More than the rich history, stunning architecture and iconic sights, France is a haven for foodies. The good food isn’t confined in cafes or Michelin starred eateries either, but even in local supermarkets and grocery stores in France.
Inside, you’ll find aisles and shelves of exciting flavors from different regions – from cheeses to chocolates to truffles to wine. Plus, an assortment of health, beauty, and lifestyle products that you won’t get enough of.
If you’re visiting France, you most likely want to bring all those French goodies home with you.
And, if you’re planning to move to France it can be daunting to pick your go-to supermarket for your supplies. Which supermarket carry the best brands?
Which ones offer great discounts? Here’s our guide for everything you need to know about French supermarkets and grocery stores.
There are many different supermarket and grocery chains in France, and the majority of them operate across the country, but there are some differences between the regions as well.
As a result, the selection that is available to choose from in your immediate vicinity might not be comprehensive. The following are some of the most popular supermarket and grocery stores in France:
Things you'll find in this article
Guide to French Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
1. Auchan
Auchan is a retail chain that specializes in larger-format stores and operates approximately 2,000 locations across the country. It places the majority of its supermarkets and hypermarkets in areas that are outside of the primary cities.
One benefit of this is that French grocery stores tend to be relatively large, and as a result, they can provide more competitive pricing. Today, it is one of the largest supermarkets in all of France.
2. Carrefour
This French retailer is one of the largest grocery store chains in the whole wide world. It has more than 5,000 retail locations throughout France, ranging from compact shopping centers to sprawling hypermarkets in rural areas.
This is a French international firm that specializes in retail and wholesale trade, and its headquarters are located in Massy, France. It is the ninth largest retailer in terms of revenue in the entire world.
As of January 2021, it operates a retail chain that includes hypermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores across more than 30 countries, with a total of 12,225 locations.
3. Grand Frais
Founded in 1992, the Grand Frais network of supermarkets is one of the oldest in France. It is renowned for its extensive selection of fresh products and necessities sourced from all around the world.
The layout of Grand Frais supermarkets is similar to that of covered markets. These markets each contain five distinct sections, including fruit and vegetables, groceries from around the world, butchers, fishmongers, and dairy products.
There is one Grand Frais supermarket in Belgium in addition to the 216 that is located in France. You won’t find a Grand Frais in the city of Paris, but there is one in the suburb of Fresnes, which is located in the south of the city.
4. Intermarché
Intermarché is the brand name of a general-commercial French supermarket that is a subsidiary of the large retail group Les Mousquetaires. Jean-Pierre Le Roch established the business in 1969 under the name EX Offices. In 1972, the store formerly known as EX Offices became known as Intermarché.
There are approximately 2,000 Intermarché stores around the country, so it’s quite unlikely that you’ll ever be too far away from one, regardless of whether you’re looking for a supermarket or a hypermarket.
5. Leclerc
Leclerc is a hypermarket chain that has been operating in France since it was originally established in 1949. It is commonly considered to be one of the most affordable supermarkets in France, with over 700 outlets throughout the country.
The majority of these French grocery stores are located outside of the principal cities. An interesting fact: a study found that the prices at Leclerc were higher in the province of Île-de-France (which is the region where Paris is located) as well as in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
6. Monoprix
The headquarters of the French retail company Monoprix SA is located in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, which is close to Paris. The company’s retail locations provide a variety of goods, including those related to fashion, beauty, and the home.
The quality of Monoprix’s products, from every day groceries to its fashion line and homewares, is excellent; so the prices tend to be on the pricier end of the spectrum. The stores of Monoprix are also of a size that customers find to be relatively comfortable.
In addition to Leader Price, Casino, and Match, there are a great number of additional grocery chains located throughout France. The location has a significant role in determining the accessibility of these retail establishments.
Discount Supermarkets in France
Over the past decade or so, discount shops in France have seen their market share grow, mirroring a trend seen in many other European countries. The following are some of the most prominent discount supermarkets in France:
7. Lidl
This German bargain chain is well-known throughout Europe for carrying a wide variety of items priced affordably. The merchandise is presented in cardboard boxes, and customers can take advantage of weekly deals.
Although Lidl does not carry as many name-brand products as other supermarkets do, the retailer does sell its store-brand goods at prices that are much lower than those of its competitors.
There are currently around 1500 Lidl locations in France, with approximately 15 of those stores located in the city of Paris alone
8. Aldi
Another German supermarket business that has conquered the French market is Aldi, which was founded in 1946. It is Lidl’s primary rival and is organized in a manner that is comparable to Lidl’s.
Additionally, it has around the same number of stores, with over 1400 in total across France. The fact that the company strives to make shopping easy and reasonable for its customers is one of the reasons why it is so successful in France.
Specialty Supermarkets in France
A specialty supermarket in France is a good choice to visit if you’re looking for a more specialized shopping experience while in the country. These stores have product selections that are more narrowly targeted and include:
9. NaturéO
This organic store now operates somewhere around 50 supermarkets across the country. There is a wide variety of fresh and dry organic products available at the stores.
10. Biocoop
Over 600 organic food outlets are owned and operated by this cooperative of organic food retailers. Across France, these supermarkets have become known for specializing in organic, regional, and seasonal fare..
11. M&S Food
The British department store Marks & Spencer has a few standalone food stores in the French capital of Paris. These stores can be found in convenient local locations and carry foods from all around the world, including Britain..
Store Schedule
French supermarkets and grocery stores have resisted the trend of staying open around the clock. Instead, most supermarkets and grocers (of any size) will open at 08:00 and shut at 20:00 or 21:00. Larger cities typically have supermarkets with later closing times.
Know that on Sundays, most French supermarkets are closed. Some open in the morning but close by lunchtime. This is why you should either do your food shopping on Saturday or plan on eating out on Sunday.
Guide to French Supermarkets: What You Need to Know
There are a few things you should know before you go on a shopping spree at a local grocery or supermarket:
● Observe the store hours
Be aware that the hours at which French supermarkets are open may differ. Most shops are closed on Sundays, however, you may find some open early in the day.
● Prices may vary
Prices at certain supermarkets are determined on a franchise basis rather than at the corporate level. Due to competition across outlets selling the same brand, prices may fluctuate even within the same chain during the high season.
● Bring your bags
France is only one of many European countries that have banned the distribution of plastic shopping bags in supermarkets. Many residents opt to bring their bags, and those who forget can always purchase reusable ones at the cashier.
● French supermarkets and grocery stores don’t sell cigarettes or medicines
You can’t get your hands on prescription drugs at a French grocery store; instead, you’ll need to visit the local pharmacy. If you’re looking for tobacco products, you’ll need to visit a tobacco shop instead.
● Bring a euro coin to use a shopping cart
It is recommended that you bring one euro coin to unlock a shopping cart from the chain. A coin or token is required to unlock the cart, but it is returned to you when you return the cart and lock it.
● Sign up for a loyalty card
Register for store loyalty cards if you plan on spending more than a week or two in France. One of the best things about grocery shopping in France is their penchant for sales, so watch out for them. Some cards offer instant savings, while the vast majority earn points or discount balances that can be redeemed at a later time.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.