I live in East Tennessee, and I shop at Food City a lot. Two kids. Busy evenings. I wanted an easier way to keep my list and grab pickup after work. So I tried the Food City app for six weeks. I used it for digital coupons, pickup, and quick in-store trips. Some parts are great. Some parts drove me a bit nuts. Want the real story? Here goes.
If you prefer a written deep-dive with screenshots, you can check out this comprehensive Food City app review that walks through every feature I tested.
If you're the kind of person who likes short, practical video guides, the folks at Woopid have a library of free tutorials on getting more from everyday apps.
Getting set up and my first shop
Sign-up was quick. I linked my ValuCard, and the weekly ad popped up. I was planning taco night. So I added ground beef, Mission tortillas, Food Club cheese, and salsa from the ad.
I clipped a $1 off coupon on the tortillas right in the app. In store, I pulled up my barcode in the app and the scanner caught it fast. The discount showed on the screen. That felt good. Small win, but still.
Oh, I forgot limes. I searched “lime,” tapped add, and they went to my list. Easy.
Curbside pickup on a rainy Tuesday
My first pickup was a 5–6 pm slot on a rainy Tuesday. I ordered milk, bananas, chicken thighs, a bag of salad, and a few snacks for lunches. I put a note on the bananas: “yellow-green, please.” Yes, I’m that person.
About 20 minutes before my slot, the app said my order was ready. I tapped “I’m on my way,” parked, and put in the spot number. A very kind store associate came out in under 10 minutes. Frozen stuff was cold. Bread wasn’t squished. The bananas were perfect. I high-key smiled at that.
One snag: they were out of my ranch dressing brand. The app asked if I’d accept the store brand at the same price. I tapped approve. It was fine.
A small stumble and a quick fix
Week two, my apples were bruised. Like three of them. I left feedback in the app and got a refund the same day. No debate, no sighing. Just fixed.
Another time, a $5 off $50 coupon didn’t apply on pickup. I showed my order screen at customer service. They credited me the $5. I took a screenshot first. That helped.
Speaking of quick snaps that can save you headaches later, if you’re ever interested in seeing how everyday people capture spontaneous, real-life moments for fun, check out the candid gallery over at Snap Amateur—you’ll find unfiltered photos and creative framing ideas that might inspire your own on-the-go shots.
Fuel savings that actually felt real
After two bigger shops, I saved 20¢ per gallon at the Food City fuel station down the road. It tracked right in the app. I used it the next morning after school drop-off. Small line, no stress. It wasn’t some huge thing, but it felt worth it.
Lists, search, and little quirks
Making a list in the app is fast. I like that I can add from the weekly ad and from search. It also tries to group items by aisle for my store. It’s not perfect. Muffins showed up near the deli for me once, which made me laugh. But most of it lines up well.
Search is strong. I typed “tahini” and found it in two taps. I typed “kid snacks” and got a strange mix. So I just searched brands like Annie’s or Cheez-It and had better luck. Interestingly, research on food delivery app interfaces—such as the academic study “Evaluation of Consumer Behavior Regarding Food Delivery Applications in India”—highlights how clear search functions and well-organized menus are key drivers of satisfaction.
For comparison, I recently ran the Piggly Wiggly app through the same paces—here’s what happened.
What I wish I had: a simple “sort by unit price” button. I like to compare price per ounce when I stock up. Right now, I tap into each item to see it.
A real rush order: game day queso
Super Bowl Sunday. Family came over. I forgot chips, Rotel, and that big block of cheese we all use for queso. I placed a two-hour pickup. It hit on time. Rotel, check. Cheese, check. Chips were a little crushed on one corner, but we still ate it. No one cared once the dip was bubbling.
Notifications and speed
The app runs fast on my older iPhone SE. I don’t sit there waiting for things to load.
One thing: the notifications can be… eager. I got a baking sale alert at 7 am on a Saturday. I turned alerts down in my phone settings and just kept “order ready” and “price drop” on. That balance works.
If you’re curious about non-grocery pickup apps, I also spent three weeks with Swiro; you can read my real take on that experience for a different angle on mobile shopping.
Small joys I didn’t expect
You can add notes for fresh items. “Firm avocados,” “thinly sliced deli turkey,” or “no super green onions, please.” The pickers read them. I know, because I saw “sliced thin” written on my deli label.
Also, scanning my app barcode at checkout just feels smooth. No more digging for the plastic card.
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What I love
- Digital coupons that actually apply (most of the time)
- Pickup that’s on time, with cold stuff packed right
- Fuel savings that show up without hoops
- Notes on fresh food that shoppers actually follow
What bugs me
- No easy “sort by unit price”
- The “clip all” coupons button adds random stuff I don’t need
- Aisle sorting is right most days, but not all days
- Early morning promo alerts were too loud (fixed by turning most off)
Two real tips from me
- Leave notes on produce. “Bananas: yellow-green,” “grapes: no soft ones.” You’ll get better picks.
- If a coupon misses, screenshot your order and ask at customer service. They fixed mine fast.
Who will like this app
- Busy parents who want curbside without chaos
- Anyone who tracks grocery spend and likes quick wins on fuel
- In-store shoppers who hate paper coupons but still want the deals
My verdict
The Food City app isn’t flashy. But it saves me time and a bit of money, and it doesn’t make me jump through hoops. Pickup is reliable. Coupons work most days. When things go wrong, support fixes it. I’m hardly alone in that assessment; the Trustpilot page for Food City collects hundreds of similar customer stories—both glowing and critical—if you want a broader sample.
I’m giving it 4 out of 5. I still go inside for a few impulse treats—fresh donuts get me every time—but the app handles the heavy lifting. And honestly, that’s what I needed.
—Kayla Sox