I'm a Midwesterner who shopped at Food Lion for the first time, and the low sale prices made it worth the trip

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Talia LakritzAug 15, 2022, 01:23 IST
I'm a Midwesterner who shopped at Food Lion for the first time, and the low sale prices made it worth the trip

I went grocery shopping at the Southern grocery chain Food Lion for the first time.Talia Lakritz/Insider

  • I went grocery shopping at Food Lion for the first time while on a recent trip to Tennessee.
  • I'm from the Midwest and live in New York City, so I've never visited the Southern grocery chain.
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On a recent trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, I visited the Southern grocery chain Food Lion for the first time.

On a recent trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, I visited the Southern grocery chain Food Lion for the first time.
Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Food Lion has over 1,000 store locations in 10 states in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia.

I grew up in Wisconsin, where I grocery shopped at local chains like Sendik's and the Roundy's brand Metro Market. I now live in New York City, where I've tried out grocery giants like Wegman's.

The first thing I saw when I walked into the store was a display of local produce that reminded me of a farmer's market.

The first thing I saw when I walked into the store was a display of local produce that reminded me of a farmer's market.
Local produce at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Stratton's farm in Rutledge, Tennessee, had provided locally-grown tomatoes, squash, peppers, and green beans. There were also jars of pickles and apple butter.

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The fruits and vegetables in the actual produce section looked great, too.

The fruits and vegetables in the actual produce section looked great, too.
Produce at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Signs on the back wall advertised sales like two cucumbers for a dollar and $2.89 for a head of cauliflower.

The bakery and deli sections at Food Lion were combined into one area.

The bakery and deli sections at Food Lion were combined into one area.
The bakery and deli at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The bakery featured freshly-baked bread, and the deli sold lemon pepper rotisserie chickens for $6.99 each.

While Publix had a larger deli section with prepared foods and a sandwich shop, the prices were slightly steeper there with a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken costing $7.39.

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One thing that distinguished Food Lion from other Southern grocery chains I visited was its distinctive sale signs all over the store.

One thing that distinguished Food Lion from other Southern grocery chains I visited was its distinctive sale signs all over the store.
A sale sign at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

While in Tennessee, I also visited Publix and Kroger.

Popping up in every aisle, the red and yellow signs were eye-catching.

Popping up in every aisle, the red and yellow signs were eye-catching.
Inside Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The signs mostly advertised deals on Food Lion's house brand items, such as snack cakes and non-dairy creamer.

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The cheese section was pretty basic, but had some great sales.

The cheese section was pretty basic, but had some great sales.
Cheese at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

As a Wisconsinite, I appreciate when grocery stores have giant cheese sections with lots of options and brands to choose from. Food Lion's selection was limited compared to Publix and Kroger, but the buy-one-get-one-free and two for $4 deals were appealing.

Food Lion didn't have a seafood counter, but the prices were low for items like shrimp.

Food Lion didn't have a seafood counter, but the prices were low for items like shrimp.
Seafood at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Another sale sign advertised wild caught gulf shrimp at $6.99 per pound. The average cost for a pound of shrimp is usually between $10 to $16, according to industrial seafood provider Lobster Anywhere.

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An extensive freezer section offered delicacies like Food Lion's house brand of ice cream.

An extensive freezer section offered delicacies like Food Lion's house brand of ice cream.
Food Lion ice cream.Talia Lakritz/Insider

A 48-ounce container of Food Lion's ice cream cost $2.39, much lower than Publix's brand of ice cream at $5.99 per container.

The store also stocked Dolly Parton's limited-edition Duncan Hines cake mixes.

The store also stocked Dolly Parton's limited-edition Duncan Hines cake mixes.
Dolly Parton cake mix at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Duncan Hines collaboration includes cake mixes and frostings inspired by Parton's family recipes like Coconut Cake and Banana Puddin' Cake.

At Food Lion, a box of Parton's coconut cake mix cost $1.69. At Kroger, it cost $2.59.

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In addition to a full grocery store, Food Lion sold toiletries and other pharmacy items.

In addition to a full grocery store, Food Lion sold toiletries and other pharmacy items.
Toiletries at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The aisle included cold medicine, vitamins, first aid, and hair products.

The greeting card section was perfect for last-minute gifts.

The greeting card section was perfect for last-minute gifts.
Greeting cards at Food Lion.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The section also sold gift bags and tissue paper for wrapping presents.

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While Food Lion's grocery selection wasn't as extensive as other Southern chains, the fantastic sales made it worth the trip.

While Food Lion's grocery selection wasn't as extensive as other Southern chains, the fantastic sales made it worth the trip.
I went grocery shopping at the Southern grocery chain Food Lion for the first time.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Food Lion didn't have as many bells and whistles as other Southern grocery chains I visited. There was no customizable seafood counter like at Kroger or grab-and-go sushi like at Publix. But the vibrant sale signs advertised lower prices than I'd seen at either store.

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