In order to quickly find your feet in your new home country, it is good to know which supermarkets are around and how they differ to supermarkets in Britain. Despite their geographical closeness, there are some distinct differences regarding prices and the selection of produce on offer. Read on to get clued up on these nuances and to help you settle in.
Generally, grocery shopping in Demark is a little more expensive (but not prohibitively so) than in the UK. This is due to the fact that taxes in Denmark are higher, with extra taxes on items such as nuts and alcohol. The latter is actually only a little more expansive than in the UK. Cheap Danish alcohol is similar price-wise to the British stuff and you’ll regret them both in equal proportions the next day. Which makes the Danish stereotype about expensive alcohol rather redundant here.
What I particularly liked about Danish supermarkets were the minimal differences in price between the conventional and organic produce, for the simple reason that I prefer to buy organically grown and farmed fruit, vegetables and meat.
The cheapest supermarkets, of course, are the discount supermarkets. You can find the same German discount supermarkets we have in the UK, Aldi and Lidl, pretty much everywhere in Denmark and the selection is practically the same. When you are feeling a little homesick it’s reassuring to be able to find products from your home country. This is how I was able to get my hands on my much-loved low-fat cheese curd from Lidl. Generally the Danish discount supermarkets have everything that could possibly desire and need on a daily basis. Discount products, branded products, organic and conventional produce are on offer here. Here are some of the discount stores:
Aldi: one of the cheapest chains in Denmark, whose selection is practically the same as that in England.
Lidl: similar to Aldi.
Fakta: an omnipresent Danish chain. The produce at Fakta is generally very cheap.
KIWI: a Norwegian discount supermarket chain.
Netto: one of the most well-known Danish supermarket chains because of its logo.
All supermarkets that don’t fall into the discount category, sell branded goods. But you can also find their own brands, similar to things like 'Everyday Value' and 'Basics'. A simple rule of thumb – the biggest supermarkets and the smallest ones are the most expensive. On the one hand you have chains such as Bilka and on the other hand you have small shops similar to corner shops, like Min købmand.
·Bilka: as well as food and drink you can also find clothes, electronics, tools and sports equipment, to name just a few.
·Irma: not all that cheap, but whoever values quality and exotic products will strike gold here.
·Kvickly: not just for day-to-day essentials but also textiles, kitchen utensils, stationery and much more.
·Min købmand: small branches, similar to your corner shops.
·SuperBrugsen: many branches have a deli and a meat counter. Otherwise you’ll find food and drink here.
Every supermarket also offers cosmetics and toiletries, which you can also find in specialised chemists. This is the same with electronics. You can get these in large supermarkets but also in electronics stores. In chemists and health food stores, health-conscious people can find health supplements, spices, tea and the newest superfoods like chia seeds and açai berries.
Generally, grocery shopping in Demark is a little more expensive (but not prohibitively so) than in the UK. This is due to the fact that taxes in Denmark are higher, with extra taxes on items such as nuts and alcohol. The latter is actually only a little more expansive than in the UK. Cheap Danish alcohol is similar price-wise to the British stuff and you’ll regret them both in equal proportions the next day. Which makes the Danish stereotype about expensive alcohol rather redundant here.
What I particularly liked about Danish supermarkets were the minimal differences in price between the conventional and organic produce, for the simple reason that I prefer to buy organically grown and farmed fruit, vegetables and meat.
Discount supermarkets
The cheapest supermarkets, of course, are the discount supermarkets. You can find the same German discount supermarkets we have in the UK, Aldi and Lidl, pretty much everywhere in Denmark and the selection is practically the same. When you are feeling a little homesick it’s reassuring to be able to find products from your home country. This is how I was able to get my hands on my much-loved low-fat cheese curd from Lidl. Generally the Danish discount supermarkets have everything that could possibly desire and need on a daily basis. Discount products, branded products, organic and conventional produce are on offer here. Here are some of the discount stores:
Aldi: one of the cheapest chains in Denmark, whose selection is practically the same as that in England.
Lidl: similar to Aldi.
Fakta: an omnipresent Danish chain. The produce at Fakta is generally very cheap.
KIWI: a Norwegian discount supermarket chain.
Netto: one of the most well-known Danish supermarket chains because of its logo.
Normal supermarkets
All supermarkets that don’t fall into the discount category, sell branded goods. But you can also find their own brands, similar to things like 'Everyday Value' and 'Basics'. A simple rule of thumb – the biggest supermarkets and the smallest ones are the most expensive. On the one hand you have chains such as Bilka and on the other hand you have small shops similar to corner shops, like Min købmand.
·Bilka: as well as food and drink you can also find clothes, electronics, tools and sports equipment, to name just a few.
·Irma: not all that cheap, but whoever values quality and exotic products will strike gold here.
·Kvickly: not just for day-to-day essentials but also textiles, kitchen utensils, stationery and much more.
·Min købmand: small branches, similar to your corner shops.
·SuperBrugsen: many branches have a deli and a meat counter. Otherwise you’ll find food and drink here.
Other shops
Every supermarket also offers cosmetics and toiletries, which you can also find in specialised chemists. This is the same with electronics. You can get these in large supermarkets but also in electronics stores. In chemists and health food stores, health-conscious people can find health supplements, spices, tea and the newest superfoods like chia seeds and açai berries.
Matas: Chemist chain. Similar to Boots.
·Helsam: a mixture between a pharmacy and a health food store.
·Lagkagehuset: A far from cheap bakery chain but with fantastic pastries and coffee. Alternatives are the pastries from the discount supermarkets.
·Harald Nyborg: a DIY chain.
·T. Hansen: Here you can find everything to do with cars, as well as bicycles and electronics.
·Elgiganten: the most prominent electricals chain in Denmark.
·Helsam: a mixture between a pharmacy and a health food store.
·Lagkagehuset: A far from cheap bakery chain but with fantastic pastries and coffee. Alternatives are the pastries from the discount supermarkets.
·Harald Nyborg: a DIY chain.
·T. Hansen: Here you can find everything to do with cars, as well as bicycles and electronics.
·Elgiganten: the most prominent electricals chain in Denmark.
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