Shoppers don't usually come to Walmart for just one item, so the endless rows of shopping carts awaiting us at the entrance to the superstore were hardly surprising.
We knew we were in for a unique experience when we were greeted by two huge bins of seasonal watermelon at the store's entrance. We hardly even had a moment to take in the store before we noticed them.
Past the watermelons, the grocery segment of the massive Walmart was front and center. This section seemed to take up a large portion of the entire Supercenter.
We went to check out the different fruit stands. Everything looked remarkably fresh, including these avocados that were only $0.99 each.
The freshness of the produce was what initially caught our eyes — but the prices were what kept our focus. We could not believe how cheap every single item was.
Walmart's grocery store also had a bakery section that produced different baked goods daily. There were cupcakes, doughnuts, pastries, and more — and all had a seal that guaranteed freshness or your money back.
Next to the bakery, Walmart had a large section of prepared food in a hot bar with everything from seafood to meat.
The selection was beyond our wildest dreams. This cereal aisle seemed to carry every cereal ever made.
We had the same reaction to the massive section of Oreos. Once more, the prices were remarkably low.
We met a woman in the coffee aisle who told us that she always gets her coffee at Walmart. "It's cheaper here than in other stores," she said.
Surprisingly, the check-out lines were short. Walmart's self check-out option likely helped with this.
Walmart seemed to have everything we could want in a grocery store. From recognizable brands to unbeatable prices, Walmart delivered in the best possible way.
Right away, we were notified that Prime members were eligible for certain deals throughout the store, making part of the store experience feel like a "members-only" club.
At first glance, the store didn't reveal how large it actually was. We had to venture through a few aisles until we realized how many different sections there were.
We started off in a section that lets customers fill their own bags with different products. There were dispensers full of beans, spices, and dried fruit.
Overall, the entire design of Whole Foods seemed to take a rustic and natural approach, from the shelves with wood finish ...
An increase in price over the Walmart in New Jersey was to be expected, but in many cases, the prices were close to double.
There did seem to be more organic options overall — but there was a higher cost for those who opted for that.
Overall, Whole Foods had a fancier feeling to it. This huge display of cheese seemed a little over the top, though.
There were many subsections within the store for customers to get different food items, from seafood ...
The wall behind one of the food counters reiterated Whole Foods' commitment to health and natural food.
There was a sizable bakery section as well, though. The cakes here didn't seem like they were too healthy, but they looked adorable.
... like these protein shakes and plant-based cold brew drinks, which were 40% off for Prime members.
But the free two-hour grocery delivery was probably the best perk for Prime members shopping at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods definitely seemed to carry healthier options overall. Many of the brands the store carried didn't have that special name-brand recognition that Walmart did, however.
In fact, we could hardly find any of the classic brands that we found at Walmart. For example, instead of Oreos and Chips Ahoy, we found Goodie Girl and Emmy's Organics. This is likely due to Whole Foods' list of unacceptable food ingredients, which bans things like hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners, which many processed foods carry.
Source: Whole Foods