Common Supermarkets for Immigrants in the UK
There are many supermarkets in the UK, and they vary in quality depending on the region. High-end supermarkets are expensive, mid-range ones are suitable for the general public, and low-end ones are mostly found in lower-income areas or small towns. The variety of vegetables sold in UK supermarkets is extensive, and many commonly consumed by Chinese people can be found there, such as Chinese cabbage, bok choy, bell peppers, lettuce, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, garlic, ginger, fresh chili peppers, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, noodles, crab sticks... If you want to have a hot pot, buying vegetables at UK supermarkets is definitely not a problem. Meat prices are slightly higher, with chicken being the cheapest, followed by pork, while beef, lamb, and fish are the most expensive.
High-End Supermarkets:
Department stores like Harrods and Selfridges have Food Halls, but prices are extremely high, only affordable for the wealthy middle class and above!
Mark & Spencer – Yes, this old British department store not only sells clothes but also food. Their supermarkets focus on food, but they are a bit pricey! They are considered the most expensive among UK supermarkets. However, their own drinks, yogurt, biscuits, desserts, and snacks are delicious, far superior to those from Tesco and Sainsbury's, which is part of their appeal. Additionally, the bakery series from M&S is also excellent! It is said that all their food ingredients are sourced from their own farms and orchards, proving that high-quality ingredients are key!
Waitrose – This is also a high-end supermarket, found only in affluent areas, upscale residential areas, office buildings, or places where many white-collar workers gather, targeting the middle to upper class. Although the prices are high, the service and quality are naturally better. Their bakery and dessert sections are fantastic! Waitrose and the department store John Lewis are one company, so you often see Waitrose supermarkets in the food sections of department stores. There was a cold joke that asked if Waitrose was opened by Jack because the name sounds like "Wait Rose"! (laugh)
Mid-Range Supermarkets:
The most common supermarkets in the lives of immigrants in the UK, with similar prices. These supermarkets all offer online shopping, and free delivery is available for orders over £40. If students coming to study in the UK are unsure about the prices here, they can simulate shopping on their websites to check prices, which is very convenient. Moreover, the UK's Value Added Tax (VAT) has recently increased, so to understand the latest information, it is best to check the supermarkets' websites directly.
Sainsbury's – An old British supermarket, orange is their representative color. This supermarket has different sizes of branches, with different suffixes. In addition to the larger Sainsbury's, there are also Sainsbury's Central and Sainsbury's Local, with Central being larger and Local being smaller, in a community format.
Tesco – The largest retailer in the UK, with stores spread across large and small cities. Their prices are very affordable, catering to the general public, making it a supermarket that most international students rely on. Larger Extra stores, although not in city centers, operate 24 hours. Tesco's business has also expanded to China, where it is called "Lotus". Like Sainsbury's, Tesco also has various sizes of supermarkets. For example:
Tesco Extra – These stores are very large, generally not located in city centers, and offer the most comprehensive range of products, including electronics, clothing, and household goods.
Tesco Superstore – Slightly smaller than Extra, this is the standard size for Tesco supermarkets.
Tesco Metro – This is between Superstore and Express in size. Generally found in city centers, shopping streets, and bustling areas.
Tesco Express – You can often find this smallest Tesco supermarket in small shopping streets, small towns, and communities. The variety is naturally not very comprehensive, but at least it is very convenient.
ASDA – A UK supermarket under Walmart, green is their signature color. They are rarely seen in city centers, mostly located in the suburbs or slightly further away, and are large hypermarkets. They offer a full range of goods, with prices cheaper than the budget-friendly Tesco and Sainsbury's. Although it may not be very convenient to visit, the low prices make the transportation costs worthwhile. Additionally, ASDA has its own clothing brand called "George", although the clothes are casual and not of particularly high quality.
Co-operative – This supermarket chain does everything, including electronics, banking, pharmacies, insurance... even funeral services...
Low-End Supermarkets:
Morrisons – Very low prices! Excellent value for money! Especially for fish and meat, they are great! You can find some meats here that are not available in other supermarkets, such as pig trotters, pig hearts, pig kidneys, and pig feet. They also have a wide variety of vegetables, and their ice cream and desserts are diverse. According to friends who used to work there, many people rush in to grab discounted items just before the supermarket closes, and within minutes, half-price foods that are about to expire are sold out.
Iceland – True to their name, they specialize in frozen foods. Additionally, their prices are very low! Especially for various frozen foods and drinks. Frozen foods include fries, fried chicken, fish fingers, pizza, ice cream, desserts, frozen seafood, and some frozen vegetables. If students are too lazy to cook and do not care much about weight, they can buy some to keep in the freezer for emergencies. Their drinks are all in large sizes and often on sale, costing about half of what they do in other supermarkets.
Poundland – Everything in the store is one pound, which is a great deal, and they sell a variety of items, from snacks to daily necessities.
LiDL – A supermarket from Germany. Prices are very low (even cheaper than Morrisons), and they have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. However, the brands they sell are mostly from Germany and other continental European countries.
Aldi – Another low-cost supermarket from Germany. The situation is similar to what was mentioned above about LiDL. Their slogan is memorable: "don’t change your lifestyle, change your supermarket".
Somerfield – Offers small to medium-sized supermarkets, generally found in towns or small places. Now that it has been acquired by Co-operative, it has become Co-ops supermarkets, but this name is well-known, so everyone should be aware of it.
Chinese Supermarkets Available After Investing in Immigration to the UK
Chinese supermarkets in the UK are quite impressive! There are Chinatowns in major cities, and you can also find a few Chinese and Asian supermarkets in small to medium-sized cities. They sell a wide range of products, including instant noodles, cooking oil, soy sauce, vegetables, meat, hot pot seasonings, sesame paste, fermented tofu, stinky tofu, luncheon meat, domestic drinks, tofu, Lao Gan Ma, squid strips, pork jerky, various snacks, century eggs, duck eggs... they really sell everything! You can also find some Chinese vegetables and fruits that are not available in UK supermarkets, such as winter melon, white radish, enoki mushrooms, Chinese broccoli, large papaya (although UK supermarkets have them, they are smaller), betel nuts, etc. Especially when I see century eggs and stinky tofu for sale, I truly feel the strength of the Chinese community in the UK! Therefore, friends planning to go abroad should not bring a suitcase full of food; tell your parents that everything is available in the UK! Let them rest assured!
Not only is this true for London, but other major cities in the UK, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh... can definitely find everything! Even small to medium-sized cities are not a problem. Unless you are going to study in a place with very few Chinese people, it is recommended to bring some food, but I believe there will be Chinese supermarkets everywhere because Chinese people are everywhere!
London's Chinatown is located in the center of London, with the nearest subway stations being the Northern Line/Piccadilly Line – Leicester Square station. There are many exits, and exit 2 is the closest to Chinatown, with signs at the exit, so you don't have to worry about forgetting or not finding it. Chinatowns in other cities are also located in the city center, making them very easy to find. Lastly, I want to remind everyone: if you see supermarkets offering discounts or promotions, remember to check the expiration dates, and don’t foolishly buy a bunch of items that are about to expire.
The above is an introduction to the supermarkets that immigrants often visit after investing in immigration to the UK. They have everything, making it very convenient for many immigrants in the UK. I hope the explanations above can improve the quality of life for everyone immigrating to the UK.
