The analysis compared the prices of 15 common household grocery items sold under private-label brands at Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, and Albertsons. According to Restaurant Furniture Plus, Kroger recorded the lowest basket total, while Walmart finished a close second.
Rising grocery bills remain a significant concern for many households. According to an Urban Institute study cited by FOX Business, food prices have increased by 32% over the past five years, contributing to financial pressure for many consumers.
Kroger Recorded the Lowest Total for a Basket of Everyday Essentials
Restaurant Furniture Plus compared identical package sizes of 15 store-brand grocery staples, including milk, eggs, butter, bread, chicken breast, flour, rice, pasta, canned vegetables, peanut butter, vegetable oil, and cereal across four national grocery chains. According to the study, Kroger posted the lowest total basket cost at $30.00. Walmart followed at $30.95, while Aldi’s basket totaled $33.15 and Albertsons reached $35.58.
The comparison also found that Kroger offered the lowest price on 10 of the 15 products analyzed, more than any other retailer included in the study. Its lowest-priced items included canned diced tomatoes, spaghetti, granulated sugar, a dozen large eggs, wheat bread, butter, cheddar cheese, peanut butter, vegetable oil, and corn flakes.
Walmart recorded the lowest prices for chicken breast, white rice, and canned black beans. Aldi led on whole milk and all-purpose flour, with the study also noting that its private-label dairy products represented particularly strong value. Albertsons did not record the lowest price for any of the products included, although several of its prices remained close to the lowest available.
According to the methodology published by Restaurant Furniture Plus, all products were standard own-brand items selected in identical package sizes. Organic, premium, flavored, and single-serve products were excluded to maintain like-for-like comparisons.
Study Highlights Differences in Pantry Staples While Broader Food Costs Remain Elevated
The researchers reported that price differences were generally wider for pantry staples than for fresh products. The fresh food subtotal ranged from $13.75 at Walmart to $14.92 at Albertsons, while pantry subtotal differences were larger, extending from $16.08 at Kroger to $20.66 at Albertsons.
A spokesperson for Restaurant Furniture Plus said that although the $5.58 difference between the least expensive and most expensive baskets may appear modest for a single shopping trip, those savings could accumulate over repeated purchases of everyday essentials. The spokesperson also noted that Walmart’s fresh subtotal was slightly lower than Kroger’s, even though Kroger finished with the least expensive basket overall.
The comparison did not include every major grocery retailer. According to Southern Living, Trader Joe’s was excluded because it did not stock several of the products used in the basket, while Costco was omitted because its bulk purchasing model made direct single-item comparisons difficult. Regional chains including H-E-B and Piggly Wiggly were also not part of the analysis.
The findings arrive as grocery affordability continues to receive attention. According to FOX Business, citing the Urban Institute, more than one in four working-age Americans have relied on credit card debt to pay for regular grocery purchases as food prices have continued to rise over the past five years.
