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Lion’s Share

Lion’s Share

by | Jun 27, 2022 | Eat, June 2022, Web Exclusive

Find locally grown/made and affordable products through Food Lion’s Local Goodness program.

You may not think you’re supporting local when you shop at Food Lion, but we’re here to tell you that you’re—fortunately—wrong. Through the grocery store’s Local Goodness program, it sources quality, locally grown and affordable produce from area farmers and vendors in the Raleigh-Durham area to provide the wholesome food we put on our plates daily.

“Our Local Goodness program ties back to Food Lion’s overarching mission to provide customers with fresh and affordable food while giving back to the communities we serve,” says Kristin Wells, produce category manager for vegetables at Food Lion. “We realize how important it is for our customers to buy locally sourced products, and through our Local Goodness program, Food Lion customers can shop Local Goodness-tagged products and know exactly where their food is coming from.”

Local Goodness Food Lion

Food Lion partners with over 40 growers throughout the state, both large and small—from Oxford to Nashville to, of course, Raleigh—including Cottle Farms in Faison, NC, and locally sourced vendors FreshPoint Raleigh and FreshPik Produce in Kenly, NC, just down the road from the City of Oaks.

And not only do these partnerships bring shoppers fresh, affordable produce, they also support local growers who provide jobs in communities close to home, says Wells. Another perk? Since the local produce is grown closer to home, the travel time from farm to store is shorter—translation: the produce is extra fresh and full of flavor since it has a bit more time to ripen before it needs to ship (!). 

Beyond produce grown and made in the state, the Local Goodness program also features products like chips, sauces and sausages. Raleigh-based vendors participating in the program include 1 in 6 Snacks and Bone Suckin’ Sauce. If you’re ISO Local Goodness products at your local Food Lion, simply look for the “Heart and Soul of Our Communities” tag in the meat/seafood, deli/bakery, and center store departments—and the “Local Goodness” tag on produce. Meal time never felt so good. 

Market Mania

Market Mania

by | Feb 13, 2017 | Eat, February 2017

Grocery stores are popping up in Raleigh like wild mushrooms. With so many choices, how do you pick the right one for you?

Did You Know…

Between Blue Apron, HelloFresh, Plated and a dozen other meal kit delivery services, grocery stores need to get creative to address their customer’s needs and make dinnertime an easier experience.

“Many of our customers are pressed for time but they still want to cook a fresh, delicious meal,” says Chris Miller, Vice President of Strategy and Marketing at The Fresh Market. The store has created several different options from hot, ready-to-serve dishes to their Little Big Meals, meant to deliver big savings with little effort. The ingredients for the meals are packaged together at a station and cost about $15-$20 for a family of four.

Lowe Foods’ Pick and Prep station allows shoppers to choose produce and drop it off with a store expert with instructions on how you would like it diced, sliced, cored or chopped. You can pick up your veggies or fruit after you’re done with your shopping list. The complimentary service saves a massive amount of time in the kitchen.

Wild About Wegmans

According to Market Source, Wegmans has been rated America’s favorite grocery market in 2016, and North Carolina is on track to get four stores this year in Chapel Hill, Raleigh at Wake Forest Road and two locations in Cary. Though the company hasn’t announced construction timelines the city is abuzz with the news. The question is why does the store engender such loyalty?

The massive stores are modeled after an open-air European market including one of the largest fresh produce sections of any supermarket, food bars, extensive sampling similar to Costco, and a market café that can seat up to 300 people. Plus, the company owns its warehouses, which translates to cheaper prices and a loyal following.