This is our brand new small-town Lidl supermarket. I visited yesterday just to see what's on offer.
Frankly I wasn't impressed. Quality didn't look particularly good, and some prices were even above my 'far superior' usual supermarket. Fruit and veg' looked OK, but so what!
I came out empty handed, and shall not be returning.
In England their olive oil, parmesan cheese and chorizo are excellent. The stock in France is different. I don't rush there. Stick to E. Leclerc (of course!).
ReplyDeleteI am a faithful Leclerc client, and shall remain so. The staff at this new Lidl seemed surly too.
DeleteInteresting. I think we will definitely stay with Leclerc.
ReplyDeleteIt's the wise choice.
DeleteWhat a disappointment for you Cro. No cheddar cheese either, I suppose?
ReplyDeleteThe quality of foodstuffs in the ones here is generally pretty good, their 'de Luxe' range is excellent, and the smoked salmon is exceptionally good. It's possible that the standard (and choice) is higher here because we are in an International community, and the turn over is very high.
I do remember going to our nearest Lidl in the UK, some years ago, after shopping at the ones here, and finding the quality and selection of goods abysmal.
The small town where this one is situated has a very high unemployment rate, so they're probably aiming at a different market. No Cheddar, and no de luxe range (that I could see).
DeleteOurs caters for many holiday makers too, who probably don't worry about what they spend.
DeleteIt makes sense to only supply reasonably priced essentials if there is a high unemployment rate locally.
It makes me want to go and look inside, i bet even they have more than we have here in our small supermarket.
ReplyDeletePlenty of things there, but just not the quality I like to buy.
DeleteI have never been to a Lidl. I think the nearest is about 5/6 miles away, and our small Waitrose is less than a mile. I have shopped at Waitrose since it opened about 25 years ago, and it feels like home when I walk in! ( Just been reading some of the " Overheard in Waitrose" quotes …very funny, but that is not me …I am not posh !)
ReplyDeleteI used to shop at all sorts of different places in England. Waitrose, Marks, Sainsbury's, and Tesco. The choice in Brighton was huge.
DeleteWe have Iceland in the next town, where we can buy many Waitrose products. It was my local supermarket when we lived in the UK.
DeleteI used Lidl over here in the UK all the time, I find them to be extremely good. I buy the cheddar cheese in big blocks which each one I cut into 3 and freeze separately for grating later, (I only shop once a month) and their British beef steak for casseroles is the best I've ever had. Can't fault our local one, sorry about yours though such a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping it would have been similar, but no luck.
DeleteSupermarkets and me don't mix Cro - I find them such a wearing occupation. I have my everyday order and delivered shortly after eight o'clock by Tesco, I buy all my fruit and vegetables from our excellent Friday market where the fruit and veg stalls are particularly good. Beyond that I don't venture into supermarkets, preferring to support the small shops in our little market town. Slightly more expensive but supporting them so that they stay in business.
ReplyDeleteI actively enjoy my supermarket shopping, but I'm very disciplined. I write a list, and very rarely sway from it. I think I'm probably in the minority.
DeleteI plan meals for the next 2 or 3 days and make a list and shop for what I need. I rarely throw any food away. About to cook a pork stroganoff from a Waitrose recipe card….with mash for me, microwaved potato for P ( I have the same named P as Rachel) and broccoli ( P doesn't like mash) Prep all done, just need to do the cooking. I love cooking savoury meals.Drinking some wine as it is my baby boy's birthday…he is 29. He is in Oxford. Will see him on Sunday.
DeleteI'm afraid that I'm a Waitrose girl and I'm not for turning !! Our nearest Lidl is miles away so, even if it was good, it wouldn't be worth shopping there. At Christmas about 4 years ago, my husband went there and came back with some lobsters which were on special offer. They tasted OK but were very small and probably should have been thrown back !! XXXX
ReplyDeleteIn Brighton the Waitrose is opposite one of the best Asian stores I've ever seen, so my choice was obvious. Two birds, one stone.
Deletep.s. I recently bought some small Lobsters that were frozen in ice. Nothing like fresh, but they looked beautiful and were 'OK'.
DeleteAn OK lobster is better than no lobster at all, I say !!!!! My husband was a deep sea diver and he used to catch many a lobster but would only keep ones of a certain size and would leave the smaller ones. The Lidl lobsters were far too small and would probably break some lobster law or other ! XXXX
DeleteThere have been 2 cooking programmes on TV within the last week, where the presenters went out on a lobster boat, and it was made very clear that the lobsters had to be of a certain size or were thrown back in.
DeleteExactly Francis !! XXXX
DeleteLidl is no different from any other supermarket, some things are cheaper/better/dearer/worse. I have never found a shop that had everything that I need. I shop around and use the markets and small local shops, Tesco and Lidl for various items.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that I agree with you. I can guarantee good quality produce from my usual supermarket, but I wouldn't trust some of the produce on offer at Lidl. I do buy quite a lot of Bio produce, and I like to know that my meat has been reared locally.
DeleteDoesn't look half as smart as your Leclerc which you featured a while back.
ReplyDeleteI'm sticking with Leclerc. You can tell a lot about a shop by the helpfulness and pleasantness of the staff.
DeleteOn the odd occasions I shop there, I find the local Lidl staff extremely pleasant and helpful.
DeleteI understand. Let me tell you that at the farm, I have to go to the Wal Mart where they all hate their jobs. In the city, I go to a beautiful store and last time there, I was asked by staff four different times if I was finding everything all right. That and they pack up your basket then take it to a covered drive through and load it in your car. It's night and day in comparison. And just like a man not to shop and look as I love looking at all they have to offer that is different from the usual fare at Wal Mart. Continue your favorite store though. I read that the new neighborhood Wal Mart in the city had already caused the wonderful store I spoke of to cut the staff's hours.
ReplyDeleteIt'[s so different here in America, and I'm not saying that as a good thing. Our stores are so big and everything goes to waste. I'm happy for you that you have a new place to shop. Maybe they will start to carry more of what you want over time.
ReplyDeleteEach week I have to take my Pa shopping and he chooses Lidl for only 2 things....then we go to Aldi for the others...with me stopping at Waitrose on the way home.
ReplyDeletewe've just done a shop at our local Lidl...local veggies where possible, local/Scottish produce, as well as their usual good stuff..on topof this they were the first UK supermarket to pay the living wage...much as i like Sainsbugs and the JLgroup, all praise.
ReplyDeletemind you, all retail is cutthroat now, whether you are dealing with staff, suppliers or customers...
I pass three stores on my way to my store, including a new one. Knowing where everything is makes for a quicker trip also. I like what I like and understand how you feel about your favorite place.
ReplyDeleteOh you ARE down in the dumps
ReplyDeleteI have visited our Lidl on occasions, and come out with nothing. Not worth going to the top of the High Street for it, will stick with lower down and shop at B & M, Home Bargains, Poundstretcher, market and Aldi.
ReplyDelete