In a supermarket world crowded cart to cart with rivals, there’s always space for a few more puns and dad jokes. And Lucky’s Market delivers on that front.
Their own frozen mixed berries wear a playful label, “Sir Mix-a-Lot of Berries.” A sign proclaiming “Butter makes everything better” hangs over the dairy case. When a new location opens, the store cuts bacon instead of ribbons.
“We want to have fun while pushing a shopping cart,” said Curt Rotrock, director of the newly opened Lucky’s in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Colorado-born chain, launched in 2003, has grown across the Midwest and throughout Florida and now operates 29 stores nationwide, with additional openings planned this year around Orlando.
The atmosphere is tongue-in-cheek, but the store is serious about offering affordable quality food. They spell that out, too.
One sign in produce reads, “We believe good food is for everyone, not just those born with silver spoons in their mouths.” They even trademarked the phrase, “Organic for the 99%.”
That said, as with any new-to-you grocer, it’s easy to get sidetracked by enticing new items.
These six pointers will help you stay savvy as you wander through the Lucky’s Market near you.
1. Spot the Lucky Finds
Lucky’s highlights a selection of products at consistently low prices. No matter which store you visit, you’ll find reduced prices on more than a dozen store-made items scattered throughout. Watch for the “Lucky Find” marker. A few examples:
- Freshly baked baguettes for 99 cents each.
- Cage-free eggs, two dozen for $5.
- Extra-virgin olive oil, 33.8 oz. for $5.99.
- Bulk coffee, $5.99 per pound.
2. Shop in the Bulk Aisles
Don’t purchase a full pound when your new recipe calls for just an ounce. Browse the bulk bins for shelf-stable goods and pick the quantity that suits you. If you’re trying to cut down on plastic, you can even bring your own container.
3. Sip, Shop and Sip Some More
Lucky’s stocks $5 wine bottles, three-for-$10 wine promotions, and frequent vendor tastings in the beer and wine sections. Planning to linger? Get a pint for $2 or a glass of wine for $3 in the café to sip while you shop; their carts even include cup holders.
4. Download the App
Lucky’s Rewards app lets you clip digital coupons and scan the app’s barcode at checkout to apply savings. You also earn points with purchases — hit 100 points and receive a $5 reward. There’s a “punchcard rewards” feature, too, for free coffee, kombucha, pastries or sandwiches after a set number of buys. Plus, once you install the app, your first beer is complimentary.
5. Shop Double-Ad Wednesdays
Overwhelmed by weekly sales? Lucky’s makes the most of its circular. Shop on Wednesdays to catch overlapping ads from the previous and upcoming weeks, giving you access to twice the number of discounted items.
6. Grab Lunch (or Any Meal, Really)
From the hot breakfast bar (served until 10 a.m. daily) to the ramen station, there are numerous ready-to-go choices for days when cooking isn’t happening. The standout hack: two pizza slices plus a beer, root beer or kombucha for $5 every day. Tuesday brings $5 sushi, and Wednesday is $5 rotisserie chicken (normally $6.99).
If you like a bit of prep, Lucky’s also sells various meal kits. Check the meat aisle for dinners for two and the deli area for grab-and-go bags.
If you’re hunting more grocery hacks and store-specific deals, don’t miss our roundup of i heart the mart walmart deals for additional savings inspiration.
Janet Cole is a senior writer at Savinly, covering grocery and retail trends.
