Grocery stores are more than just a mecca for organic fruit and bulk walnuts. They are often overlooked when holiday shoppers scramble for presents, but groceries can be a great untapped resource for gift-giving. Selections range from the basic to luxurious, and prices can be helpfully reasonable for the Santa who has a long, long list.
Breeze right on past the exotic veggies and find a world of natural beauty at your favorite organic chain. Collect bath salts, an aromatherapy candle, and body oils and create a divine at-home spa kit.
Whole Body Department, Whole Foods
Find a little something for your fur-faced friends in the Whole Foods pet department. Rawhides, organic snacks and pet shampoo will keep pets healthy and happy. Any pet parent knows love is a four-legged word.
Pet Department, Whole Foods
Wine aficionados know a $7 Walmart Malbec won top honors at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The wine that took home Decanter World’s Platinum Best in Show— La Moneda Reserva’s Malbec—may be difficult to find in store at 500 select Walmarts or online. But bargain hunters are learning there’s a good price on some other good wines at the big box grocery.
Walmart
Scout out the cooking section and grab olive oil and balsamic vinegar for your resident foodie.
Villa Magra Gran Cru Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $33; eataly.com. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, $30; eataly.com
Design an entire food basket using items from the market. Put together the makings of an intimate dinner at home for your significant other. Choose a bouquet from the grocery’s flower department to lend a romantic touch to the dinner.
Down to the last minute and all out of chic wrapping paper and expensive bows for the paperback you snatched up at the airport? Head to your grocery for brown shipping paper and twine. The literati on your list will think their book gift was wrapped in a chic local bookstore. Wrap that twine around bottles of wine, infused vinegar and exotic oils for an elevated look.
