Supermarket shopping in Lanzarote
As any cooking fan knows, a supermarket is essential for those culinary delights we whip up in the kitchen. However, there are no Tescos, Sainsburys or Waitrose stores here. So what about the supermarkets in Lanzarote? Can you buy all those little necessities? And what about British teabags.. or disposable nappies…
Q: Will I find a decent supermarket in Lanzarote?
A: Yes! Every resort has got a number of supermarkets. Hiperdino, Spar, Netto and Maxcoop are the most frequently found. Also worth a big mention is Ropers frozen food store opposite the Deiland at Playa onda.
Q: Can I buy my baby’s disposable nappies?
A: A recommended brand is Dodots – we are told they are very similar to Pampers
Q: What about tea-bags?
A: The British tea-bags tend to be a bit more expensive, but we have found them in Netto and Hiperdino
Q: Ah… but I want Branston pickle!
A: Unfortunately, when Vivos at Playa Honda was bought out by Hiperdino, both Branston and soured cream disappeared from the shelves. You can get soured cream in Eurospar in Arrecife – and we have also found it in a small German supermarket by the port in Playa Blanca. Branston pickle has started appearing in Nettos now too.
Q: And what about English bread?
A: Hiperdino now has Kingsmill and Jacksons in the freezer section… and Spar has it on the shelf. We advise buying the frozen stuff, and simply defrosting what you need. We pick up a couple of loaves whenever it’s in stock.
Q: I’m really going to miss British bacon!
A: Miss it no longer… it is in Spar and Hiperdino. Watch the pricing though. The cheapest we’ve found is in Spar at Punta Limones in Playa Blanca. 5 rashers for €2.75
Of course, there are now a couple of English supermarkets in Lanzarote, where you can buy all you family favourites. Expect to pay more for your branded favourites at these places… but if you are craving your lemon curd, birds custard powder, butterscotch Angel Delight, turkey for Christmas etc… then head up there and have a look.
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15 Responses to Supermarket shopping in Lanzarote
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Hi Katie. I’m sorry but I don’t know about the additive situation. However, like the UK, they are obliged to list ingredients on the packaging. I certainly haven’t seen Hovis I’m afraid – we struggle to get English bread here… and Kingsmill or Jackson’s seems to be the limit.
So sorry!
Elle xx
hi i have a son with allergies and we are going to puerto del carmen next month. im ok with most food for him except bread – does anyone know if the spanish use lots of additives in their bread like the english or if they use a proper flour yeast salt recipe – if not can you buy hovis bread anywhere?
Harsh words Emma… and a little unfair. I think I understand what you are trying to say… and in a way I kind of agree. However, there are broader things to consider.
For those of us that have lived here for some time… of course we have embraced the local foods. Do remember that that a very very high percentage of the foodstuffs available on the Island are imported anyway – so very little is produced here. If you stuck to Lanzarote food… it would be gofio for breakfast, fish or goat for lunch, and paella for dinner. Add some locally produced goats cheese and locally gorwn vegetables and you’re about done.
There are always some little things that we all miss. Alan likes his Fray Bentos for example (whereas I would rather pull out my eyes with a spoon than eat one of those! – But I will happily provide a home made pie). I love Banana milkshake… but you simply cannot buy that here… so people bring me boxes of Nesquick over when they visit. PG Tips? I actually prefer Tetley, myself. To be honest, we have tried all of the local brands of tea that we can find – and none of them have the flavour or strength that such brands as Tetley, PG, Yorkshire Tea etc can provide. Tastebuds are tastebuds… and if you want it, and it’s available here – then why not enjoy it? Tonight I will be eating pasta tossed in a little olive oil, garlic and anchovies – but it’s certainly not a local recipe. The modern world has taught us to embrace new flavours from all over the world. You don’t have to restrict yourself to one country these days.
Also… let’s look at visitors to the Islands. Some people may be nervous about spending money on brands they do not recognise whilst they are here on holiday – and so they will naturally gravitate towards labels that they recognise. They have concerns about salt and sugar levels, and of course taste. Of course in time, we all learn which brands are best here locally for our own tastes… but there is a natural transition period.
I love a good old fashioned British or Irish brekkie – but for me it is a treat… and something I very rarely have. But many people love them… and this is why so many places provide it.
The upshot is that where’s there’s a market, there’s a business opportunity. Market forces at its most basic. This is why the supermarkets now cater so well with ingredients for the British, Irish, German, French, Indian, Chinese… and more.
Elle xx
Why do people want so many British products when they are abroad? I don’t understand people who don’t like to give the local food a try and just want fry ups and PG tips! Stay in the UK I say!!!
Hi Mandy – and thanks for your feedback. Lidl isn’t a British company… and I’m surprised that people were expecting to find British goods for sale in there. We also expected it to be more expensive than in the UK… simply because of the shipping costs involved in taking something to a dot on the edge of the African coast. But the place is still giving the two major suppliers here a run for their money – which can only be a good thing. A large group of us this morning were discussing it… and most felt quite positive about the range, and the pricing. Many of these people had been down to see it this week. Personally I’m waiting for the queues to die down a bit before heading over – but I have already heard of some bargains in store! Hurrah!
Yes – we love the British Supermarket in Costa Teguise too (for anyone who doesn’t know the place… you can find more information by going to http://www.canarynightlife.com and clicking on Lanzarote, then on Costa Teguise… and there’s a link to their web page on the right). We also love Maceys in Tías – who have just celebrated their first year of trading!
Elle xx
Hi I’ve just been reading some of the notes above. Lidl has indeed opened but very disappointing hardly any british goods in there and quite expensive to what we know back home. When I go to Costa i always make a beeline for the British Supermarket as they are helpful and really friendly and cheaper for british goods than the others in the area.
Saying that – they have now said the 5th.
Who knows… but we’re getting quite excited here, so we’ll see you at the tills with a bargain!
Elle xx
Hi John – the Spanish press are reporting March 11th for Lidl – hope that helps!
Elle xx
thanks for this info does anyone know when Lidl is opening spar/netto are handy but very expensive compared to UK/Irish supermarkets would be great if there was a discounter.
Thanks
John
Hi Jane – I promised you a link to their webpage once it was brought up to date – and here it is. You can also find it via a Google search.
http://www.canarynightlife.net/lanzarote/advertisers/britishsupermarketceleste/britishsupermarketcelesteCT.htm
Happy reading!
Elle xx
HI there Jane – and thank you for your comments. Oddly enough I was in the British Supermarket Celeste this morning! And we were talking about this very thing! Tony and Lynn are lovely, aren’t they? Nabbed myself a bottle of Sarsons Malt Vinegar too (none to be found in the South right now).
In Playa Blanca, Hiperdino and Spar is a damn good call… as we have no British Supermarket here (although both of those stores do stock a fair amount of branded goods now). However – in Costa Teguise… I see that Tony and Lynn are pipping the supermarkets at many of their prices too! We wish them all the best of luck – and when their web page goes live again in the next couple of days, we’ll post a link for you.
Elle xx
Read you web page, I’ve just come back from Lanzarote I stayed in Costa Teguise had a great time. Like most people I got told to shop at the Hypo Dino or Spar because they were the best, but after a couple of days got fed up taking milk etc back to them because it had gone off. When I thought all was lost I stumbled upon the British Supermarket Celeste in Costa teguise although its not the size of Spar and Hypo Dino I found it to have everything I wanted and at very good prices too WHAT A GEM the people who own it were friendly and helpful and if it was anything special I needed they would do there best to get it for me. I also found it so safe at night walking about. Hope you go and try for yourself
I’m sure I’ve seen it in Hiperdino, and in Spar too. I’ve only seen UHT though. They seem to have quite a good range of foods such as this. There’s also plenty of soya products, and gluten free foods also.
Good luck!
Elle xx
Hi, were you able to buy goats milk in lanzarote?, I would like to know, as we plan to travel to lanzarote this year and my son can only drink goats milk.
hi
can anyone tell me whether and if so where i am likely to be able to buy goats milk (ideally fresh but potentially UHT) in Playa Blanca? Bringing 3 kids on holiday to Playa Blanca next week (8 april) and all are allergic to cows milk
many thanks