![](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/209ce3120a8be61eeceea86201f14083-3.gif\")
<\/a> [\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_orientation=”justified”]<\/p>\nOne thing pretty much everyone coming from other developed nations finds is that the prices in mainstream German supermarkets<\/strong> are generally lower than in their homeland. That\u2019s the big plus point.<\/p>\n The downside of this is that the amount of choice when grocery shopping in Germany is more limited, especially compared to the UK, US, Australia and Canada.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Supermarkets.jpg” alt=”German supermarkets” title_text=”Supermarkets” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ width=”55%” width_tablet=”85%” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”10px” box_shadow_vertical=”10px” box_shadow_blur=”12px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_orientation=”justified”]<\/p>\n In some ways this could be seen as an advantage. It\u2019s relatively common knowledge that all of those brands you see in the supermarket are owned by a handful of conglomerates, and there is, in fact, little actual difference between the products once you get past the packaging and branding.<\/p>\n While that may be the case, nonetheless, certain ranges of products and foodstuffs can be a little trickier to find when grocery shopping in Germany, due to the fact that supermarkets typically sell fewer items and are smaller in surface area than what we\u2019re used to.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a brief look at the different options:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.5.7″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_orientation=”justified”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These are the mainstay of grocery shopping in Germany. Pretty much nobody moves to Deutschland and never sets foot in one of these stores at some point.<\/p>\n All of the above chains are similar, insofar as their business model is “pile it high, sell it cheap”. Lidl and Aldi are the most ubiquitous of the five.<\/p>\n These stores sell very few branded goods and typically these contain only 3 or 4 aisles. Most of the items they stock are private label \u201chouse brands\u201d, with a non-food section in the middle selling all manner of random stuff, depending on what is on offer that week.<\/p>\n The quality of the items can vary from top quality to fairly average.<\/p>\n Their cost cutting model, however, generally does not impact the quality of the produce; rather it is more skewed towards the actual shopping experience itself (staffing levels, product packaging, appearance of stores) as well as them being renowned for notoriously brutal procurement practices.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These German supermarkets are similar in size and location to the discounters, the main difference being the price bracket and the prevalence of branded items in comparison. Rewe is everywhere in Germany, whereas Edeka tends to be more concentrated in southern Germany.<\/p>\n These stores will also almost always have cheese and deli counters, sometimes also meat and fish counters. The discounters, on the other hand, do not have this and only have pre-packaged offerings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Similar to what you might expect from a Tesco, WalMart, Meijer, Safeway, Coles, Shoprite or Carrefour, depending on where you\u2019re from.<\/p>\n These are your typical one-stop-shop places, except, well, they\u2019re often not that for expats in Germany. While there is no dispute that the range of products are way more comprehensive than the smaller stores and discounters, German pallettes are not as accustomed yet to some of the ethnic foods that most of us are used to seeing in our supermarkets.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for beansprouts, more exotic vegetables used in Asian cuisine, poppadums, curry paste, or certain spices for example, there is a fair chance you won\u2019t find them here and you\u2019ll need to hunt these down in a specialist Turkish or Asian store.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also difficult to find lamb in German supermarkets. You’ll probably have to go to a Turkish grocery store.<\/p>\nGerman Supermarkets: Navigating the different choices<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Discounters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Major Chains: Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny, Norma<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Regular Supermarkets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Major Chains: Rewe, Edeka, plus some smaller regional players<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Large, Out-of Town Hypermarkets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Major Chains: Real, Globus, Kaufland, HIT<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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