Ralphs and Albertsons are two popular grocery chains in the US. You’ll find both stores in the western part of the country, but they’re quite different.
If you’re trying to decide where to buy your groceries, these shops are worth considering. But you may want to know how they compare so that you don’t waste your time or money.
Ralphs vs. Albertsons: Which One Is Cheaper?
When it comes to store brand products, Ralphs is the cheaper option. Some of their products cost half as much as what you’d pay at Albertsons. However, Albertsons has cheaper dairy and canned goods.
It may be more expensive, but Albertsons also has more products and locations. Consider more than the cost when deciding what grocery store to use.
Store Brand Pricing
As mentioned, Ralphs offers lower prices on its store brand compared to the Albertsons brand. This applies to most categories, including beverages, baking goods, frozen foods, and personal care items.
Some products are only slightly cheaper than the Albertsons options. However, you can save half off other products if you shop at Ralphs.
But you may pay more at Ralphs for things like canned goods and dairy products. So be sure to use both stores if you can to maximize your savings.
Number of Products
Aside from the cost, you may want to know if you can get the products you want from a store. You’ll need to go to your local grocer to know for sure. However, it helps to consider the number of products each chain carries.
Ralphs sells about 10,000 different items in its stores. Albertsons has a slight lead with 12,000 products for sale. For some families, the 2,000 extra items could make a difference.
But Ralphs may carry brands or sizes of items that you won’t find at Albertsons. We can’t make a blanket statement on this, so check out the stores in your city. Then, you can decide which store has more of what you tend to buy.
Product Recalls
If you don’t care what brands to get, you should care about product quality. The last thing you want is to buy a week’s worth of food only to have to throw some of it out. While both stores have had recalls, consider the numbers.
Albertsons has had to recall eight food and beverage items. The same is true of Ralphs, but it also had to recall one cosmetic item and one drug for a total of 10 recalls.
Recalling 8 out of 12,000 items means Albertsons has a recall rate of 0.066%. On the other hand, the 10 recalls at Ralphs give it a recall rate of 0.1%. So Albertsons wins on total recalls and the percentage of products that have faced recalls.
Locations
If you’re looking to move somewhere, you may want to know what grocery stores will be available. Or maybe you want to make sure you can shop at both places. In either case, consider how many stores Ralphs and Albertsons have and where they are.
Ralphs has 189 locations, most of which are in southern California. There’s one Ralphs location around Louisville, Kentucky, of all places.
Albertsons has 387 stores, and they’re in 15 states. They operate in California and most other states in the western part of the country. However, you can also find them in Louisiana and Texas.
Rewards Program
If you shop at Ralphs, you can join their free rewards program. Then, you’ll be able to earn fuel points after you pay for groceries so that you can save on gas. Other rewards include weekly deals and personalized savings.
Meanwhile, the Albertsons rewards program lets you earn points and rewards. As you spend money, you’ll rack up points that can get you free things. You can also save money on gas and get a free treat each year when it’s your birthday.
Both stores have fantastic rewards programs with plenty of perks. Be sure to look into the details to determine which program is a better fit for your needs.
Working There
Perhaps you need a job and want to compare the stores. Employees for both rate their CEOs equally, but the rating is only 64%.
Albertsons has a better score in most areas, from culture to diversity to benefits. But Ralphs has a better score when it comes to gender breakdown. Ralphs also pays their employees a little bit better, even if only by a couple of dollars per hour.
Of course, that doesn’t control for the fact that California is more expensive than other states. You may make about the same at both stores in the same city.
Shopping at Both Ralphs and Albertsons
You can shop at Ralphs and Albertsons if you live near both stores. That might be a good option if you want to get the best possible deals.
For example, you may get your dairy and canned products from Albertsons. Then, you head to Ralphs to pick up everything else.
Be sure to join both rewards programs as well. That way, you can save on your groceries and help fill your car’s gas tank.
How Do Ralphs and Albertsons Compare?
Ralphs and Albertsons offer about the same number of products. But you’ll find Albertsons in more cities and states with more locations. It’s also cheaper when it comes to dairy, but Ralphs is the better choice for Californians looking for most other groceries.