Supermarkets, Covered Markets, and Food Shopping in France

French hypermarchés sell an enormous range of products. There’s an électroménager (home appliance) section where you can buy everything from kettles to washing machines; a jardinage (gardening) section, where you’ll find flowers, grass seeds, and bags of potting soil (in season); as well as tools, paint, kitchen accessories and even high-tech items. You will also find lingerie, make-up, toiletries, shoes, toys, children’s clothing, as well as men and women’s wear.

Food shopping at French Supermarkets

French supermarkets have several fresh food counters. Head for the bakery and you’ll find freshly baked bread in all shapes and sizes, as well as baguettes, croissants, cakes and a huge variety of pastries. At the dairy and cheese counter, you’ll find French cheeses alongside Italian, Greek, Dutch, Swiss and British cheeses, with a selection of commercial, artisanal (hand-made), and bio (organic). There’s often a wide range, from fresh goat cheese the size of a golf ball to large slabs of comté, gruyère or gouda, to torta di mascarpone (layered mascarpone with gorgonzola) and feta.

The meat and charcuterie (delicatessen) section has butchers on hand to help you choose between fillets of beef or pork, duck breast, calf’s liver, sausages, and ham cooked on the premises. When choosing a chicken, you might consider the ones with the label rouge (red label), proof they are free range and properly fed.

If you prefer fish, head towards the poissonnerie, (fish counter), where you’ll find fresh fish, whole or in fillets, oysters, prawns, and other seafood, on beds of crushed ice. Prices are per kilo, but there is no pressure to buy large amounts, and you can opt to purchase just three or four mussels, a few prawns, or a small filet of salmon.

Fruits and vegetables

In the fresh produce section, most supermarkets sell a wide range of fruit and vegetables, a large proportion of which will have been grown in France. Many supermarkets also champion local or regional producers. Be aware that most fresh produce sold in France is seasonal. Bigger supermarkets in large cities often have more imported produce, but in many rural towns, purchasing strawberries in the middle of winter just won’t be possible.

Wines

Another important area of the French supermarket is the wine section, where you’ll find everything from high-end and middle- to low-end wines at very reasonable prices. Most supermarkets will have knowledgeable staff able to advise you on basic wine selections.

Understanding the Ingredients

Food labelling laws are strict in France and all packaged foods should provide nutritional information, a full ingredients list, and often a Nutri-Score (the 5-Colour Nutrition label used throughout Europe). Products such as beef and dairy will also list the fat content, or  %MG matière grasse.