Saving on groceries at Cash & Carry

[Kevin]

Many of us are used to shopping at Costco, but how many readers shop at Cash & Carry? Although they primarily cater to the food service industry, they welcome the public too. No membership card needed and they are open 7 days a week.

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The aisles are a lot narrower and the store is just a fraction of the size of a typical Costco. Forget the TVs, electronics, jewelry, tires, and copy center. NO in store cafe either. Cash & Carry is all about FOOD. They have a broad inventory of everyday items that range in size from family size to restaurant size. While I did see a few children, it is probably best to leave the small ones at home.

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Cash & Carry will appeal more to folks who have lots of storage and perhaps a deep freeze in their garage, however they DO offer a wide range of products in sizes that would make weekly shopping very economical even for folks without lots of storage or a deep freeze.

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If fact this brings up one great money saving idea; getting several neighbors together and buying the LARGE size and splitting the “loot” once the product is brought home.

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Their produce and meat prices are outstanding, along with great prices on dairy as well as dry goods. Our local West Seattle Grocery Stores are UNABLE to compete with them on most items. They are also less than Costco on many items HOWEVER you need to KNOW your prices because they are not always the cheapest on everything they carry. I have also seen cases where our local markets will occasionally have a sale or special that Cash & Carry will be UNABLE to beat. A good example is the recent 2# of butter for $3 at Thriftway.

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And remember, you will still need to patronize your local markets, as Cash & Carry, just like Costco does not carry everything a typical household needs.

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Here are some example prices that my wife and I saw while at Cash & Carry as of May 5th. NOTE: We did NOT buy all of the examples shown. We passed on the 5# container of crab meat, although that is a good example of how several families could go together and make a large savings on certain bulk items like the 25# bag of C&H sugar.

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5# bag of (your choice) 1/2 oz or 1oz size Italian Meat Balls for $11.00

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5# container of Dungeness Crab Meat at $94.00 – not bad when you consider that is $18 per pound

a good item to purchase and split with friends

same product is $30 per pound at Thriftway

and Trader Joes has a 1# can of crab meat for $8.99

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120 count Andes Thin Mints in the green foil wrapper – $5.27

almost the same price for the plastic jar of the same product.

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Darigold Half N Half, $1.32 per quart, and $2.33 for a half gallon! Morning coffee never tasted better!

Note, this is “ultra pasteurized” so it has a LONG shelf life in the refrigerator. Not all Half is Half is.

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5# tub of Cottage Cheese – $4.99

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25# bag of C&H Sugar – $12.33

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Campbell’s Tomato Juice in the 64oz bottle – $3.02

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4# container of fresh strawberries (excellent quality) – $5.75

we bought 8# and the quality was very good, perhaps 1 or 2 bad berries

they also carry 10# and 30# containers of frozen strawberries. I think the 10# was on sale for $14.95

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Large eggs – $1.22 per dozen (everyday price!)

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5# slab of sliced bacon in several different thicknesses – $11.00

or consider the 30# box for $33.10

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36 count box of Hershey Bars with almonds – $19.20 ($2 less at Costco)

bummer, as we bought this item :(

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And probably the best deal we saw – huge Seedless Watermelons – $3.99

same size melon at Costco – $6.99

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Their large freezer room is kept at 10 degrees BELOW zero, and you are welcome to browse inside, although you are unlikely to stay for long :) It IS a unique experience however. My glasses froze over on the inside upon exit to the warm store :) Happy shopping, and saving!

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Cash & Carry

1760 4TH Avenue South

Seattle, WA

(206) 343-7158

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http://www.smartfoodservice.com/

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[JanS]

thanks for that information…most helpful :)

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[Trick]

I do love Cash’n Carry, however for personal use, I’ll need to buy a freezer for most of it.

I love the 5 gallon Davidson sunflower seed buckets for baseball teams, but never have bought one :)

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[Jiggers]

I go to Cash & Carry once a month because it is less of a hassle than going to Costco. I love seasonings and they have the best variety bar-none. I also love their meat cooler and usually buy some freshly cut rib eye steak. A lot of restaurants go their and stock up on supplies. Uwajimaya to me has the best produce section in the City by far and some very reasonable meat, chicken and fresh fish prices. Safeway sucks!!!

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[Trick]

4th ave liqour store is also nearby C’n C.

Better selection than the downtown or WS stores.

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[GenHillOne]

Not everything there is the best deal, like anyplace, you have to compare prices, so thanks for your info, Kevin! I’m a regular for their fresh mushrooms – clean and wrapped, 2.5lbs. for $5 something. Also, couldn’t tell you if it’s a better deal, but I jumped on the chance to buy a big bag of diced onions. I HATE cutting onions, so I split them up into 1-cup portions and threw them into the freezer. They don’t hold their texture when thawed, so only good for cooking rather than something like salsa, but boy is it quick and easy (and less tearful!).

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[Ken]

http://www.smartfoodservice.com/specials.aspx?Ad=UGA

Check the Hot sheet before you go. Ribeye is back up this month but when it was 4.63 per lbs I bought a couple and cut great steaks and froze them in bags of two. This is the cryo-pac also known as “wet aged” and the whole bag will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks if you are planning a big cook out.

5 dozen eggs are 5.07 this week but the price changes.

The 4th ave store also now carries the 10 lbs box of Angus hamburger patties. These are the best. Not as cheap as the regular patties but the taste is worth the difference.

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[Sue]

I’ve never gone there because their website made it look like the public isn’t allowed:

(From the FAQs)

Question: What do I need to shop at Cash&Carry?

Answer: All you need to shop at Smart Foodservice Cash & Carry is your business license, tax permit or proof that you’re a nonprofit organization.

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So they don’t really need that proof? Anyone can walk in and shop without question?

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[biankat]

Yup – anyone can shop there.

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[austin]

Another cash n carry fan here. 4th ave s or the one up by fred meyer in ballard. If you have the room for it a decent chest freezer isn’t very expensive and expands your food storage abilities enormously.

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[clickdesign]

We shop there because oddly enough, a restaurant supply store has good supplies for jewelry making (we mix concrete in the dixie cups) and in-store events (plastic cups for wine, etc.). I’ve been pleased to find some non-costco sized things like condiments in “normal” sizes… I bought a small container of horseradish for half what I’ve seen it at grocery stores recently.

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[kjt]

We get our DaVinci espresso syrups at Cash & Carry. I can’t find them in WS and they don’t have an outlet/retail store at their business by the 1st Ave. South Bridge.

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[c]

I’ve been shopping there for about 1yr. I have 5 kids and buying in bulk works for us.

my favorites are

bananas they vary in price but last time only 44cents a lb.

a 25lb bag of Bob’s red mill oatmeal around $15

5lbs of popcorn about $5

5doz eggs CHEAP

a full case of oranges $10.99 you can’t beat that!

their apples are about $4 for a 5lb bag.

darigold milk is cheaper than costco.

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[mrhineh]

While you’re in the neighborhood, may as well hit the Franz Outlet Bakery too on 6th Ave. Half price breads for the fresh stuff that wasn’t stocked in stores that day, and around 50-75% off for day old. Great deals on quality loaves, sourdough rounds, rye, muffins, bagels and snacks.

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