Carrs/Safeway has 10 stores scattered around Anchorage, including one at the Sears Mall in Midtown. Grocery prices are generally a bit lower at the four big Fred Meyer stores, including one at Northern Lights Boulevard and New Seward Highway. Most Carrs/Safeway and Fred Meyer stores have delis, fresh sushi, salad bars, ATMs, and in-store Starbucks outlets.

A distinctive gourmet grocer is New Sagaya (stores at 3700 Old Seward Hwy., 907/561-5173, and 900 W. 13th Ave., 907/274-6173, www.newsagaya.com), where the featured attractions include exotic produce and Asian foods, outstanding delis, L’Aroma Bakeries, Kaladi Coffee, live crab and oysters, and fresh-from-the-sea seafood.

Many Alaskans buy groceries at the two Costcos (on Dimond Ave. at C St., and Muldoon at 15th Ave.), where you need to be a member and most things come in sizes meant to feed whole villages (or two rather obese Alaskans). Their pizza-by-the-slice and Polish dogs are a fattening bargain once you’ve finished your shopping ordeal.