Gen Z and Boomers shop very differently. While younger shoppers love a store with TikTok-worthy snacks and self-checkout lanes, Boomers are left wondering why everything costs so much and why there aren’t enough cashiers. Gen Z wants trendy, digital-first, and aesthetic shopping experiences, while Boomers just want low prices, good service, and no-nonsense. Eventually, something as simple as grocery shopping has become a generational battlefield.

Ready to discover grocery stores that Gen Z can’t get enough of but Boomers can’t stand? Let’s get to it right away.

Trader Joe’s

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Gen Z walks into Trader Joe’s like it’s Disneyland, mesmerized by snacks, cheap wine, and fun seasonal products. Boomers? They just see chaotic parking lots, tiny aisles, and way too many unfamiliar brands. And let’s be honest—if you ask an employee where the ketchup is, they’ll probably hand you a bottle of organic sriracha-infused tomato paste instead.

Whole Foods

Credit: flickr

For Gen Z, Whole Foods is a lifestyle. It’s sustainable, plant-based, and, of course, Instagrammable. Boomers, on the other hand, can’t get over the sky-high prices. Why pay $10 for avocado toast ingredients when you could get a whole breakfast at Denny’s for less?

Aldi

Credit: flickr

Gen Z loves Aldi for its low prices and European vibes, but Boomers hate the shopping cart deposit system and the “bring your own bag” policy. They miss the days when bagging groceries was someone else’s problem, not an interactive experience that feels like a timed puzzle challenge.

Erewhon

Credit: Facebook

To Gen Z, Erewhon is the ultimate flex, where smoothies cost more than rent, and spotting an influencer is guaranteed. Boomers, however, would rather set their money on fire than spend $20 on a “gut-health-approved” celery juice. Also, no one over 50 understands why a grocery store needs to be this trendy.

Costco

Credit: flickr

Costco is a generational war zone. Gen Z loves the $1.50 hot dogs, free samples, and bulk snacks. Boomers? They hate navigating the warehouse chaos, waiting in mile-long lines, and lugging home a five-gallon tub of peanut butter when they just wanted one jar.

Sprouts Farmers Market

Credit: flickr

Sprouts is Gen Z’s dream. It has affordable organic food, kombucha in every flavor, and bulk bins full of mystery grains. Boomers, though, don’t trust a grocery store that looks like a farmer’s market but is actually a chain. Also, for Boomers, if it’s not on sale at Kroger, they don’t want it.

H Mart

Credit: flickr

Gen Z adores H Mart for its imported snacks, fresh seafood, and K-pop-worthy aesthetics. Now, that sounds like a list that Boomers are likely not going to appreciate. They’re rather overwhelmed by the options, confused by fish tanks in the grocery store, and wondering where the American cheese slices are. Meanwhile, Gen Z is busy filming their boba haul for TikTok.

Wegmans

Credit: flickr

For Gen Z, Wegmans is peak suburban luxury. It’s a place where grocery shopping feels like a spa day. Boomers don’t like the idea of a grocery store that’s disguised as a sit-down cafe, a cheese bar, and a sushi counter. They just want to grab their milk and go. They’re not into artisanal olive oils for fun.

7-Eleven

Credit: flickr

7-Eleven is Gen Z’s go-to spot for energy drinks, weird snacks, and last-minute road trip essentials. Boomers don’t get the hype. Back in their day, gas stations weren’t supposed to be trendy, and they certainly weren’t charging $5 for a single slice of pizza.

Amazon Fresh

Credit: flickr

Gen Z loves the checkout-free experience at Amazon Fresh, where you can simply grab what you need and walk out like you just robbed the place (but legally). Boomers get confused with the lack of cashiers, customer service, and normal checkout lines. They don’t trust a store run by robots and prefer human interaction over tech wizardry.

Dollar General

Credit: flickr

For Gen Z, Dollar General is the ultimate cheap thrill where you can stock up on snacks and random impulse buys for a few bucks. Boomers can’t stand the inconsistent inventory and mystery-brand products. Also, they have a serious issue with how messy some locations can be.

Publix

Credit: flickr

Publix is Gen Z’s Southern obsession, thanks to its legendary “Pub Subs” and friendly vibes. Boomers may find the prices high and think their old-school grocery stores did sandwiches just fine. The real war? Boomers who swear by Winn-Dixie vs. Gen Z, who won’t stop talking about the chicken tender sub.

Foxtrot Market

Credit: Reddit

The Foxtrot Market is a top choice for Gen Z because it’s like a hipster coffee shop mixed with a 7-Eleven. Boomers find it hard to understand why a convenience store sells $9 bottled lattes and think a gas station without gas is just a bad business idea.

Ralphs

Credit: Reddit

Ralphs is convenient, reliable, and has some decent deals that Gen Z finds interesting. However, boomers may think the self-checkout expansion is too much and could miss the old-school grocery experience. They also don’t appreciate random price hikes on canned soup.

Safeway

Credit: Facebook

Gen Z shops here when they have no other choice, but Boomers actively avoid it. Why? Because somehow, a loaf of bread costs $6, and there’s never enough staff working the registers. Finally, both generations agree on one thing: Safeway’s prices don’t always make sense.