LG Jennifer
Hey guys! We may be moving to the boarder of Italy soon and was wondering if you can give me some tips for shopping over the boarder. I literally no nothing about Italy (can't speak any Italian either)... so I also don't know about what stores are available there. I usually do most of my shopping at Lidl and Aldi. The nearest ones are over 50km away from where we may be moving Thanks in advance for any info regarding this!
It's quite simple: you have to go to the shop, take some items with your hands and put them in a trolley or basket.
Then you have to go to the person standing near the exit (usually a lady with a till). She will scan the items and tell you a number.
That's the amount of money you are suppose to give her.
Then in exchange of that money, you are free to collect your items in a bag and go quietly, without being chased by a security guy.
....
You know Italy is also in Europe, right?
I laughed so hard my chair went flying out the window....
Should the trolleys keep to the right going up the aisle?
Or should I just floor it and go for any gap available?
*sigh* Thanks for the useful replay NOT--- I was asking for NAMES of supermarkets (chains) in Italy. Would be useful if someone could tell me if there is Aldi or Lidl or something similar in Italy. There is no Penny Markt (cheap like Aldi), Rewe (expensive like Coop) , Teegut (health food), etc in Switrzerland... as a FOREINER who's never been there wouldn't know anything about what kind of supermarkets they have. So sorry if my request for info/experience with supermarket chains in Italy was not very clear... Let's try that again shall we?
perfectly good question, don't worry about the groans, they are just envious - I am too!!!
now you have the chance of finally eating real food at a human price, forget about Lidl and Aldi and go to IPERCOOP (where they they have averything else you might wish, by the way).
buon appetito
the smaller version which is called just Coop is also fine of course, if you are just shopping for food. Ipercoop is usually set in a commercial center outside a bigger city with other shops
here is the store finder, the ones nearer to you might be around Varese or Como, depending on where you are moving to
http://www.e-coop.it/portalWeb/portale/index.jsp
they don't seem to have info in english, so if you need any specific info I'll be glad to help
Coop is not to be confused with the the swiss coop (nowithstanding the similar logo!). it's THE italian supermarket for quality, convenience and fair production policies, besides having a great range of good organic products.
Well, there's Iper . But with knowing exactly where you are we can't say. Personally in Italy I like shopping at the small local shops and try to avoid the supermarket whenever I can. Not a fan of Aldi or Lidl either but the internet says that Lidl does have stores in Italy but Aldi doesn't.
Go explore!
We were in Northern Italy twice in the last 6 months - in small towns. We never found a big hypermarket (we didn't really look) but found great things in the independent town shops and the small city grocery stores.
One of the main chains is Conad - i think they do large out of town and smaller in-town shops.
The last time we were in Italy it was a holiday and the only shop that was open was a Spar. I didn't have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised! A nice selection, and good prices - they even had local produce - wine, cheese, honey - from small farms/producers. The food we bought was so nice and such good value we are considering another weekend trip to restock! I particularly loved the ready made white polenta - a big hunk of it for 84 cents!! (I'm kicking myself for only buying 2).
In the autumn we stopped at an apple farm and got giant, delicious, crisp, juicy apples for 1 euro a kilo (plus a couple thrown in for free, and lots of free tasting). We'll definitely go back in October for more.
In the towns you'll find 'enoteca's' for a large selection of wines. Some even produce their own - you just bring an empty jug and they'll fill it with their house wine.
Another mid size convenient store we saw up North was 'Eurospin' but it was closed.
You will be spoiled with choice and quality!! I'm very jealous!!!
Thanks a lot guys, I will take a look at those supermarkets. We may be moving to the area of Müstair on the Italian border. Here in Graubünden, we have a great quality supermarket Manor (very Italian oriented... and my prefered supermarket next to coop and migros). Is there also a Manor or something similar on the Italian side? Are there also inexpensive type supermarket chains?
Yes, I also like to buy directly from the farmer... but if that is not an option, I prefer Lidl and Aldi (actually more Lidl than Aldi) to the other chains. My husband suggested that the Austrian brand Hofner (which is Aldi) may be available in Italy... I will have to check. Thanks
Thank you! Any idea if the Spar there is the same as the Spar chain here in Switzerland? The logo looks like this...
there used to be as "Despar"
Manor is my favorite as well. But I can't go there every time!
Don't really know if there is the same. Iper would be rather like a BIG Coop, not like LIdl at all. Yet, probably not like Manor either.
Esselunga is the best supermarket in Italy. They have great fresh food, fruits and vegetables are very good, they have super competitive prices, they got all the best brands, delicious ready-made meals, excellent bio products and much more!! Esselunga has been awarded as “Best Italian Retailer of the Year 2009". I miss it Esselunga so much here in Zurich
I am sure you will love it!!
Yes its the same company but very different products. Very much local italian goods at basic everyday prices. Conad is also an inexpensive everyday grocery market. I don't know of any 'up market' like manor. I don't think you need it in Italy because the everyday stores and markets have all the quality of Manor without the high price.
In Switzerland I love Manor - but in Italy you won't even miss it!!
^^^ is the right answer. Best fresh selection going - don't forget fish and meat.
I would agree with who said Esselunga: it was my best supermarket chain when I lived in Italy. If you go to Como, there is another chain, Bennet which I like. Coop is ok too.
Discount chains: an Italian one (owned by Coop) is Dico, it's not an extreme one like EuroSpin, meaning that you will find some major brands, but the majority of products are from not commercial brands, quality is ok.
Penny market is present in Italy, but not everywhere.
If you want a 100% organic food, but be prepared to pay the price for it, then go Naturasi, you may find there products that are hard to find in regular supermarkets.
Here links:
Some hints:
negozi = shops
filiali = local stores
Order of preference:
Carrefour (was GS), Iper, Coop, Bennet, don't bother much with the other s.
Tom
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For Swiss places in the Luganese, for sure. Best bread by far.
Tom
From Mustair, you have all of Alto-Adige to choose from, where is the problem?
Tom
P.S. Yo DO realize that they speak GERMAN in Alto-Adige, don't you?