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Story Published: Jan 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 13, 2009 at 12:30 AM MDT

By Steven Pope

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EASTERN IDAHO - Going to the grocery store might be a block away for some, but for others, they're traveling from Rexburg to Idaho Falls, to save money.

I went around to grocery stores in Rexburg, including Albertson's, Broulim's, and Wal-mart. Even after traveling expenses are taken into account, it is probably cheaper for someone living in Rexburg to travel down to WinCo in Idaho Falls.

I did some price checking between Rexburg stores and WinCo. Items like a gallon of 1% milk were $3.49 at Broulim's but only $2.48 at Winco. Albertson's had a one-pound block of Tillamook Cheese for $7.49, while WinCo nearly halved its competition with $3.98 on that same brand. A 10-pound bag of Gold brand flour was $6.39 at Albertson's, but only $3.78 at WinCo. Even frozen corn was a better deal at WinCo at $1.68 for a two-pound bag, while Albertson's was $3.39.

I checked ten commonly purchased items in all, and the only items WinCo didn't beat all three stores on were items Wal-mart barely edged them... Old Spice deodorant, Colgate toothpaste, and they tied Wal-mart on flour prices.

WinCo tells me that when it comes to prices, Wal-mart is their only competition, with price checkers from each store visiting each other daily. It isn't then surprising that my neighbors in Rexburg are making the trip down to WinCo for groceries. After you take into account cheese and flour alone, that's more than enough savings to justify a half hour drive.

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