Oxford Guide: Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping in a new country can be a daunting and time consuming experience, but it can also be lots of fun! There are lots of weird and wonderful new products to discover, a seemingly endless list of '3 for 2' and '2 for 1' deals and a few fancy new names as well. For example, did you know that if Cinderella had have been written in the UK, she would have ridden home in a 'squash'? A few other veggies separated by a common language include; 'mangetout,' 'aubergine' and 'courgette,' otherwise known as snow peas, eggplant and zucchinni, but none are quite as important as learning the difference between 'trousers' and 'pants!' 

As I've mentioned previously, I do most of our grocery shopping online, but I love the markets and use the local supermarket for everything in between. I don't have a favourite, I usually just use whichever is most convenient, but there are some major differences to be aware of. 

Here's a brief introduction to what Oxford has to offer:

Charles and Camilla check out at Belgravia's Waitrose. Photos by: The London Evening Standard

Waitrose $$$

As the only supermarket chain to hold a Royal Warrant, Waitrose supplies some seriously 'posh nosh.' Understandably, it also has a reputation for being one of the most expensive super- markets in the UK, (along with M&S), but I think it offers far better value for money than it is given credit for. That said, if you choose to do your weekly shop here, it will cost considerably more than at any of the other 'big 4' supermarkets (Asda, Morrison's, Sainsbury's or Tesco), 
but the quality and service you'll recieve are second to none...except maybe M&S.  
Location: Old High St, Headington.

Kate at the Menai Bridge Waitrose store in Anglesey, North Wales. Photos by: Lee Thompson & Chris Neill.

M&S Simply Food $$$

Marks & Spencer, (also affectionately know as 'Marks & Sparks), specialises in luxury food items and has the best selection of fresh, organic produce by far. All products are own-brand and come beautifully presented. Home-brand just sounds wrong in this case and the only real down side (apart from the price) is that most of M&S's produce comes with LOADS of packaging.

M&S also have a large selection of delicious ready-made meals. Please let me clarify by saying these are not words I ever dreamt I'd use in the same sentence, but they really are delicious! Keep an eye out for their 'Dine in for £10,' deals where you get everything you need for a two course meal plus wine for two. Locations: Banbury Rd, Summertown, Queen St, City Centre, (the food section is on the ground floor towards the back of the store) and at the Oxford Retail Park at the end of Cowley Rd.

Tesco / Tesco Express / Tesco Metro $$

I had no idea Tesco featured in Lily Allen's LDN (London Music Video) until my little brother came to visit last month. Every time we went past a store he'd start singing, "There was a little old lady, who was walking down the road, she was struggling with her bags from Tesco!" It was kinda cute. You can watch the clip below. (You may need to 'un-mute' the sound).

Known as the 'big bad giant', Tesco has put many of its smaller competitors out of business, but its customers enjoy excellent value for money and the convenience of extended trading hours. Some stores are even open 24 hours a day!

Sainsbury's $$

Although they own far fewer stores Sainsbury's is often compared to Tesco, but overall, I think that they provide far better customer service and a more pleasant shopping experience. They also offer a huge range of products to suit most budgets, from the Sainsbury's 'Basic' range, to 'Taste the Difference,' Sainsbury's answer to the up-market, restaurant quality foods provided by rivals like Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Other ranges include; 'Organic', 'Freefrom' - for those who have wheat, gluten and dairy intolerances, a 'Kids' range and a 'Be Good to Yourself' range.

The co-operative $$

The co-op pride themselves in ethical trading and sourcing and ALL of their stores are powered by green energy. (A first for any UK retailer). Amongst their produce you'll find fairly traded bananas, wine, tea, coffee and chocolate. And if these weren't reason enough to visit, the co-op's 'Truly Irrisistable Chocolate Ice Cream' really is!

Aldi $

Short for "Albrecht Discount," Aldi is SUPER cheap and stocks mostly own-brand products. The check-out system is a bit bizarre, but it's fast and furious and the quality and service are great. Location: Botley Rd, Oxford. 

Expat shopping tips

·     In most cases, you'll be expected to pack your groceries yourself

·     Fruit and vegetables are weighed by the cashier at the cash register

·     Plastic bags are provided, but usually at a cost.

·     Always insist on receiving a receipt and check it before leaving the store.

·     If paying by credit or debit card, take extra care to ensure 'cash back' has not been added 
      to your bill. (Unless of course you requested it).

·     Many stores offer loyalty/ discount cards. If you plan to shop at the same store regularly, 
      it's definitely worth filling out the paperwork.

·     If you're longing for items from home, check out my post on expat survival food supplies.

·     Unfortunately, few grocery stores in Oxford supply parking. If a car is a must, check out my 
      post on Oxford's Superstores.

Delis, specialty stores and farmer's markets coming soon!

Oxford Guide: Oxford's Superstores

Buying your weekly groceries in Oxford can become a bit of a drag. Most of the stores are tiny, offer poor selections and have little or no parking. As a result, you may find yourself visiting lots of different stores to find everything on your shopping list only to find yourself limited by what you can physically carry home. One solution is to give online shopping a go, but if that's not your style, try one of Oxford’s Superstores. They’re HUGE! 

Check out this wacky Cart Bike designed by Ryan McFarland! Now there's a man on a mission.

Where you’ll find them

Sainsbury’s  - The Westgate Centre, Oxford OX1 1PA (Central Oxford)

Sainsbury’s  - 289 Oxford Rd, Kidlington, OX5 2PE (North Oxford)                

Sainsbury’s  - Heyford Hill, Littlemore OX4 4XR (South Oxford)

Tesco - Oxford Retail Park, Cowley OX4 6XJ (East Oxford)

Asda - London Rd, Wheatley OX33 1YZ (West Oxford)

Bonus: There’s loads of parking and some stores even offer a hand car wash while you shop.

Tip: Avoid visiting on the weekends and allow yourself plenty of time! 

The Ville urban folding bicycle designed by Hyuk-Jae Chang

Other stores with parking include:

M&S Simply Food - Banbury Rd, Summertown OX2 7GB (North Oxford)

The Co-op - Banbury Rd, Summertown OX2 7BY (North Oxford)

Tesco – Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UT (South-East Oxford)

Waitrose - Old High Street, Headington OX3 9JT (East Oxford)                       

Aldi - Botley Rd Oxford OX2 0HA (West Oxford)     

If anyone has come up with any ingenious ways of carrying their groceries home 

by bicycle, I'd LOVE to hear them. I'll be including a few snazzy accessories in my next post, so stay tuned.

Oxford Guide: Online Grocery Shopping

Are you tired of lugging heavy groceries home or trying to find ingenious new ways to carry 
more on your bicycle? Maybe it’s time to give online shopping a try. Before moving to Oxford, 
I thought online shopping was reserved for those who had grown too old or frail to reach the top shelf and busy mums and dads who'd rather die than take their toddlers shopping... It didn't take long for me to change my mind.

Photo: 'Grocery Shopping', by ralphbijker.

Whether you work long hours, don't have a car, or like me, simply hate visiting the grocery store, online shopping has lots of advantages...

Pros

·     Shop from the convenience of you home any time of day or night,

·     Find products quickly and easily using a key word search,

·     Create and save your shopping lists and 'favourites,'

·     Swap your selections for cheaper, suggested items at the checkout,

·     Buy all the items you struggle to find at your local grocers,

·     Have all your groceries delivered to your door! 

Cons

·     You can't handpick your meat, fresh fruit or vegetables

·     You may be given products closer to their end date than you would choose yourself.

·     If an item you’ve ordered is not available it may be substituted for something similar, 
      but in my experience, this is usually a good thing!

·     Delivery times with some suppliers can be very unreliable.
 

ASDA, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose all have online stores, but I shop with Ocado and can’t recommend them enough. They’re a little pricier than some of their competitors, but the quality of their meat, fresh fruit and vegetables can’t be beat. The delivery men and women are very friendly, helpful and always on time, (if not a little early), which is more than I can say for their competitors, (namely Tesco & Sainsbury's). 

One of the other little perks of shopping with Ocado is that they occasionally pop little ‘thank you's’ in with their orders - Our second delivery came with a complimentary bottle of wine and a block of Green & Black’s chocolate! 

I'd love to hear where you buy your groceries. Do you shop online or prefer to pick your groceries yourself?

Expat Survival Food Supplies

So the saying goes, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but perhaps it should have included expats as well. Whilst food may be the last thing that springs to mind when you are packing up all your belongings, nothing will remind of home quite like a dish or favorite treat from your past.  

As an Aussie expat, some of the treats that I miss most from home are Tim Tams, Mint Slice biscuits, Cadbury's Top Deck chocolate and Cherry Ripes - just thinking about them all is making my mouth water! For Kiwis it's Manuka Honey and Whittakers Peanut Slabs and for South Africans it's Peppermint Crisps, but whatever your soft spot, be sure to include an emergency stash in your suitcase before you leave. (The cutoms and quarantine regulations in the UK are not as strict as those in countries like Australia, so you'll have no trouble getting them across the boarder, the only challenging part will be making them last!)

Unfortunately chocolate of any description doesn't last very long in my household, so making our supplies last was never really an option. Thankfully, a recent trip home to Australia enabled me to stock up on all my favorite supplies. I was even able to teach all of my English friends the art of a Tim Tam slam on my return. The only problem was that they were all such naturals I've had to beg my mum to send me some more! 

If like me your supplies have run low, the following UK based websites are an absolute godsend: Australia Shop, Canada Shop, South Africa Shop, New Zealand Shop, American Soda, Italian Deli Online and Sanza  (which caters for South Africans, New Zealanders and Aussies). Please email me the details of any other stores you'd like to share with your fellow expats.

For more arrival survival tips, check out The Oxford Fresher's Arrival Survival Guide.

Veg Boxes

Seeing all these pumpkins about has got me thinking about Veg Boxes! 

I didn’t realise quite how spoilt I was in Australia, but shopping for fruit and veg at the local supermarket here can leave shivers running down your spine! Try if you dare, but don't be surprised to find yourself surrounded by bruised and battered corpses who've spent their better days in a freezer. Cling tight to the living, but eat them quickly -  they won't stay that way for long.

If like me, you are haunted by the 'ghosts of fresh fruit past,'  give a Veg Box a go!

Veg Boxes can be bought directly from a number of local independent growers in and around Oxford. Whilst ordering can be a bit like playing 'trick or treat,' most schemes offer a ‘basic box’ containing a selection of whatever fruit and veg is in season. Some even supply recipes, fresh eggs and flowers as well. Boxes come in several sizes starting from about £7 for a small box, which is enough for 1-2 people. 

For more information, or to order a Veg Box, contact one of the following independent growers: Coleshill Organics, North AstonOrganics, Vegin Clover, TolhurstOrganic, Close to theVeg