Is This America’s Most Expensive Grocery Store?

In the beginning of the pandemic, and because it dragged on into 2020, when individuals had been going nowhere however the grocery retailer, paparazzi arrange store outdoors the places of Los Angeles County chain Erewhon — the ultra-expensive retailer favored by celebrities and the realm’s elite.

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In a characteristic story printed in October 2020, Self-importance Truthful detailed identified regulars and the masked celebrities who had their images snapped whereas grabbing uncooked, natural vanilla almond milk and different gadgets. Jake Gyllenhaal, Miley Cirus and Leonardo DiCaprio had been among the many A-listers who shopped there, and Hilary Duff, Ashley Benson and rapper G-Eazy additionally dropped in. Dakota Johnson additionally was a daily, in keeping with the journal.

It takes Hollywood cash to buy at Erewhon, the place one supply instructed Self-importance Truthful that consumers might wind up spending $1,000 on a full cart. Is Erewhon America’s most costly grocery retailer? Learn on to search out out the price of procuring there.

The Erewhon Story

Erewhon obtained its begin in 1966, when the late Michio and Aveline Kushi launched macrobiotic and natural meals to the individuals of Boston, opening what the corporate web site payments as “the primary retailer of its variety in America” in a stall measuring 10 toes by 20 toes. Three years later, Aveline Kushi relocated to Los Angeles and opened an Erewhon there.

In 2011, Tony and Josephine Antoci purchased the Erewhon location on Beverly Boulevard within the metropolis and set upon an growth plan. Up to now decade, Erewhon has added six shops in Los Angeles County: the Silver Lake district, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Studio Metropolis and Calabasas.

On its web site, the shop shares its mission:

“Erewhon is greater than a grocery retailer. We’re a group of people who find themselves united in our love for pure merchandise that defend the well being of individuals and our planet.”

Erewhon Merchandise

Erewhon says it sells “distinctive natural merchandise.” However how do their merchandise — and costs — evaluate to the rivals?

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Smoothies

Erewhon affords a wide range of tantalizing smoothies, beginning with the bottled Bohemian Raspberry. A 16-ounce serving prices $12. Or, you possibly can go for a custom-blended smoothie, beginning at $12 — earlier than add-ons. You’ll pay $21 for the 20-ounce Strawberry Probotic Smoothie, however it might value almost $30 if you wish to jazz it up with peanut butter ($2), whey protein ($3), spinach ($2) and maple syrup ($1.50).

Options: Head to Earth Natural, within the Los Feliz part of Los Angeles, to attempt one among 14 smoothies on the menu — $10.75 for a big and a greenback much less for a medium. Among the many choices is the Scrumptious, a concoction of almond milk, almonds, uncooked honey, cacao powder, bananas and strawberries. Or, make your individual. Opponents Whole Foods and Bristol Farms have wholesome smoothie recipes on their web sites.

Steak

At Erewhon, a 12-ounce reduce of natural boneless beef ribeye steak is $26.99 — good for the spring grilling season.

Various: At Entire Meals, you’ll pay $3 much less for a 12-ounce natural boneless beef ribeye steak. At Sprouts, one other chain competitor, the Dakota natural grass-fed beef ribeye steak is priced at $15.49 for 10 ounces.

Bottled Water

Are you able to inform the distinction between one model of “pure spring water” and one other? In the event you can, you may want Erewhon’s personal label, which prices $2.79 per 16.9-ounce bottle.

Various: All style the identical to you? Then head to Sprouts, the place a 24-pack of the same-sized bottle of the home model sells for $4.29.

Eggs

An egg is an egg, proper? Not essentially at Erewhon, which sells greater than a dozen varieties. One in every of them, the Completely satisfied Egg Co. Natural Free Vary Giant Brown Eggs, promote for $7.29 a dozen.

Various: Sprouts, once more, can beat that value. The identical model of eggs prices $5.99 per dozen at Sprouts, $7.99 for an 18-pack.

Dental Floss

Erewhon shares some uncommon gadgets that rivals don’t, together with its dental floss, and you may’t discover it on the neighborhood drug retailer both. For the 32-yard package deal of Terra & Co. Bamboo Charcoal Dental Floss, retailer members pay $7.49 per package deal, with the common value at $9.99.

Various: You’ll have to show to Amazon for the same product. A triple-sized package deal — 99 yards in all — is priced at $13.95.

Chocolate Almond Milk

Craving chocolate milk after a exercise? A 16-ounce bottle at Erewhon prices $9 and incorporates sprouted almonds, filtered water, uncooked cacao powder, dates, maca, lucuma, cinnamon and pink salt.

Various: Entire Meals sells a six-pack of 8-ounce containers of chocolate natural, unsweetened almond milk for $6.99, however one thing tells us it isn’t fairly the identical as what Erewhon shares. It has much more elements, for starters, together with gellan gum and natural locust bean gum.

So is Erewhon America’s most costly grocery retailer? It could possibly be. However one factor is for certain. If in case you have a month-to-month grocery funds, this isn’t the place for you.

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