When you want to pick up a loaf of bread or a special treat, going to your local grocery store is often your best option. After all, grocery stores usually have pre-packaged goods that do the trick. If you are lucky, your grocery store also has an in-store bakery that produces fresh, tasty products. As you likely know, however, not all in-store bakeries are good. Some are average, while others are downright terrible. How do you determine the difference? In this article, we take an in-depth look at the bakery inside the ShopRite store for ShopRite cakes. Continue reading for an honest and reliable assessment of prices, quality, timing and more at the ShopRite bakery.
ShopRite Bakery Pros & Cons
The best way to reach a verdict on ShopRite bakery is to consider some of its pros and cons. Below we discuss three advantages of purchasing baked goods at ShopRite and three drawbacks. Remember, though, this analysis is largely subjective. Something we list as a pro may be a con in your book. The opposite is also true. Regardless, we hope you use this information to better anticipate your shopping experience at ShopRite bakery.
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ShopRite Bakery
What Is a ShopRite Bakery?
ShopRite Supermarkets are part of a retailers’ cooperative. Previously called both Shop-Rite and Shop Rite, the ShopRite store sells a variety of groceries and home products. The co-op currently operates stores in six U.S. states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland.
Unlike other supermarket conglomerates, ShopRite is made up of 48 individually owned and operated entities. Together, the co-op has 337 stores. The store is the top-selling grocery retailer in New York City, which is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The co-op also supplies food to more customers in Philadelphia than any other grocery store.
ShopRite Facility
Interestingly, ShopRite stores have no formal brand book for trade dress. As such, when you walk into a ShopRite facility, you feel like you are shopping at an independent grocery store. In many ways you are, as the store’s co-op model offers great flexibility to store owners. The quirkiness and individuality of the stores make them a favorite of customers who want a unique shopping experience.
In most locations, the ShopRite bakery is a full-service bakery. When you visit the store, you benefit from a selection of sweet pastries and savory alternatives. Some products are made in-house, while others are produced in large-scale bakeries and transported to the ShopRite store.
For Public
ShopRite stores are not membership-based. Instead, they are open to the general public. In addition to a bakery and full-service grocery store, most locations offer customers a pharmacy and deli. The company also has an online ordering platform where customers can schedule home delivery. Of course, you must live in the store’s delivery area to take advantage of this feature. Alternatively, you can order groceries online and pick them up in your local ShopRite store.
ShopRite Bakery Specifications
Bakery Type: Grocery store co-op
Open to General Public: Yes
Number of Locations: 337
Bakery Offerings: ShopRite cakes, pies, pastries, bagels, other products
Notice Required for Specialty Items: 3 days
Co-Op Business Model
The co-op business model at ShopRite is different than most other supermarkets. Instead of being owned by a corporate giant, most ShopRite stores are owned and operated by smaller entities. The result is a better shopping experience that prioritizes local customers and individual needs.
Since all ShopRite stores have independent owners, the overall design of the ShopRite bakery varies from store to store. Most feature separate décor to distinguish the bakery section from other departments, however. Virtually all have a glass case where you can view ShopRite cakes, pastries, donuts, pies, bagels, and other items. Some products are self-serve, while others require the assistance of a bakery associate.
Most ShopRite bakeries have an in-store oven, mixer and other tools to create delicious baked goods. Still, all stock pre-made items that come from off-site baking facilities. Most carry national brands as well as store brands.
Personalize ShopRite Cakes
At ShopRite, you have access to an in-house decorator who can personalize ShopRite cakes and other baked goods. To be sure your order is ready to go when you want to pick it up, plan to give the baker at least three days’ notice. If you have a larger order or a highly-specialized decoration request, check in a week or two before you need your cake or another item.
If you want to customize a cake, expect to work with the in-house decorator to identify the design, writing and other decorative elements. Some ShopRite locations can handle complicated decorations, while others lack the staff and equipment to pull off intricate designs. Check with the store’s bakery manager well before your event to be certain your ShopRite bakery can handle your cake decoration or other decoration requests.
ShopRite Bakery Pricing
ShopRite has a hard-earned and well-deserved reputation for selling quality products at affordable prices. In fact, the store is known for its sales and other specials. Even everyday prices are low at ShopRite when compared to big-box grocery stores. They are also considerably less than prices at specialty shops and bakeries. For example, a full-sized filled sheet cake usually sells for about $70 at ShopRite. This cake comes decorated without adding additional cost.
If you aren’t looking for personalized ShopRite cakes, you will likely find the cookies, donuts, bread, and other bakery items at ShopRite to be competitively priced. Of course, if you purchase specialty items or organic ones, you can expect to pay a bit more. Still, when compared to other supermarkets in areas where ShopRite does business, prices in the store’s bakery are reasonable.
How ShopRite Bakery Compares With the Competition
Competitor 1: BJ’s Wholesale Club
BJ’s Wholesale Club is a membership shopping club that has a variety of departments. One of these departments is the bakery. Inside the bakery, BJ’s sells both in-house baked goods and off-site products. The store employs a decorator to customize or personalize sheet ShopRite cakes and other pastries.
To shop at BJ’s, you must purchase a membership. These usually cost about $55 for individual members. After buying a membership, you take advantage of low prices. In fact, at BJ’s, baked goods often sell for 20 to 50 percent less than they do at grocery stores. BJ’s also sells a variety of products from national baking brands, such as Pillsbury and Pepperidge Farms.
Quality
The baked goods produced inside the store are usually of average quality. While they are often tasty, the decorations are frequently sloppy and amateurish. Still, if you are looking for a simple design and have a BJ’s membership, you could save a considerable amount on your sheet cake or other items. That is because it is a wholesale club, BJ’s usually beats ShopRite’s pricing. It doesn’t always, though, so comparison shopping is a smart strategy.
Price: 5/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Assembly Time: 4/5
Quality: 3/5
Warranty: 5/5
Competitor 2: Kroger Bakery
Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the U.S. by revenue. The company sells food, home goods, and other related products. Some of Kroger’s affiliated stores sell clothing, jewelry, and appliances. Like ShopRite, Kroger sells bakery items.
In most Kroger stores, the bakery is inside its own department. Many stores use a unique trade dress and displays to make the bakery feel unique. Most bakeries sell products made in Kroger stores and in off-site facilities.
Grocery Stores
Often, Kroger grocery stores employ decorators to personalize sheet cakes and other pastries. Like the decorations at BJ’s, these customizations can be basic and unrefined. When detail isn’t important, purchasing a cake or other item from Kroger can be fast and convenient.
Prices at Kroger are roughly equal to those at ShopRite. While Kroger charges more for some items than ShopRite does, others sell for less.
Price: 4/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Assembly Time: 4/5
Quality: 3/5
Warranty: 4/5
Competitor 3: The Office Cake
To help you better understand how the ShopRite bakery measures up in the cake decorating department, we offer a comparison with a regional cake shop. The Office Cake decorates and delivers cakes in the Miami area. While we realize this shop doesn’t do business in the same market as ShopRite, the comparison is nonetheless reasonable. Simply put, there are cake decorating and delivery services in markets throughout the U.S. Most operate like the Office Cake.
The Office Cake has several cake sizes and styles from which to choose. You simply select the cake you want online. If you’d like to customize the cake, you can do so by using the intuitive form. Some customizations result in extra charges.
Decorators
The decorators at the Office Cake are good, but they aren’t great. Most of the personality on cakes comes from plastic or rubber add-ons that require no skill. The borders and writing are adequate but not remarkable. In fact, we see little difference between the quality of cake decorations at the Office Cake, a dedicated cake shop, and the ShopRite bakery inside your grocery store.
Pricing at the Office Cake is a bit higher than it is at ShopRite. You are likely to discover higher pricing at any specialty cake shop, though, due to volume. That is since ShopRite is a larger operation that sells more cakes, the store usually passes savings through directly to you.
Price: 3/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Assembly Time: 3.5/5
Quality: 4/5
Warranty: 5/5
Advantages and Drawbacks of Purchasing Baked Goods at Shoprite
The best way to reach a verdict on ShopRite bakery is to consider some of its pros and cons. Below we discuss three advantages of purchasing baked goods at ShopRite and three drawbacks. Remember, though, this analysis is largely subjective. Something we list as a pro may be a con in your book. The opposite is also true. Regardless, we hope you use this information to better anticipate your shopping experience at ShopRite bakery.
By far the best feature of buying baked goods from ShopRite is the store’s on-site decorator. Whether you want to spruce up a pastry for dinner or purchase ShopRite cakes to feed hundreds of guests, you will appreciate having a knowledgeable decorator to help you through the process. At ShopRite, decorators are usually willing to work with customers. They may ask you to complete some forms or pay a deposit for complicated designs. For smaller projects, the decorator may be able to deliver pleasing results while you shop for the rest of your groceries.
Variety of Goods
Unlike some small bakeries or cake shops, ShopRite has a large selection of baked goods. Whether you want a bagel for breakfast or a pastry for dessert, you can likely find exactly what you crave at ShopRite. The store’s in-house bakers create fresh culinary delights daily. Additionally, the bakery manager orders a seemingly endless variety of products from off-site suppliers to supplement the in-store bakers. Even better, you can pick up anything else you need to prepare dinner at your local ShopRite store.
Finally, the prices at ShopRite are reasonable. The supermarket frequently has sales and other specials to supplement its already low prices. If you are trying to eat on a budget, you probably can’t beat the prices at ShopRite.
While ShopRite has an in-house decorator, the store is not a specialty ShopRite cakes shop. If you want a designer wedding cake or need another complicated project completed, ShopRite’s staff may not have the equipment or expertise to get the job done right.
Quality of ShopRite Cakes
Also, while ShopRite cakes look good, they are not high-end ShopRite cakes. Instead, they are tasty treats made from common ingredients. If you are looking for a high-quality cake made with gourmet ingredients by a Michelin-rated baker, ShopRite isn’t the store for you.
While we love the co-op concept that makes ShopRite work, we are disappointed by its small reach. With locations in only six states, the grocery store does not serve much of the U.S. Unless you live close to a ShopRite bakery, you probably won’t be buying baked goods from it.
The Verdict: ShopRite Bakery Is Better Than Average
We are glad that many grocery stores have bakery departments. This makes buying fresh products possible for many individuals. One of the best bakeries inside a grocery store is the ShopRite bakery. With excellent prices, good quality products and responsive personnel, ShopRite know how to keep its bakery customers happy.
Still, with only a bit over 300 locations in six states, ShopRite isn’t accessible to most people. If you happen to live near one of these supermarkets, we are confident you will find the bakery to be better than average.
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