French supermarket must buys!

[STST]

Just that really; looking for some great suggestions of things to bring back from a french trip. Ideally non refrigerated things, there is only so much we can eat of fresh stuff before it all goes off.

So far I’ve got confit tins, chestnut puree, tins of french beans, fleur du sel….

Wanted also to bring some fresh fruit/veggies back, what is in season at the moment? Heard about Bertranne apples. Going to try to fit in a market as well.

Cashmere and stationery suggested by a Friend In The Know.

Any cookware/tableware things to look out for?

Also - does anyone know the ‘rankings’ of french supermarkets, quality/price wise? Is Auchan better than E.leclerc for example? Or Carrefour….

Placemarking

Mayonnaise! It’s properly yellow not like the glue paste that’s sold over here! Hand soap refills. Washing powder. Wine, cheese, beer.

Oh, and they have a good selection of face creams etc.

Chocapic
Danette Noir
Cheese
Bacon crisps (English ones just aren’t the same!)
Lime Sirop (with no sweetners, just really sugar!)

So exciting. I lived in France for a while and love going back. I'd forgotten how much I miss some of the items mentioned on this thread

Foreign supermarkets bring me such joy.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches, me too. It is my one absolute non-negotiable on all holidays; an afternoon, (alone) in a foreign supermarket, just bliss. I plan millions of recipes and meal plans in my head as I go round, gives me such inspiration.

I have been known to ask people what they are going to make with the things in their baskets if I don’t recognise them; got a great plantain recipe from a lovely lady in Madrid!

@saraclara my little boys love the petite buerre biscuits. Not too sweet.
I love the ones with the chocolate on. Especially seeing as the chocolate is thicker than the biscuit! 😂

If you go to Super U then their Savon Marseille washing powder in the yellow box is brilliant! Lovely clean smell.

I also use their fabric softener. I always go for either the vanilla or cherry flower scent.

Liptons Orange Jaipur tea. Not generally keen on fruit teas, but I really liked this one.

Also, Sainte-Maure chèvre, although you may need to scoff it there.

Espresso Danette!

In terms of poshness of supermarkets I’d say E.Leclerc is best, followed by Carrefour (but not much in it), Auchan is budget but on a large scale.

I have been known to ask people what they are going to make with the things in their baskets if I don’t recognise them love this.

I really like how you can buy condensed milk in tubes, so practical. The chocolate offerings are so much better too - my local carrefour did a mango and chilli dark choc I’ve been in mourning for since moving back to the UK earlier this year.

Foreign supermarkets bring me such joy.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches, me too. It is my one absolute non-negotiable on all holidays; an afternoon, (alone) in a foreign supermarket, just bliss. I plan millions of recipes and meal plans in my head as I go round, gives me such inspiration.

Oh my god, you mean there are at least three of us? I thought I was the only one! I think we should form some sort of holiday club where we do group tours to different countries just to perve over their markets and supermarkets, culminating in a cookery experience using all the weird and wonderful ingredients and brands we don't get at home.

The pharmacies are always a complete delight as well. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent in the pharmacy chain Watsons, in various countries across Asia.

@YouJustFoldItIn

Foreign supermarkets bring me such joy.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches, me too. It is my one absolute non-negotiable on all holidays; an afternoon, (alone) in a foreign supermarket, just bliss. I plan millions of recipes and meal plans in my head as I go round, gives me such inspiration.

Oh my god, you mean there are at least three of us? I thought I was the only one! I think we should form some sort of holiday club where we do group tours to different countries just to perve over their markets and supermarkets, culminating in a cookery experience using all the weird and wonderful ingredients and brands we don't get at home.

The pharmacies are always a complete delight as well. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent in the pharmacy chain Watsons, in various countries across Asia.

At least four of us! I'm an avid worldwide traveller, and I travel because I love to experience difference. And supermarkets are great places to experience just that!

Sometimes they're delicious looking differences, and sometimes (especially in China and some African countries) very much not!

I can spend hours in them!

Chipsters!!! Best. Crisps. Ever!!! Or Petals I think the shops own brand are called

Bread. I know we sell baguettes in the UK, but they're just not as nice as French ones.

I always buy paracetamols too from a pharmacy (not sure if its allowed though, but only ever get one pack) as they are stronger.

Sometimes they're delicious looking differences, and sometimes (especially in China and some African countries) very much not!

Haha - yes, been there, got the T shirt!

Don't talk to me about buckets of red dyed pig snouts and Chinese black pudding.

If you like chocolate spread try Banania. My kids love it, and it's nut free so they can take it to school in sandwiches.

I love French stationery too. Have fun!! 😊

@YouJustFoldItIn

Sometimes they're delicious looking differences, and sometimes (especially in China and some African countries) very much not!

Haha - yes, been there, got the T shirt!

Don't talk to me about buckets of red dyed pig snouts and Chinese black pudding.

Away from all the gruesome stuff, one thing that tickled me in China was the frozen pea ice lolly!

My list would be:
Benedicta Mayonnaise,
Amora cornichons,
mustard,
savon de Marseille,
petit marseillais shower gel and shampoo,
Wine,
Pineau de Charentes,
tinned cassoulet,
tinned confit de canard,
gésiers,
pâte and rillets in jars,
mousseline instant mash,
Depending on the supermarket, Petit Bateau underwear for the kids (much cheaper than in the PB stores but the same quality)

I would pick up a lot more probably but that's what springs to mind. Feeling sad that we've not been over to France since the pandemic now!

Sirop, as someone mentioned earlier, the supermarkets do their own brands. I like the framboise and the citron. Also Nutella biscuits. Loic Raison cider. A nice Tarte.

Almost forgot, I'd have a look round the skincare section. Most supermarkets in France stock some premium brands that are a lot more expensive here. My Mum also swears by French tights, better quality and cheaper apparently!

Oh, and their plasters are really good. Much better than here. I love the transparent large ones.

Amora mayonnaise de Dijon is my must buy in vast quantities. When I run out I resort to buying from frenchclick as above or also discovered monpanierlatin.co.uk recently. Plus Europafoods. All have quite varying prices at different times so worth shopping around.

I also like L’Heritier-guyot crème de cassis but that is difficult to get online.

So many fantastic suggestions here! I'm also a supermarchephile.

Can i avail of some of your local knowledge, please?

Years ago I used to buy a Coconut Jam from the supermarches, but on my last visit, 2018, I couldn't find it. Has anyone seen it? Can remember the brand it was. It was just like the interior of a Raffaello 🥰🥰🥰