1Hit the store as early as possible.
Justin Sullivan//Getty ImagesEmployees typically restock shelves either overnight, starting around 10 p.m., or as early as 4 a.m., according to blog Grocery Store Guy. Either way, you'll find the most popular items right after the store opens its doors, especially on weekdays.
2Shop on Wednesdays for the best sales.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesWhole Foods refreshes most of its sales on Wednesdays, so if you want to maximize your budget, that's the day to do it.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3Didn't find something? Try again in a few days.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesMost Whole Foods locations restock shelves 3-4 times per week to keep up with demand. Tuesdays and Fridays are the most common days, since it allows employees to replace items sold out over the weekend, as well as prepare for the upcoming one.
4You can return Amazon items at Whole Foods.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesWhen Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017, he made changes that integrated the two companies. The biggest? You can return anything from Amazon at your local Whole Foods, if it's a participating drop-off location.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5Amazon Prime members get special perks.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesLook out for those Prime Member Deals! In addition to members-only sales, you'll be treated to an extra 10 percent off sales storewide, excluding alcohol. In certain zip codes, you'll even get delivery or free pickup from your store.
6Feel free to ask for a half portion.
Stephen Chernin//Getty ImagesNo need to spring for a whole watermelon or an entire wheel of brie. You can save some serious cash by asking a team member to cut you a portion of a particular item in certain departments.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Look out for yellow tags.
Jeff Greenberg//Getty ImagesYellow tags are meant to mark an item that's highly discounted. These are the products the store wants to sell the quickest—either because of rebranding, the line being discontinued, or the item being close to its expiration date.
8There are great sales on the app, too.
SOPA Images//Getty ImagesNo wallet, no problem. You can keep an eye on weekly sales, create your shopping list, and even pay in select stores with the Whole Foods app.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9Or, grab a copy of the Whole Foods deal book.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesDon't want another app on your phone? The weekly circular is the way to go. Physical copies are usually available at the front of the store or at customer service.
10Get familiar with the 365 line.
David McNew//Getty ImagesIf you're not obsessed with the store's exclusive 365 by Whole Foods Market line already, get ready for a pantry game-changer. With over 3,500 products you can't find anywhere else (including thousands of organic options!), it's the best way to buy healthier staples.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11Shop the organic section wisely.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesCertain produce is more vulnerable to chemicals than others, so opting for some types of "regular" fruit can be perfectly safe and cost way less. For example, while you may want to consider organic strawberries, thicker-skinned produce like avocados block out pesticides more.
12Ask the butcher to break down your poultry.
Smith Collection/Gado//Getty ImagesIf you see a great deal on a whole chicken, but have no clue what "spatchcock" even means, the butcher can handle that, free of charge. Same goes for cutting steaks and tying up roasts.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13Consider them your meat consultants, too.
Brooks Kraft//Getty ImagesButchers can also answer all your beef-related questions, like which cut is best for a certain dish, and the tastiest ways to prepare it. They'll even marinate your meat for you.
14Buying less-popular cuts of meat can be cheaper.
Robert Alexander//Getty ImagesWhole Foods buys the entire animal, so butchers usually have a lot of meat to sell. A store rep told Eat This, Not That that lesser-known cuts, like boneless sirloin, flat iron steak, or skirt steak are often priced lower so that they don't go to waste.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15Leave the fish seasoning to the pros.
Stephen Chernin//Getty ImagesTry seeking the fishmongers' help with jazzing up that filet. "We're not just talking salt and pepper," the store told Eat This, Not That. "There's a huge selection of spice blends inspired by Thai, Latin, and other global flavors."
16Score big makeup and skincare discounts during Beauty Week.
Brooks Kraft//Getty ImagesBeen eyeing something in the beauty aisle, but can't quite justify the price? Once a year, the store sells their cosmetics, skincare, hair care, nail polish, perfume, and beauty accessories at 25 percent off, with an additional 10 percent off for Prime Members. Check out the massively marked-down Beauty Bag bundles they offered during Beauty Week 2022!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17If you live in a big city, skip the lunchtime rush.
Brooks Kraft//Getty ImagesThe hot bar is popular with people who work in surrounding businesses—which can result in longer checkout times come lunch. If you're looking to get some quick grocery shopping done during the week, it's better to go outside of that 12-2 p.m. window.
18But if you live in the suburbs, avoid dinnertime.
Brooks Kraft//Getty ImagesThe opposite is true for the suburbian locations, where stores tend to fill up around 5 p.m. with people buying dinner ingredients after work.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19The wines are organized in a certain way.
Justin Sullivan//Getty ImagesThis tip is important if you want to get in and out with a bottle quickly. The wine section is divided by new- and old-world wines. After that, they're grouped by similar colors and styles. Here's a hint: Old-world wines are named by region (and are mostly European), while new-world wines are labeled with the type of grape used to make them.
20Buy full cases of wine whenever possible.
MediaNews Group/Orange County Register//Getty ImagesThe store revealed to Eat This, Not That that it offers a "whole case" discount of 10 percent. But the case has to be one type of wine (no mixing and matching), so find your favorite and stock up!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below