You know that feeling when you’re at Whole Foods eyeing the organic rosemary crackers and artisan dark chocolate, thinking ‘I deserve this,’ right before you see the price tag and realize your snack haul costs more than dinner for two? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Enter Martie, the online marketplace that’s basically a treasure hunt for fancy snacks at prices that won’t make you choose between guacamole and paying your electric bill.
What is Martie, anyway?
Martie is an online grocery outlet that sells overstock, surplus, and short-dated food products at steep discounts. Think of it as the TJ Maxx of snacks—name brands and fancy organic stuff, but for way less money.
What you’ll find:
- Organic chips and crackers
- Artisan chocolates and candy
- Specialty pasta and grains
- Gourmet sauces and condiments
- Healthy snacks and protein bars
- Pantry staples from premium brands
The catch: Selection changes constantly (because it’s based on what’s overstocked), and some items might be close to their ‘best by’ dates.
Why is everything so cheap?
Nothing’s wrong with the food—it’s just surplus.
How it works:
- Brands overestimate demand and end up with extra inventory
- Packaging changes (old design needs to be sold)
- Short-dated items (still safe, just need to sell faster)
- Seasonal items after the season ends
Instead of this food going to waste, Martie buys it in bulk and passes the savings to you.
The savings are real (like, really real)
We’re not talking 10% off. We’re talking 40-70% off retail prices.
Example deals:
- Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs: $1.99 instead of $4.99 at Whole Foods
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers: $3.49 instead of $6.49
- Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate: $4.99 instead of $8.99
- RXBARs: $1.49 each instead of $2.99
Do the math: if you spend $50 on Martie instead of $120 at a regular store, that’s $70 saved. Those are real dollars you can use for, you know, anything else.
The ‘best by’ date question
Let’s address the elephant in the room: yes, some items are close to their ‘best by’ dates.
Here’s the thing:
- ‘Best by’ doesn’t mean ‘expires on’—it’s a freshness guideline
- Most items are still weeks or months away from their best-by date
- Martie clearly lists dates before you buy
- Non-perishables (chips, crackers, pasta) are fine well past those dates
The smart approach: Buy things you’ll eat soon, or stock up on shelf-stable items. Just don’t order six months’ worth of fresh-baked cookies and expect them to stay perfect.
How Martie works
The shopping experience:
- Browse their constantly rotating selection
- Add items to your cart (minimum order $35 for free shipping on orders over $75, or $8.99 flat-rate shipping)
- Check out (they accept all major payment methods)
- Wait for your box of snack joy to arrive
Shipping: Usually takes 3-7 business days. Not Amazon-fast, but fine for pantry staples and snack stocking.
What’s great about Martie
The variety is surprising
You’re not just getting random off-brand stuff. We’re talking recognizable, premium brands:
- Simple Mills
- Hu Kitchen
- Quinn Snacks
- Lesser Evil
- Banza
- RXBARs
- Late July
- And tons more
The eco-friendly angle
You’re literally saving food from being wasted. In the U.S., 40% of food goes uneaten. Martie’s helping reduce that waste while saving you money.
The treasure hunt vibe
The selection changes constantly, which makes it feel like a fun discovery rather than boring grocery shopping. You never know what deals you’ll find.
What’s not so great about Martie
You can’t count on specific items
This isn’t your regular grocery store where you know they’ll always have your favorite crackers. Inventory rotates, so what’s available today might be gone tomorrow.
The minimum order requirement
You need to spend $35 to get free shipping (on orders over $75). If you’re just grabbing one or two items, that $8.99 shipping fee cuts into your savings.
Not for picky eaters
If you only eat three specific brands and nothing else, Martie’s rotating selection might frustrate you.
Who should use Martie?
Perfect for:
- People who love trying new snacks and brands
- Flexible eaters who can adapt to what’s available
- Anyone trying to cut grocery costs without sacrificing quality
- Eco-conscious shoppers who care about food waste
- Households that go through a lot of packaged snacks
Not ideal for:
- People who need very specific items every time
- Anyone with severe allergies (always double-check ingredients)
- Folks who need everything immediately (shipping takes a few days)
How to maximize your Martie savings
Strategy tips:
- Stock up when you see deals on favorites: If something you love shows up, buy multiple
- Make a full order: Hit that free shipping threshold to maximize savings
- Don’t be brand-loyal: Be open to trying new things—you might discover new favorites
- Check expiration dates: Plan your meals around what needs to be eaten first
The bottom line
Martie is the secret weapon for anyone who wants fancy organic snacks and premium brands but doesn’t want to spend half their paycheck at Whole Foods.
Is it perfect? No. You won’t find everything you need for a complete grocery run, and you have to be flexible about what’s available. But for stocking your pantry with quality snacks at 40-70% off? It’s a no-brainer.
If you’re spending $100+/month on packaged snacks, switching to Martie could easily save you $40-60 monthly. That’s $500-700 a year—or about 150 bags of organic chickpea puffs (not that anyone’s counting).
Give it a shot. Worst case? You discover some new favorite snacks while saving money. Best case? You never pay full price for fancy crackers again.
