Do you have a favourite supermarket?

[slowmotion]

I used to love Lidl for the random, souk-like atmosphere but they don't seem to take the pandemic too seriously at the local one. For reasons of self-preservation, the only supermarket I've used in the last year is Waitrose.

 

[snorri]

I liked to explore the various food stores on mainland Europe and think my introduction to Lidl took place while cycle touring in Germany. When they opened a branch near home I shopped there and it felt like I was on holiday again. The down side came when I called in at Lidl on my next holiday in Germany and felt like I was at home.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Très Bon.

I spotted that and thought “ well played sir” 😁

 

[Tenkaykev]

While we usually wander up the road to the local M+ S food hall, a small greengrocer and an independent shop that sells Ritter ( one of my many weaknesses) , for a the bulky stuff we place an online order from Waitrose. Their “ Simply” range is excellent quality and value.
The son of a friend of ours was doing a safety inspection of the water systems at a large food processing factory on the South Coast. He noticed that one production line was packaging ready meals for several supermarket chains. The bloke that was showing him round mentioned that the “ Tesco Finest “ Sainsburys “ Taste the Difference “ and the bog standard Waitrose ready meals were the same product.

 

[bikingdad90]

Our local is Tesco. It’s ok for picking up yellow sticker stuff and the odd bit of milk here and there. I don’t like to do a full shop as I find it too expensive. The food range is a bit odd at times too. There will be very kind of rice except basmati rice or every kind of jam except strawberry jam.

My next local is a COOP. It’s a bit small and limited range of some items. It is a bit expensive but I get student discount and use their offers on the card so brings it down to normal levels. Usually pop in on a sunday or order a few items online to be delivered by the staff from the store in a few hours time. I’m not sure if it a trial or a new offering as it’s only started recently.

Lately we have been shopping online at Morrisons as we like the food and prices and it’s a lot easier than trying to navigate our way round the local superstore which is just a maze and makes no sense! Think we will keep this up long term.

We have a few local Aldi’s too and tend to go there when we miss a good slot on Morrisons and need to bridge till the next slot or go towards the end of the month when money is a bit short because of childcare as it’s the cheapest of all of the shops nearby. Food quality is good and offering is simple and few which we both like.

 

[Ian H]

I went into Lidl once.........
I shop at Sainsburys

Which reminds me of Alan Coren's remark: "I like Sainsburys, they keep the riff-raff out of Waitrose".

We have a Tesco (which we don't go to), an Aldi & a Lidl almost next to each other (which we seldom go to), all within walking distance, and a Co-op just off the High Street, which use use for some things, muesli, spices, odd stuff.

But most of our shopping is in the local butchers. Baker's the Butchers bake their own bread, have a good selection of mostly local fruit & veg, good local cheeses & milk products. They sell 'loose' milk, various groceries, and even meat (good meat, they supply Fortnum's).

With the wine shop (who sell excellent olive oil) next door to Baker's, the fishmonger round the corner (where you can buy eggs), and another good baker across the road (slightly different selection of breads and other bakery produce), we have no need to do more than walk 300m down the road.

 

[PK99]

The bloke that was showing him round mentioned that the “ Tesco Finest “ Sainsburys “ Taste the Difference “ and the bog standard Waitrose ready meals were the same product.

Interesting. I've remarked in the past that Waitrose normal range across the board compares favourably with Finest and Taste the Difference.

Waitrose is our go to shop for big weekly shop. Product quality and customer service are outstanding. Normal range is very good. No1 range is simply superb.

Morrison or Sainsbury for top up bits n bobs.

Meats mainly from on line specialist whose normal market is Michelin restaurants but prices beat Waitrose.

In Aldi and Lidl I lose the will to live. Too little choice and too much queuing to pay.

 

[Spiderweb]

If I’m doing the shopping then it will be mostly at Aldi, I don’t like big Supermarkets, Aldi is great to get in and out swiftly and the quality of their food is excellent. I also like Aldi prices (I’m a Yorkshire man with a Scottish Grandfather!)

 

[Archie_tect]

The good thing about Aldi is you can pick up a wet suit, two trombones and a MIG welder as you wander round the aisles.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Mostly use Lidl but get a few bits from Tesco or Sainsburys (have all three within half a mile), only trouble with Lidl is I often come home with random non food items like a welding mask or set of bongos.

 

[Archie_tect]

I still get upset that I was about 5 minutes too late to get a bike stand from Aldi that they were selling for something ridiculously cheap some years ago.

Their bike stuff sale weekends are legendary round here- it's incredible how fast the word goes out when they get the stock in.

 

[slowmotion]

The good thing about Aldi is you can pick up a wet suit, two trombones and a MIG welder as you wander round the aisles.

Lidl's the same. The quality might be a bit iffy but it's all laughably inexpensive. They have a good range of charcuterie too and the wine's quite passable. The problem is that I've convinced myself that I'll end up in hospital with Coronavirus if I step over the threshold.

 

[alicat]

Pre-Covid, I used to use Morrisons because it's just up the road and I like its Northern roots and range of fresh food.

Now I do click and collect at Tesco. The minimum spend is lower than at Morrisons and the availability is better. I do top up shops at the Co-op, the local fruit and veg market, a Polish convenience store for a bit of variety or at Morrisons' garage.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I used to buy stuff in Aldi,but i haven't been in for a while. Those constant tannoy announcements regarding the virus made me feel a bit 'big brother is watching you'🕵️‍♂️(ish). It's also cold in there. Probably about 60 Fahrenheit,compared to Tesco's 70 plus.

 

[PaulSB]

It all depends....
Just needing milk? Local Tesco express within walking distance.
Something for dinner and bits and pieces? Local Morrisons, also within walking distance.
A weekly shop? Larger Tesco, 8 miles drive away.
If we had a big Sainsbury's nearby, I would go there. Wider aisles, greater choice, and never seem too busy. A more relaxing experience which encourages some browsing.
As for Lidl/Aldi, the one major downside is they always seem to be busy and frantic. Then you have to queue forever even just to pay for 2 items, while everyone in front has a trolley overflowing with shopping.

We have three Aldi's and a Lidl locally. It's standard practice in all of them if you see the person behind only has a couple of bits you offer to let them go ahead of you. It's standard if you're behind someone with a full "shop" you just ask if you can go first. This is Lancashire!

Doesn't happen in Waitrose