Grocery shopping in a foreign country when it’s not just to grab water and a snack while on vacation but now part of your life is actually a bit intimidating. I was never good at it in my home country and now responsible for doing it 100% of the time in a foreign one. I was apprehensive about my new responsibility and frankly, unsure about where or how to even get started.
It probably sounds ridiculous to some, but there is no guide anywhere to explain the basics of this essential life task when you move abroad. So if grocery shopping isn’t your thing but you have to sort it out, here’s what you need to know about where and how to grocery shop in England.
The British Supermarket Breakdown
There are several grocery store options in England. Depending on what you need will determine the best place for you to go. Most essentials are available at all of the UK grocery stores, like toilet paper, dish soap, bread, and butter. But there are some distinct differences that may surprise or overwhelm you if you’re simply looking to grocery shop for the first time.
- Iceland – Frozen food supermarket with basic essentials.
- Marks and Spencer (referred to as M&S) – Specialty prepared foods and grab-and-go, with lots of options for unique cakes and biscuit tins.
- Sainsbury’s – Publix-like though not as big and has a bit of a Walmart feel to it.
- Tesco – Big shopping supermarket chain that offers the most choices to complete your grocery shopping in one stop. Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets are most alike in what they offer and competitive pricing.
- Morrisons – Large supermarket that covers most categories as Sainsbury’s and is similar in price.
- Waitrose – Most like Whole Foods though not as expensive, especially if you shop the Waitrose deals.
- Ocado – Online grocery delivery that offers choices across many brands. It’s also the only place to find Kellogg’s Fruit Winders, which admittedly was my kids’ daily snack until I got a grip on other British choices.
- Whole Foods – Yes! Whole Foods is in the UK, but predominantly in London.
If Iceland is your first introduction to British grocery shopping, don’t freak out. It happened to be the local grocery store in our neighborhood, so my first shopping experience.
I was a bit concerned by the choices and how the hubs would handle frozen dinners every night. But Iceland is simply the grocery store of choice for frozen foods. Though my first impression of Iceland was not a good one, it’s still my go-to for Birds Eye chicken nuggets and unique popsicles.
Why Online Grocery Shopping is Your New Best Friend
With so many UK supermarket options, ease into it by ordering online. Try all of them if you have to. It’s a little like dating to figure out which one you connect with. And it buys you the time to have to figure out the in-store experience and where everything is. After all, your immediate task is just getting the food in the house.
I’ve pretty much tried them all because I didn’t have the mind space to learn new store layouts, translations, or even how to drive to get there. Ocado delivery was my go-to for months and I have to say it has the best online delivery service.
It just took some bravery on my part to advance from the online grocery shopping stage to the in-store shopping experience. I arrived at that point once I realized I could do a better job at picking the fruits and vegetables myself.
How To Grocery Shop Online
If you’ve never had your groceries delivered before, the concept can seem a bit odd at first, especially if you’re not too thrilled about someone manhandling your fruit. 🤣
But grocery shopping online is a lifesaver! Whether it’s fear of driving or figuring out what food to even buy in the UK, having groceries delivered is one less thing to worry about after moving, or even when you’re sick.
How to grocery shop online includes these steps:
- Go to the grocery store website.
- Register with the grocery store by creating a username and password.
- Start adding grocery store items to cart. Meet the minimum required for free delivery. Consider frozen foods or paper products that can be stored rather than putting money towards a delivery fee.
- Click the Checkout button.
- Provide billing and delivery details.
That’s pretty much all you need to do have groceries ordered online for delivery right to your new doorstep. Once I used ocado.com, figuring out how to grocery shop online at other British grocery stores was a breeze.
Figuring Out the In-Store UK Grocery Shopping Experience
I won’t lie. I screwed up many times but thankfully a few Brits saw my struggle and helped me out. There aren’t any instructions for shopping in-store so I totally fumbled through it on occasion as a new expat in England. Now I can honestly say shopping in-store in England is far better than any grocery shopping I’ve done in the States.
Maybe I was living under a rock or maybe I didn’t venture beyond the accessibility of HEB, but nevertheless, I don’t hate and certainly not scared to navigate my way through a British grocery store while sipping on my latte and getting the FREE paper. Those are 2 shopping perks at Waitrose.
So, if you’re still unsure or need some help taking that first step (because grocery shop training isn’t a priority in the midst of getting through a moving abroad checklist), watch this simple video to show you the basics of how to grocery shop at Waitrose. You can apply these steps to your preferred grocery store of choice in England.
Final Tips On How To & Grocery Stores In the UK
Now you have the basics of where and how to grocery shop in England. Identify which grocery stores in the UK are nearest to you and meet your needs. Then when you’re ready, give grocery shopping in-store a try. You’ll find it far more convenient than grocery shopping in the US and might actually come to enjoy it.
Okay, maybe I went too far with enjoying it, but one thing I know for sure is that it’s one more expat thing to cross off your list. 🛒 Sorted!
And if you need help with meals to make while you wrap your head around everything else that’s new in your life, then you have to try this meal plan for expats with kids – converted for Americans and Brits to simplify the cooking, with a Waitrose shopping list included!
Looking for more resources to settle into British life? Try these.
- 5 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets For Expats
- Top 12: What To Buy At Marks and Spencer
- Grocery shopping list included. Click for weekly meal plan
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