According to the 2017 edition of a Leading National Consumer Magazine, Stater Bros. Markets was named one of the top ten “best places to shop for groceries” in America.
Stater Bros. is one of Southern California’s highest-rated full-service supermarket businesses, with high marks for fresh meat and poultry, affordable prices, friendly employees, and store cleanliness.
Ralphs faced new competition in the supermarket industry due to this announcement. With the competition for pricing, convenience, service, and selection, we can only speculate on how they compare. This article aims to reveal which between Stater Bros. vs. Ralphs is better.
Stater Bros. vs. Ralphs – Which Is Cheaper in 2023?
Ralphs is more expensive than Stater Bros. The latter is one of the most popular grocery stores in Los Angeles, where Albertsons, Ralphs, Trader Joe’s, Lidl, Walmart, Costco, and Target are included. Lidl comes out on top as the cheapest supermarket among these retailers.
For fresh food and meat, Starter Bros. is superior and less expensive. Their branded products provide national brand excellence at a low cost. You’re sure to find something your family will enjoy among the store’s nearly 1,500 goods.
Who Is Stater Bros. Markets?
Stater Bros. Markets, founded in San Bernardino, California, is a privately held grocery company with 171 locations throughout Southern California. It was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, by twin brothers Cleo and Leo Stater, who paid $600 ($11,717 in 2021 dollars) for the market held by Cleo’s boss, WA Davis.
Since 1986, Stater Bros. Holdings, a subsidiary of La Cadena Investments, controlled by Stater’s late chairman, president, and CEO Jack H. Brown, has owned the chain entirely.
Thanks to its Inland Empire Base, its stores are highly distributed throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California.
Stores are primarily located east of the San Gabriel River in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. In places like Santa Clarita and Palmdale, a few stores can be found in northern San Diego County and northern Los Angeles County.
There is also a store in Simi Valley, Ventura County, and one in Pasadena, all of which opened in 2018. There are another two stores in Kern Country, one in Ridgecrest and the other in Mojave.
Who Is Ralphs?
Ralphs is a supermarket chain based in Southern California. It is the largest division of Cincinnati-based Kroger and the oldest grocery business west of the Mississippi River. Kroger also operates stores under the Food 4 Less and Foods Co. names in California.
The regional grocer Ralphs was founded by George A. Ralphs, a professional bricklayer who went to the shop after losing his arm in a hunting accident. After concentrating on locally made foods, the company took off.
Ralphs Grocery Company is the leading food retailer in Southern California, with the potential to grow into one of the largest grocers in the Western United States. Ralphs has roughly 400 locations throughout California, offering tens of thousands of products under the Ralphs private label.
Does Ralphs Own Stater Bros.?
No, Stater Bros. is not owned by Ralphs. Instead, Stater Bros. Markets, which owns 50% of Santee Dairies, Inc., has acquired the remaining 50% of the company from Ralphs Grocery Co. and Kroger, giving its entirety to Stater Bros. Markets.
Santee Dairies is a Southern California dairy that produces high-quality Knudsen milk and buttermilk. Santee also makes milk for Stater Bros., Ralphs Grocery Co., Bristol Farms, Gelson’s, and several well-known independent supermarket chains.
Santee also makes chocolate milk, Sunkist Orange Juice, and Arnold Palmer Tee brand iced tea in Southern California only. In addition, they also produce fruit drinks, cultured milk products, and milk products under the Foremost Dairy Products brand.
Is Stater Bros. A Good Store?
In 2017, Stater Bros. was rated one of the best grocery stores in the United States. This recognition came after they were named Southern California’s best full-service supermarket chain, with high marks for fresh meat and poultry, affordable prices, employee friendliness, and store cleanliness.
Stater Bros., founded in 1936, has slowly expanded to become Southern California’s largest privately held supermarket chain and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Are Groceries Expensive In California?
California’s grocery prices are greater than the national average, although they vary significantly from one place to the next, as they do in many other states.
For example, high labor and real estate costs in the San Francisco Bay Area have pushed prices sky-high, while lower overheads and intense competition keep prices down in other locations like Sacramento and San Diego.
How Do Consumers Compare Stater Bros. vs. Ralphs?
PissedConsumer.com is dedicated to providing consumers with the knowledge to make educated purchasing decisions. Their website collects and compiles various client reviews, customer ratings, and suggestions for Stater Bros. and Ralphs.
Each brand score is derived using a set of relevant criteria and shows how a company’s performance has changed over time.
Market Overview
| Ralphs | Stater Bros. Markets | |
| Total Reviews | 179 | 196 |
| Company Responses | 0 | 0 |
| Issues Resolved | 0 | 1 |
Consumer Rankings
| Ralphs | Stater Bros. Markets | |
| Food Stores Category | 126 out of 446 | 61 out of 446 |
| Customer Service | 128 out of 446 | 56 out of 446 |
| Price Affordability | 105 out of 446 | 66 out of 446 |
| Product or Service Quality | 92 out of 446 | 37 out of 446 |
| Website | 113 out of 446 | 47 out of 446 |
Pros and Cons
| Ralphs | Stater Bros. Markets | |
| Pros | Close to home | Selection and prices |
| Some food | Close to residential areas | |
| Friendly attitude of staff | Produce | |
| Cons | Horrible customer service | Customer service |
| Uncaring employees | Misconduct of employees | |
| Staff | Lack of follow through from upper management |
Can I Use My Ralphs Coupon At Food4Less?
Yes. To register and start tracking your fuel points, go to www.ralphs.com or www.food4less.com and download the Ralphs or Food 4 Less Mobile App to your smartphone.
You can also use your Ralphs Rewards Card or Food 4 Less Rewards Card to load digital coupons and locate fuel stations wherever you are, at any time.
Are Stater Bros. and Ralphs Currently On Strike?
During the first quarter of 2022, union grocery workers in San Diego County went on an Unfair Labor Practice strike. Members of this union, UFCW Local 135 at Ralphs, Albertsons, and Vons, and elected officials from across San Diego County assembled to strike, complete with picket signs.
Is there a grocery alternative for consumers in California, where thousands of grocery workers are on strike?
Customers can order groceries online and have them delivered to their homes. Instacart, Door Dash, Shipt, and Amazon Fresh are examples of this service, allowing customers to select anything from ground beef to dishwashing liquid, add them to their cart, and deliver them within hours.
Costco, Sprouts, Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Stater Bros., Smart and Final, Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, and Walmart are just a few chain grocery alternatives to stores that could have workers on strike.
Conclusion
Ralphs provides a good selection and is likely to be slightly more expensive than Stater Bros. (but a good 25 percent -30 percent lower than Albertsons or Vons). Stater Bros. has a lesser range but the most affordable prices and butcher counter in town.
So, for domestic items, you might try weekly shopping at Ralphs for everything, stroll next door to Albertsons if you forget something on your list or need something in an emergency, and purchase your beef and poultry from the State Bros butcher counter.
