Lion wishing I had a similar option by my apartment in New York.

The number of sales combined with the level of variety was enough to make me frustrated that this chain is only in 10 states.