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Comparing grocery stores in USA and Europe (let’s say Italy), one big difference is that USA has a much larger variability in quality of products. In usa, You c

by j7ake 4y ago

Comparing grocery stores in USA and Europe (let’s say Italy), one big difference is that USA has a much larger variability in quality of products. In usa, You can buy the cheapest meats to the most expensive. While in italy the lower bound of meat quality is capped: a low end meat in Italy is medium to high end in USA. It makes grocery shopping in Italy much more pleasant than in USA. You go into any grocery store in Italy and you are assured that you will get good quality products no matter what price range you pay.

wreath 4y ago
I wouldnt compare meat in the US to all of Europe. No idea about quality of meat in Italy but in German supermarkets even high end beef tastes like shit compared to what you would get (non high end) in the US.
- j7ake 4y ago
  Europe splits into the “olive oil / Mediterranean” countries and “butter” countries. Usually the Mediterranean countries have better grocery stores compared to the butter countries.
jillesvangurp 4y ago
Much of the Mediterranean has amazing produce. The few times I was in a US supermarket, I was amazed at how pricey the food was and not that impressed with the variety of food. I mean, you'd expect to be impressed in e.g, San Francisco by the local produce. For that I had to go to the Farmer's Market, which charges an arm and a leg for nice produce that I would get at a quarter of the price in my local super market. IMHO, US supermarkets have very little on e.g. French supermarkets. I'm originally from the Netherlands, which has a pretty competitive range of supermarkets. But there's nothing like the French ones. They are huge and well stocked. The French obviously love food and don't really tolerate bad food. So their supermarkets are well stocked with amazingly good quality fish, meat, bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables, etc. I'm less familiar with Italian supermarkets but I'd expect they are even more fanatical about good quality food. I've been to supermarkets in Spain and Portugal as well; same deal. I currently live in Germany, home of Aldi and Lidl, which are big here obviously. My local supermarket is a Rewe. They are alright. 300 meters from my front door, I treat it like my walk in fridge. Convenience is key for me. I think Walmart actually tried to expand to Europe and more or less failed. It seems like European supermarkets are doing better in the US.
- wreath 4y ago
  > My local supermarket is a Rewe. They are alright. 300 meters from my front door, I treat it like my walk in fridge. Convenience is key for me. This is the best description of German supermarkets ive seen. It explains the frequent supermarket visits, small quantity purchases and smaller fridges (in most apartments) compared to the US.

by j7ake 4y ago

wreath 4y ago

I wouldnt compare meat in the US to all of Europe. No idea about quality of meat in Italy but in German supermarkets even high end beef tastes like shit compared to what you would get (non high end) in the US.

j7ake 4y ago
Europe splits into the “olive oil / Mediterranean” countries and “butter” countries. Usually the Mediterranean countries have better grocery stores compared to the butter countries.

jillesvangurp 4y ago

Much of the Mediterranean has amazing produce. The few times I was in a US supermarket, I was amazed at how pricey the food was and not that impressed with the variety of food. I mean, you'd expect to be impressed in e.g, San Francisco by the local produce. For that I had to go to the Farmer's Market, which charges an arm and a leg for nice produce that I would get at a quarter of the price in my local super market. IMHO, US supermarkets have very little on e.g. French supermarkets. I'm originally from the Netherlands, which has a pretty competitive range of supermarkets. But there's nothing like the French ones. They are huge and well stocked. The French obviously love food and don't really tolerate bad food. So their supermarkets are well stocked with amazingly good quality fish, meat, bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables, etc. I'm less familiar with Italian supermarkets but I'd expect they are even more fanatical about good quality food. I've been to supermarkets in Spain and Portugal as well; same deal. I currently live in Germany, home of Aldi and Lidl, which are big here obviously. My local supermarket is a Rewe. They are alright. 300 meters from my front door, I treat it like my walk in fridge. Convenience is key for me. I think Walmart actually tried to expand to Europe and more or less failed. It seems like European supermarkets are doing better in the US.

wreath 4y ago
> My local supermarket is a Rewe. They are alright. 300 meters from my front door, I treat it like my walk in fridge. Convenience is key for me. This is the best description of German supermarkets ive seen. It explains the frequent supermarket visits, small quantity purchases and smaller fridges (in most apartments) compared to the US.