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….

Beurre blanc in a carton. Lasts for ages in the cupboard and is amazing with steamed fish for a quick tea.

Rillets
Tinned mackerel in mustard sauce
Vinegarette dressing
Tinned ravioli
Saucisson
Plum tomatoes

If you're looking for fresh fruit and veg Grand Frais are really good. And where there's a Grand Frais there'll be a good supermarket close by. We came back from France yesterday coincidentally. We found a huge Cora near the Grand Frais we went to. Never been to a Cora before and was impressed.

One of the Marseille soapy brands does a liquid soap for the kitchen which we really like. And butter, you can't beat french butter.

Trailfinders needs to start an international supermarket trip. You could do a whistlestop tour of local supermarkets in various countries, with your purchases being flown back to your home next day delivery after each stop, then on to the next.

Does anyone have a ranking/hierarchy of french supermarkets?

I can't believe that some people have put gesiers on their list of foods to bring home. Ugh. Those things are evil. Chewy and gristly and grim.

Another one ready with a bag packed for the trip to the hypermarche please.
Love it but DH cannot understand me AT ALL. I love buying a new face cream, lotion, shampoo. All of it. And the pharmacy? Heaven.

Just fine back to add:

Listel rose (normally about €2-50 a bottle, it's £10+ here)

And from a pharmacy

Fervrex sachets, they're for colds/flu and literally whip the a*se if anything we can buy here.

Strepsils -the ones in a white box with blue and black, they're the ones with lidocaine in. Whilst DD was waiting to get her tonsils out they're the only things that have her any relief from her monthly tonsillitis

We go to France several times a year normally (day trips and holiday) and am having such bad withdrawal symptoms, thank you for helping me indulge.

PS Intermarches are good too but they are more supermarket than hypermarket sized

Does anyone have a ranking/hierarchy of french supermarkets?

I've only experienced Monoprix in Asia and the Middle East so I'm not sure if it's the same in France but in my admittedly limited experience it goes like this:

Monoprix is like Waitrose.

E LeClerc is like Sainsburys.

Carrefour is Tesco or Morrisons.

Intermarche is Asda but I don't think they have clothes and household things, just food mainly. At least the ones I have been in are like that but they've been on the smaller side.

Auchan is more like a B&M Home Bargains or similar, so I've heard, but I've never been in one.

I'd love to hear from someone who lives in France if this is correct.

Monoprix is the poshest, Auchan Carrefour Cora Leclerc in the middle, Aldi Lidl and Leader Price at the bottom.

I have just realised, I think I am confusing Auchan with Action? Is that more like Home Bargains or The Range?

Action is like a pound shop

Mon Cherie.
Petit Suisse.
Fish Soup in glass jars.
Watercress soup in packets.

@KeflavikAirport

Action is like a pound shop

Action is full of made in China, cheap shit and indeed very much like a Poundland.

Griotinnes cherries in kirsch!
Huge amounts of President and Elle & Vire & Isigny Unsalted Butter
Vahine liquid caramel for creme caramel
Little sachets of vanilla sugar
Wonderful Bonne Maman range
Nappage sachets
Kitchen utensils, bakeware and saucepans
DH swears by their rubbish bags!
Feuilletine - I get it from Sous Chef but much cheaper in France
Mixes for cakes and fillings (much better than ours)

Oh now I want to go to France so much!

Monoprix own brand hazelnut spread is delicious, much nicer than Nutella , I always get loads of jars to take back home.

Kinder cereal biscuits

Côte d’Or chocolates , these are soooo good, and very hard to get elsewhere.

Ohh agree with @queenofarles Côte d’Or chocolate is very delicious

Esspecially the Côte d’Or mignonettes, they’re such lovely luxury little treats.

@JingleCatJingle

Uhm will there be customs issues because of Brexit?

Was thinking this... With Brexit I'm not certain you can bring back fresh produce e.g. fruits, veg, dairy, meat any more

@ChaosTrulyReigns - think I’ve found your jam!! Been recommended the brand for the banana flavour, apparently amazing. They do coconut jam too

www.auchan.fr/m-amour-m-amour-confiture-de-coco-325g/pr-C1227593

@STST thank you so much!

I'll investigate, my hips won't thank you

Just to let you all know; my list is MASSIVE. It is going to be the shop to end all shops!

Thank you so much, so many things I had forgotten about; now just need to formulate a massive master list. And storage. And some sort of diet plan for after….

So pleased to have found some fellow supermarket obsessives; A Grand Tour of European Supermarkets, such a brilliant idea.

Am hoping the hotel will freeze my ice packs so I can at least bring back a few fresh things.

A Grand Tour of European Supermarkets, such a brilliant idea
Definitely !
These Lindt which we got from A random supermarket in Italy are sooo delicious, sadly I can’t find them in the U.K. not even France ,

Some of the pastas I buy from corner shops are far superior than anything here , they are available only in specialty shops in the uk or online and sometimes not in stock all the time,
We do bring back truckloads of non perishable items every time we travel !
I’m going in a couple of weeks to visit family and all my shopping is going to be chocolates, coffee, tea ,

I had a happy time wandering round a giant supermarket (possibly a Monoprix?) in Mauritius a few years ago Came back with a load of Tupperware, a lemon squeezer and a load of little plastic ice cubes which are still going strong.

Haven’t been in a French supermarket for years and years but I do remember wandering around a Carrefour as a teenager in the 90s and being horrified to discover a tub full of porn videos just casually placed at the end of an aisle

I love German supermarkets! Esspecially around Christmas time when they have so many delicious sweets! And the DM but that’s another story. Definitely go to Lidl in Germany as part of your Grand Tour of European Supermarkets.