Thanks for the update! In both CA and AZ, these days, I do my 'basic' shopping at Safeway, and get all the weirder stuff at either TJ's or WF.

I think Safeway deserve some credit for really revamping their stores and making them more appealing, taking away the market from the 'high-end independents' (not every Safeway has been revamped yet, but they seem to be rolling through their inventory). We used to drive across town to the Lunardi's (on Pleasant Hill Rd, Walnut Creek/Pleasant Hill border) but we don't need to any longer. I still won't buy fish (or meat) from Safeway, but their fruit/veg selections are not bad and what we can't get there we pick up at WF or Costco (Costco have amazing fruit - big boxes of berries for a steal).

My current 'must have' item that pulls me into TJ's is their packaged salads. It may seem like a crazy thing to buy, but their ready-made salads complete with dressing and fork is EXACTLY what I need for lunch at work, and I'm buying 4 or 5 a week (pic 1 attached). Once I'm there, I'll buy whatever else I need. I've also been trying the 'ReadyPac' options (which are now being sold by Safeway under their own name of 'Safeway Farms') from Safeway and for $1.99 each (with card) they are not bad.

I think that was a pretty fair & reasoned perspective - thank you.

I will say this though, about being empty...

Here's the clue!!

Haven't tried TJ's yet, but have found were it is... one thing at a time!

I like to support the independents but they are so over priced its sometimes very hard I am a WHOLE FOODS fan the quality is outstanding, the problem I have with Safeway is they charge very highly for slotting fews which leaves the little man out for the most part, they do make some concessions but its very difficult to get product onto their shelves unless you have mega $$$$$$$

They all do the same thing but it is just that Safeway is big enough to have a lot of leverage. I'm sure you know that Costco, Walmart, and Target get deep discounts for carrying products and when products go on special, they even get deeper discounts and when products are displayed prominently, there are even more discounts.

Actually my friend they do not all do the same, some other chains will waiver the slotting fees for the smaller companies and give them a chance to get branded/name recognition

Doesn't Safeway also do that on occasion? Of course they all put price pressure on the supplier.

I'd suspect high end stores such as Draeger's are probably the most relaxed in their slotting fees since they want unique merchandise.

Very very seldom for Safeway to do this nearly unheard off.

Draegers are GREAT they work with you and always try and work around your budget!!

Someone can almost be certain of something like that even if they have never been exposed to the practices. Safeway has a lot of pricing power because of it's size and has one business plan and everybody between them and stores like Drager's have a different business plan either trying to have something special or like Drager's, trying to be unique.

Sooooo .... tonight I was at Safeway and I picked up a 30-pack of MGD. I noticed that the 'club' price was $25 or so. I distinctly remembered seeing a much lower price at F&E, so after a few moments of hesitation I put it back on the shelf and decided to scoot on over to an F&E in my neighborhood (I wouldn't normally bother but I made the commitment to you guys to do a fair analysis ). So I go there and the MGD 30-pack is $17 - pretty cheap! I then picked up some Peets coffee - at about $11, it was approx. $2 more than safeway at the club price. I didn't have time to compare other prices but I have to say I can imagine F&E are going to be cheaper overall. I still don't like the layout or the selection, but I guess I'll go there for my beer! (Costco used to sell MGD even cheaper but they don't carry it any longer).

My step-mother recently had a long stay at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. The F&E across the street had way more in Hispanic food items than are in the Eagle Rock store.

FWIW, I like F&E and shop there quite a bit for my basics. Their ice cream is quite good IMHO.

That's good news - It looks like they are taking notice and evolving the stores. I've also noticed more non-packaged fruit and veg recently.

In addition, the Van Nuys Costco had various kosher foods not available in the Los Feliz store. That said, the Silver Lake TJ's has quite a bit of kosher food. [I do not keep kosher, but I do remember the old Hebrew National ads on answering to a "higher authority" than the FDA.]

Saw another Fresh and Easy in working process today in Folsom, just need to find one thats open so I can go in and have a nosey!!

I went to the new one in Mountain View for the first time last night, bad experience. I only went for a couple of bits, wanted some basil, but the 'live' plants were all dead and I bought some sausages that when I got home I realized were already out of date.

Not good in any store, but for a new store (been open 2 weeks) trying to win new business just terrible. If this was my first experience of F&E I wouldn't go back. I've actually emailed them and said as much, which is very unusual for me.

I'll give this store 1 more chance, but if it's the same I'll go back to the Sunnyvale store, which is lovely.

I just had to dig up this old post and give an update (since I had been very negative about F & E!).

I love their 'Shepherds Pie' !! Even though it's not authentic (I believe it should be lamb, not beef) ... it tastes so darned good!

I've been eating out almost every night for the last 3 months (visitors, busy at work, travel, etc) but finally have some respite, and decided to pick up the Shepherds Pie the other day and it was great. I like quite a few of their other meals too - though I couldn't find the chicken dish that has roasted potatoes in it ... maybe discontinued ...

Anyway - still find the store a bit depressing but they carry some good stuff. They are always quiet when I go, and now I treat that as a virtue (while it lasts) and get in / out in minutes ...