Sticker shock is coming to America. A 10% tariff on nearly all goods coming into the U.S., plus an even higher tariff rate on goods from China, equals an unpleasant trip to the grocery store. And if you thought beans grown in the U.S.A. would be immune to tariff pain, you’d be wrong. Why? If those beans were packaged in the U.S. using imported materials like a plastic clamshell or an aluminum can, the manufacturer is going to have to pay more, and they are likely going to pass that cost increase onto the consumer — you.
A recent CNN article detailed the potential tariff-related pain that will hit supermarkets in the coming months. Price increases for imported foods such as cheese, candy bars, fruit and seafood are expected, as is the potential for companies to eliminate certain versions of items or resort to the dreaded “shrinkflation” (same great price, now with less product). Unless you run a self-sustaining farm, these cost increases are going to hit your household — and your firehouse.
Considering the budget for your meals will likely remain the same, the question on our collective mind is just how much will these items rise in cost?
One firehouse meal, two regions, four stores
To monitor the potential cost increases of firehouse dinners, let’s track grocery costs for a single firehouse meal to feed 12 firefighters:
- Roasted chicken: ~11 lbs.
- Potato Item: ~10 lbs.
- Rolls: 24
- Green beans: 48 oz.
- Brownie mix: 2 boxes
- Vanilla ice cream: 3 quarts
It’s a basic meal (with potential for leftovers) that requires around 11 lbs. of chicken, 10 lbs. of potatoes, 24 dinner rolls, and 48 oz. of green beans. Also included on the list are butter (one pound), barbeque sauce (28 oz.) and (in two instances) ketchup for when potatoes were not available and had to be replaced with tater tots. We zeroed in on two geographic regions — San Diego and Downingtown, Pennsylvania — for this experiment. We will track the cost of this meal in two different grocery stores in each region over the coming months, watching for price fluctuations of individual items and the availability of all the items in each region.
The grocery stores
We selected stores with a national presence — both a traditional grocery store and a big-box store known for bargains. (Price check on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.)
Vons (Albertson’s): San Diego
- Signature Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Value Pack 3.5 lbs. (x3) - $52.40
- Signature Select/Farms Idaho Russet Potatoes in Bag 5 lbs. (x2) - $3.00
- Kings Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls 24 oz. (24 Rolls) - $8.49
- Taylor Farms Green Beans 12 oz. (x4) - $11.96
- Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce 28 oz. - $4.49
- Land O Lakes Salted Butter Pack 4 Sticks 1 lbs. - $6.99
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 18.2 oz. (x2) - $7.58
- Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 1.5 quart (x2) - $13.98
Meal total: $108.89
Per person cost: $9.07
Acme (Albertson’s): Downingtown, Pennsylvania
- Signature Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Value Pack 3.5 lbs. (x3) - $31.40
- Signature Select/Farms Idaho Russet Potatoes in Bag 5 lbs. (x2) - $6.98
- Kings Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls 24 Oz. (24 Rolls) - $10.49
- Signature Select/Farms Green Beans 12 Oz. (x4) - $11.96
- Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce 28 Oz. - $3.50
- Land O Lakes Salted Butter Pack 4 Sticks 1 lbs. - $3.99
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 18.2 oz. (x2) - $3.00
- Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 1.5 quart (x2) - $13.98
Meal total: $85.30
Per person cost: $7.11
Walmart: San Diego
- Great Value All-Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 8 lbs. - $22.43
- Great Value All-Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 3 lbs. - $9.94
- Great Value Taters Seasoned and Shredded Potatoes 2 lbs. (x4) - $12.48
- Kings Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls 24 oz. (24 rolls) - $15.76
- Great Value Cut Green Beans 12 oz. (x4) - $4.72
- Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce 28 oz. - $3.56
- Great Value Sweet Cream Salted Butter 4 Sticks 1 lbs. - $4.16
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz. - $4.48
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 18.2 oz. (x2) - $3.76
- Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 1.5 quart (x2) - $12.36
Meal total: $93.65
Per person cost: $7.80
Walmart: Exton, Pennsylvania
- Great Value All-Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 8 lbs. - $22.43
- Great Value All-Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 3 lbs. - $9.94
- Great Value Taters Seasoned and Shredded Potatoes 2 lbs. (x4) - $11.88
- Kings Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls 24 oz. (24 Rolls) - $15.76
- Great Value Cut Green Beans 12 oz. (x4) - $3.92
- Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce 28 oz. - $3.24
- Great Value Sweet Cream Salted Butter 4 Sticks 1 lbs. - $3.96
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz. - $4.48
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 18.2 oz. (x2) - $3.44
- Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream 1.5 quart (x2) - $7.74
Meal total: $86.79
Per person cost: $7.23
Initial findings: Fire station meal price
Cheapest overall meal cost: Acme Downingtown, Pennsylvania
The Acme just edged out its nearby Keystone state competitor (the Exton Walmart) by a measly $1.49. Both California stores were more expensive than their Pennsylvania counterparts, with the San Diego Vons being the only location averaging over $9 per person for the meal. So why was it so much pricier? The main culprit seems to be the chicken at the Vons, costing about $20 more than at the Acme or either Walmart location. Also of note is that the Exton Walmart would have likely edged out the Acme as well if it had regular potatoes in stock. The ketchup necessary to make those tater tots click may have been its downfall. One outlier was the fact that neither Walmart had standard potatoes available for online shopping, so the tater tots (which are always a hit) had to be substituted.
Also, take note that these are estimated totals prior to sales tax, but because both Pennsylvania and California have similar rules about grocery items that can be taxed (hot prepared food, soft drinks, etc.), it is unlikely that any of these items would get dinged with sales tax.
Regarding items available at all the stores, the King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls were far cheaper at the two Albertson’s stores than they were at either Walmart location.
Both Walmarts edged out the Albertsons’ locations with their extremely cheap green beans — the best bargain being less than $4 for 48oz. at the Exton location.
Another issue to watch is the unavailability of the Land O’ Lakes butter at both Walmart locations. Their Great Value generic brand had to be substituted in both instances. If it’s still not available during the next roundup, that could signal supply chain difficulties, as this item is typically easy to find.
The Pennsylvania Acme was a whopping $23.59 cheaper on this haul than the San Diego Vons. Meanwhile, there was only a $6.86 difference in the totals of both Walmart locations.
Check back soon for the firehouse grocery price tracker update.
Kenosha (Wis.) Fire Department Lt. Mike Zoerner made 14 smothered chicken dinners on Nov., 6, 2023. Watch Lt. Zoerner and his crew shop, cook and enjoy dinner at the firehouse.
