Grocery Stores...who do you use?

Being a foodie, grocery shopping is just about one of my favourite things to do. But having only been in a grocery store there maybe twice (and it's been almost 20 years ago) I am sort of looking forward to at least seeing them. But then I am also excited at the notion of being able to have delivery.....Is it too cold to go out? Yes it is. Let's just order in the groceries. Oh yeah! I will have access to a car with the only delay is being able and comfortable driving there.  My understanding is the closest stores are in Rushden and the rest are in Wellingborough.

We used to grab bread at the corner shop if we were out but once I went and a cat was ripping open a bag of bread and eating it. In. the. store. We don't go there anymore.

Not good!  Poor thing must have been very hungry!

I don't like the idea of online shopping at all.  It doesn't suit our needs.  I like to get what I need when I need it for the most part and luckily there is a Morrisons just down the block from where I work and within walking distance of home (I don't drive).  I hate wasting a day off doing a 'big shop' with hubby, so getting stuff as I need it works so much better.

After being 10 miles from "bread and milk' for a good few years in Virginia, we specifically chose an 'in-town' location so we could shop as needed and have easy access to other things as well.

We have a car and do drive, but in 3+ years have only racked up about 5K in mileage because we walk for almost everything.

I've never done on-line shopping for food and doubt that I ever will. It's a personal thing - I want to see what I'm buying. Not an issue for canned/packaged goods, but produce...not something I want chosen for me, and I definitely want to see the meat before I buy. Plus, refrigerated trucks notwithstanding, I want my stuff at home and under my temperature control as soon as possible.

I had a friend who didn't drive (back in the US) so she went with the online deal.  She didn't really like it -- for one thing you had to select between different brands.  So if she put down X toilet paper and they were out of that they wouldn't send her any toilet paper at all.  Hopefully, they've ironed out those issues by now!

I don't have much to add except to say that I do love British supermarkets! I love all the exotic things that are hard to find in Dallas (Texas) supermarkets, although some of the newer ones seem to be an improvement. I find I can get most things I need here in the UK and can order the rest, if I'm desperate. No Velveeta but haven't really missed that  anyway.

Also, much depends on the area you live. Much less standardization here than in the US, so a Tesco in one place may be a completely different animal in another.

And what might be the final note..........I love Morrison's red box tea. 

Iceland and Sainsburys. You can't beat Icelands prices and Sainsburys is down our road.

East Midlands here (Swadlincote)

We have a Sainsbury's, Morrisons and a Tesco all within 10 minutes of us by car. We even have a Sainsbury's Local that's just a short (3 minute) walk away. To be honest, we haven't gone to Tesco yet. I'd like to, but we keep forgetting!

Our typical weekly shop gets done at the big Sainsbury's, my husband and I prefer their meat selection to Morrisons. The Sainsbury's vegetables and fruit are pretty good as well. They're pastries and cream cakes are the best of the two stores. As to American products... I've honestly given up on getting a lot of them. I can get my Heinz ketchup, Pepsi and Walkers (UK name for Lays) brands at either store. They also have Knorr products, I use the stock pots for chicken or beef stock.

We go to Morrisons on occasion because I love the ice lollies they have, you get 5 for a quid. And they have chicken crowns (just the breasts on the ribcage) as 2 for 5.

Sainsbury's will match Tesco and Morrisons prices for Brand name items, so if they have a better deal on what you buy, you get that price automatically. They also have where you get money on a voucher for the next time you go, but I can't remember why and I don't have any right now. haha.

We went to our local Aldi and I didn't like it. There wasn't a lot there that I would typically buy.

And FYI, Asda is owned by Walmart. Husband says it's like it always was before they were bought out, but if you have a thing against Walmart like some people I know, I'd steer clear.

There are A LOT of websites here in the UK where you can get American products, they're just expensive and you have to pay shipping. Sometimes they offer free shipping with a certain purchase amount. I hardcore looked into that when i first moved here. There isn't a lot that I miss.

I agree about Aldi.  Didn't see anything I would buy normally.  Did enjoy a rummage through their non-food items though.  You never know what they'll have!  Very popular with a lot of folks from the look of the queues.

I agree about Aldi.  Didn't see anything I would buy normally.  Did enjoy a rummage through their non-food items though.  You never know what they'll have!  Very popular with a lot of folks from the look of the queues.

We did end up buying some raspberries and a few spices and maybe some soda there? I can't quite remember. I didn't like the feel of the store, was really dark and it was oddly laid out with not that many options. The fresh fruit and veg looked okay, but they didn't have the apples I like (Jazz) or the ability to buy some vegetables in smaller amounts. We still have carrots from the one time my husband bought a large bag of them because they were cheap. haha.

We usually shop at Tesco's simply because that is the nearest large supermarket.  When a car is unavailable, there are two small Co-ops and a Sainsburys in the next town over.  I like Waitrose though they are more expensive.  Their coffee is the only kind that I have liked there so far.  I do miss US grocery stores, especially the ones that we have in my area.  One is a local chain that stocks all meat and eggs from their farm only 20 miles from my house.  Also a much more extensive selection, at least in my experience.

The Morrison's in Leicester is huge!  Unfortunately it was a ways from my flat so we either had Tesco's delivered or we went to the small city centre express shops.  ASDA is quite like Walmart (at which I do not shop in the US) and the ones in Leicester are quite large.  The one in Oadby was the closest to where I studied abroad so we used to go there often.

Well I prefer not to shop at Wal Mart but where I am now in the US it is the only options. Everything else is about 20-30 minutes away. The fiance already uses ASDA.  I know my local Aldi is good....a;ways clean and the lots of fruit and veggie options but the ones in the UK may be quite different. I will have to visit them and see. I have a lot of information now. A lot of times it seems the choices are more about location and then next about quality.   I will juust have to try them out and see which one suits. Thanks ya'll!

I know my local Aldi is good....always clean and the lots of fruit and veggie options but the ones in the UK may be quite different.

Similar to Aldi is its competitor Lidl.  It's got the same sort of setup, prices, and interesting non-food item deals, and is definitely worth trying out if you have one.  I just LOVE the German cookies they have at Christmas!

Similar to Aldi is its competitor Lidl.  It's got the same sort of setup, prices, and interesting non-food item deals, and is definitely worth trying out if you have one.  I just LOVE the German cookies they have at Christmas!

Oooo!  Lidl always has some interesting imports!