Aldi

[LICY]

Maybe I was ignorant as I have never been inside an A!DI. I did not expect to do a full shop but I was not exited. Hubby did enjoy his red wine. I guess by the time we got half way around we did not take much notice of some products. there were few cars in the carpark, but straight after we went to Intermarche and the car park was as busy as usual. Not sure about the point EMM made but I shop happily in ASDA or Xainsburys from time to time here. I want value for money.

[EMM]

My point was that Intermarche in Carvoeiro is not a typical Intermarche being more foucsed towards those with a higher spending power I tourists and expats ) than the local population.
Looking at many of the premium products on sale in Intermarche Carvoeiro does draw comparisons with Waitrose.

[ceh]

We called in for milk and kitchen roll and to see what it was like at the weekend - no fresh milk so we went to Intermarche. Won't be going back ....but then I'm a Waitrose shopper so true to type!!

[LICY]

Still do not understand the comparison of Intermarche and Waitrose prices. If you buy local products, wine, veg, fruit, fish, meat and so on I find it cheaper than my usual ASDA comparison in Intermarche. Granted if you cannot do without your cheddar, PG tips, Nescafe, Kingsmill, Kellogs type brands then of course you pay a lot more. Surely that is the same what ever supermarket and what ever country. my vote still goes to Intermarche to do a full shop and places like Pingo and ALDI for odds and ends along with less expectations for choice.

[EMM]

The waitrose comparison came about because Intermarche carvoeiro sell products which cannot be found in the majority of Portuguese supermarkets and are clearly geared towards the " Non Portuguese customer ".
Silly examples. Sprouts, parsnips, rhubarb ( this was so expensive I would not have been surprised to see each stalk with one of those security tags ).We now combine trips to Portimao witha visit to the Auchan ( Jumbo ) mega store ( having lost Continente to the fire ) which has a huge range of products from budget upwards. The best fruit and veg use local markets such as Lagoa and Silves.
Still maintain that for day to day you cannot beat Pinge Doce. best bread we have found in the Algarve if you are lucky still warm from the oven.

[DVBRO]

The waitrose comparison came about because Intermarche carvoeiro sell products which cannot be found in the majority of Portuguese supermarkets and are clearly geared towards the " Non Portuguese customer ".
Silly examples. Sprouts, parsnips, rhubarb ( this was so expensive I would not have been surprised to see each stalk with one of those security tags ).We now combine trips to Portimao witha visit to the Auchan ( Jumbo ) mega store ( having lost Continente to the fire ) which has a huge range of products from budget upwards. The best fruit and veg use local markets such as Lagoa and Silves.
Still maintain that for day to day you cannot beat Pinge Doce. best bread we have found in the Algarve if you are lucky still warm from the oven.

For once I tend to agree with EMM.
For those of us who live out here, Intermarche is a Rip Off and designed for the Tourists. We can save around 10% in the Winter and 20% in the Summer by shopping around and do exactly the same as EMM, that is even taking in to consideration Petrol costs.
If we want a treat, i.e Pasties etc. we go to Iceland.

[EMM]

I must be mellowing in my old age.
I will also admit to the following, friends staying with us went of on shopping trip to Guia and went to that shop that shall not be named!!
They came back with frozen sauasge rolls from a well known UK high street shop.
I will admit to really enjoying them with loads of colemans mustard, I did eat them in the dark with the curtains closed.
Weeks of regret and guilt followed.
The cat food was cheaper as well and he does not seem to mind where it comes from.

[joeysoap]

our preferenes:
One very big shopping trip to Continente in Portimao. (we have never left needing to go else where for top up) The checkout staff always ask if you want to reduce your bill with the points you built up on last shopping. We find Continente hard to beat.

Intermarche for most other shopping, great store but sometimes you cannot find what you want and sometimes they overcharge ie we have never found Nordic mixers in Intermarche and last year anyway they were charging one euro more for the 4 little packs of sardine pate than even the little loja in the in road. We do have Intermarche cards but nobody has ever offered to redeem points (that is if we even have any)at the checkouts. The checkout tills are very cramped.

Pingo get a visit now and again, fine for wine and different choice for other foodstuffs.

Haven't been to Apolonia for a number of years. We rented in Gale previously and found it to really good, probably little more expensive but they had everything, upmarket compared to the others.

the store that can't be named in Guia, twice, first time was good, second time poor,wont be rushing back.

Both Aldi and Lida are famous for their specials, be it Thursday, Saturday etc etc, and if you visit on those days and are early enough you can pick up really good bargains in their 'middle' aisles. But if its a real bargain then chances are it will be gone by 10am so probably not worth the hassle. (not talking foodstuffs here, more hardware, computers, cameras, and household goods)

Really have to get a life.

[LICY]

guess we will have to beg to differ. I have been to Jumbo and Continente, but we tend to stay put and find travelling 3 minutes each way no effort as opposed to 20 minutes each way. They are massive - maybe too big! I think if you factor in a day visit that would work. Another point for us personally as our holiday is precious so we tend to try and relax in between all that weeding the garden. When we spend longer in the villa I am sure things will change for us again. we do not travel in peak season. Market wise hubby went to CVO, but did not think much. Where is the Lagoa market? We also went to Portimao for fish once.

[bruce]

I would like M & S to open a food outlet, much more to my taste

[James Faro]

Joey, they need a mega Dunnes Stores in the Algarve! They never expanded big into UK apart from a few branches!

[LICY]

I would like M & S to open a food outlet, much more to my taste

ALl those lovely puds. Got my daughters wedding cakes from them.

[joeysoap]

Joey, they need a mega Dunnes Stores in the Algarve! They never expanded big into UK apart from a few branches!

5 in Spain but none in Portugal, but I don't know if they have foodstores attached in Spain.

I would say that there are more than enough supermarkets in the Algarve, and a few will struggle to survive in the longer term.

[joeysoap]

guess we will have to beg to differ. I have been to Jumbo and Continente, but we tend to stay put and find travelling 3 minutes each way no effort as opposed to 20 minutes each way.

Agreed that it's a pain if you travel over to Guia but we usually use the 125 which passes the shopping centre, depending on time of arrival in Faro we tend to stop and get the shopping out of the way. We had a few flights last year which arrived in Faro at around 8pm and Intermarche would have been closed by the time we arrived in Cvo so it made sense to stop en-route. Our next three flights to Faro all depart either Dublin or Belfast at 11.15am into Faro around 2.15pm, so unlikely to stop.

I personally feel opening an ALdi store between Intermarche and Pingo Doce is unfortunate and might even result in the closure of Pingo in the longer term.

[LICY]

Yes to be fair we come through Guia too. Like you often late at night, have to admit we did visit Leroys enroute, but only briefly. I cannot wait to get back or to go to our villa and I want to be as close to it as possible. Mad I know. somehow Intermarche brings me close. the other thing about supermarkets is I hate change and know where I go in Intermarche. It's the same here. I hate shopping and get wound up when they change things around. Probably been peeved before we even got gaff way around ALDI.
Agree strange so many supermarkets so close together. It would be sad for one to go.