Shopping
Spain, apart from being a great place to live is one of the most interesting places and one of the up and coming fashion centres of Europe. They now offer a great variety of chain stores and boutiques stocking the latest fashions but also offer now a much wider choice when doing your weekly grocery shop. Here are a few tips on what to look out for and where to get the best bargains and offers.
Large stores
Large supermarket chains are growing throughout Spain. Only a few years ago the choice was limited to places like Carrefour and Corte Ingles but now you’ll now find a growing number of larger supermarkets such as Mercadona, Eroski and Supersol competing in a market where competition really is fierce. You’ll also find alongside these, the economy stores such as Lidl, Dia and Plus which offer cut price food and other goods with no frills similar to Netto, Aldi and Lidl in the UK.
Smaller stores
While Hipercor, part of the Corte Ingles chain is still one of the most popular, the more economical smaller chains are coming up and taking a good share of the market. Mercadona has opened over 10 supermarkets and is set to open more along the Costa del Sol and with their branded Hacendado products, they offer good quality at a good price. All these stores stock other electrical appliances and goods, clothes, furniture and many other things. They will sometimes offer you better prices than the specialists so it’s always worth shopping around.
Shop around
However, you will probably find you will shop at different places for different things. Have a look at all the supermarkets in your area, compare prices and watch for periods of offer where they have 3 for the price of 2 or buy one get one free. They all produce regular advertising material when these offers are available which are normally delivered throughout urbanisations and communities and they now target the large expat market which has developed and grown over the last few years.
Most of the large stores also offer home delivery and internet shopping.
Larger supermarket chains and shopping centres typically open throughout the day from 9:30 – 22:00. In the towns and cities most normal shops keep the traditional Spanish hours: 9:30 – 10:00 to 13:30 – 14:00 and then reopening from 16:30 – 17:00 until 20:30 – 21:00.
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