And here's why we'll spend some of our money at whole foods: freshness. The produce and meet at the local supermarket (HEB) is safe, (often) locally sourced and tasty, but there's a marked degree of improvement for SOME THINGS at Whole Foods. For the parent post, it's the meat. For me, it's vegetables, particularly root vegetables. It's muck akin to grades of meat - the vegetables are a "grade higher" in freshness, presentation and taste.
If I'm making sauce? HEB tomatoes and mozzarella are fine. If I'm making a Caprese salad? Whole Foods FTW.
I also really enjoy their salad bar variety for lunch - it trumps almost every other available option near me, is reasonably priced and offers me a place to sit and eat nearby. Again, easy win.
Bulk and/or standard items? HEB is the place... unless we're headed to Costco for the 55 gallon drum of something.