Here is how to stock up at grocery case lot sales so you can purchase canned and packaged foods at fantastic discounts. These case lot sales will help you stock up on food for food storage and every day. Sometimes you’ll find some long-term foods too, but I get most of mine at Home Storage Centers. Most grocery stores allow you to buy an individual item at the case lot sale price which is awesome if you are single or have a small family.
1: TAKE AN INVENTORY AT HOME BEFORE YOU SHOP
- Take an inventory of your canned and packaged foods before you leave the house.
- Decide what you really need to stock up on and how much.
- Do you use canned corn once a month? Then buy 6 or 12. Not 24.
- Here is a link to a FREE inventory list I made for you.
2: COME PREPARED TO STOCK UP
- Look online and compare your grocery store case lot prices to similar items at Walmart.
- If you can, go to the store a few days before shopping and get the spreadsheet printout which has all items on sale.
- Remember, all items at case lot sales are not the best bargains, so compare prices.
- Create a shopping plan and stick to your list of what you plan to purchase.
3: LOOK OVER THE DISPLAY AT YOUR STORE
- You might get star-struck when you see the case lot display.
- When you arrive, walk around the case lot display at the front of the store to get familiar with case sizes and items.
4: GO DOWN THE AISLES AT YOUR STORE
- Go down the aisles to look for varieties of your foods such as “no sugar added,” “no salt added” or diced, sliced and whole vegetables.
- There isn’t room for your grocery store to put all varieties of food items out front, so check the aisles.
5: COMPARE BRANDS DURING THE CASE LOT SALE
- Is the name brand item as good as the store brand item?
- In most cases, yes!
- Compare prices of different brands side by side.
- Look at the price per ounce.
- Decide which food is best for your family.
6: LOOK UNDER THE PRICE TAGS AT YOUR CASE LOT SALE
- Remember: all foods in a case lot sale ARE NOT the best prices.
- Look under the price tag to see the regular price and compare it to the sale’s price.
- How much are you really saving? You could be saving a penny or 50 cents.
7: CHECK EXPIRATION DATES ON YOUR ITEMS
- You could be looking at a display of items that expire next month.
- Make sure your item has some time to sit on your shelf at home before it expires.
- Yes, most canned foods can be eaten past the best buy date.
- If you have concerns, go to StillTasty.com for shelf life information.
Since I look for grocery deals year-round, I only bought a few case lot items. Isn’t it GREAT to learn how to stock up at grocery case lot sales? I promise it will save hundreds of dollars over the years.
Purchase my food storage and emergency preparedness items in my Etsy shop.
