The selection of both local and imported food is constantly increasing. Although prices can be very high for certain imported foods the city seems to cater to most expat needs. At times consistency of stock seems to be a problem, the key ingredient for the dinner you had planned might suddenly be unavailable on the shelves for a few weeks with no explanation, this can be annoying but can also push you to expand your repertoire and try new things.Vegetables and fruits are very reasonably priced, local products too so unless you are buying a whole heap of imported goods you can’t overspend.
Prices are different from shop to shop with the bigger supermarkets such as Carrefour offering being generally more economical, that said this is often only true for a small selection of products and the convenience to price ratio might more often than not convince you to stick to your local city shop. In general it is a good idea to check out prices to know what to buy where.
These days there is a great deal of organic produce around (check in the organic section below for more details) in both supermarkets and via delivery, there are also quite a few expat run businesses supplying anything, from imported meats to yogurt and meat pies. A good place to check out is the monthly farmers market at Shanghai Centre (check the expat magazines to see when they are on), although not much of a farmers market it often has things that you can’t normally get in the supermarkets so it’s good to see what’s around.
SUPERMARKETS
Most supermarkets just like most shops around town are open 10 am to 10 pm, seven days a week.
CITY SHOP www.cityshop.com.cn
WHAT: Wide selection of imported products, organic vegetables (not sure how organic but cheap), breads.
GOOD FOR: Pretty much anything you need, can be very expensive if you go heavy on the imported goods. It’s a fairly relaxing place to shop, it caters mainly to the expat community so it’s never crowded. It’s very manageable with a baby/toddler, they now even have mini trolleys (at least at the New world department store location) for kids to push around. FREE DELIVERY FOR A SHOP OF OVER 200RMB
WHERE: 8 locations
Hong Mei Shop- 3211, Hong Mei Road
虹梅店 虹梅路3211号
Shanghai Centre Shop- Shanghai Centre 1376, Nan Jing Rd(W)
商城店 南京西路1376号上海商城
New World Department Store Shop- B1,New World Department Store, 939, Huai Hai Rd(M)
巴黎春天店 淮海中路939号巴黎春天百货B1层
Times Square Shop- B101,Times Square, 99, Huai Hai Rd(M)
时代广场店 淮海中路99号大上海时代广场B1层
Riverside Shop- 1F,West Side Citigrop Tower, 33, Hua Yuan Shiqiao Rd Lu Jia Zui,Pu Dong
滨江店 浦东陆家嘴花园石桥路33号（富城路）
Novel Shop- Shop 08a,Basement Novel Place, 131 Tian Yao Road(Xin Geng Road)
永新店 天钥桥路131号永新坊地下08a室(辛耕)
Zhudi Shop- Community Center (Stratford West Wing), 550,Jidi Road, Z
诸翟店 纪翟路550号华漕镇社区活动中心(万科红郡西翼)
Film Art Center Shop- B1,Film Art Center, No.160, XinHua Rd
影城店 新华路160号，上海影城地下一层
The one in Hongqiao seems to have a great selection and a consistent supply of products.
CARREFOUR 家乐福
I’m only including the most central ones, for more locations please check online at www.carrefour.com.cn
Carrefour is best avoided at the weekends, if you are brave enough then be prepared for lots of pushing and shoving and wet mops constantly wiping the slippery floor . The aisle staff is normally not very helpful, at pointing you in the right direction if you are searching for something in particular, standard answer is 不太清楚， I’m not sure… or a nice clear 没有
Xuhui Store- No.1995 Xietu road ,Xuhui District,Shanghai (021) 64430125
徐汇店 -上海市徐汇区斜土路1995号
ZHongshan Park Store- B1&B2, No.1018, ChangNing Road, ChangNing District, Shanghai 021-6225 5656
中山公园店 上海市长宁区长宁路1018号，地下一层，二层
Wuning Store-（No. 20 Wu Ning Road, Shanghai)（021）8006200565
武宁店 上海市武宁路20号
JInqiao Store- （No.555, Biyun Road, Shanghai） （021）50304420金桥店 上海市浦东新区金桥碧云路555号
Gubei Store-（No. 268 North Shuicheng Road, Shanghai）（021）62781944
古北店 上海市水城南路268号
TESCO 乐购
The Tesco brand might make it sounds quite tempting especially if you are from the Uk, however keep your expectations low. I’m not saying it’s not worth a visit but it’s definitely a very local shop. The prices are good but the service is painfully slow.
Great for organic veg (they stock Sh organics), grains, milk, a small selection of cheese, great for cleaning products and household necessities. It is a fun experience if you are new, especially the meat and fish area, a bit stinky though..
http://www.cn.tesco.com/shop/east.htm
PINES, The Market Place
Half way between a super market and a deli, has a good selection of cheese and meat and imported dry goods.
http://www.chiro.com.cn/
Locations: Anfu lu corner wukang lu
JIngqiao not sure of the address for this one.
FEIDAN
Fedan is a great little neighbourhood store which stocks a nice selection of top end imported goods, hand made pasta, olives, special spreads and chocolates. It also has fresh bread, organic veg and organic free range eggs. Also has a mini wine cellar at the back. Good for a quick shop to pick up a few extra things.
http://www.feidanfood.com
An Fu Store
Addr: No.153 Au Fu Rd.
T: 86(21) 54036991
Open Time: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM (everyday)
Da Gu Store
Addr: No.382-1 Da Gu Rd.
T: 86(21) 63400547
Open Time: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM (everyday)
Wu Ning Store
Addr: 101-1 South Wuning Rd (Close to West Wuding Rd)
T: 86(21) 62301834
Open Time: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM (everyday)
Pudong Store
Addr: 322 Jin Yan Rd (Shanghai lu jia zui centre palace)
T: 86(21) 50593723
Open Time: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM (everyday)
MARKS & SPENCERS
I def would not go here for clothes but the food section is good. Cheap wine, nice biscuit, jams, teas and lots of English style treats. Also good for kids clothes, underwear, baby/toddler puzzles, greeting cards and wrapping paper.
863 Nanjing xi lu near Wujiang lu
SMART DIRECT
Online food shopping, same day delivery, food, nappies, organic veg and some M&S products.
www.smartdirect.cn
BAUERNSTUBE DELI @ SHERATON HONGQIAO
Good for imported meat and fish, deli cold meats and cheese plus a nice bakery.
2ND level Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel
5, Zunyi Nan lu
6275 8888
虹桥喜来登上海太平洋大饭店－遵义路５号
SLICE DELI www.slice-deli.com
Great deli and café
WET MARKETS
Wet markets are where the average Shanghai ren picks up their veg for dinner. The big ones are normally covered and open very early in the morning. There are rows and rows or stalls with veg, fruit, tofu, meat and fish, both dead and alive!
They are a colourful reminder of an older pre supermarket lifestyle. They are most definitely a great place for photos and if you are new offer a great opportunity to practice your Chinese language skills. You can bargain but don’t go with the feeling that you will get ripped off just because you are a foreigner, I often found that you rarely get cheated and if you do it’s a few jiao’s worth.
Most neighbourhoods have a wet market. Just ask your ayi, or your landlord to find out where the closest one to you is.
ORGANIC FOOD
The wave of eco organic living is nowadays being felt even in big polluted Shanghai.
Since we can’t control the environment around us it’s a good idea to try and control what we can and eating organic food is a way to at least reduce the amount of toxins we ingest.
Why is eating organic food a good idea?
Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides and is known to possess a higher content of vitamins and minerals. As a result by eating organic we have a lower intake of toxins and a higher intake of nutrients. A healthy diet with low levels of toxins reduces the body’s exposure to illness.
From an environmental prospective eating organic contributes to reducing air, soil and water pollution.
There are now a number of companies growing and delivering organic produce in the city, below is a list of the most popular.
SH ORGANICS http://www.shorganic.com
Available at Tesco’s and Fresh Mart, they have a weekly delivery service.
HEALTHY LIVING http://www.helekang.com
Provides an extensive list of products, not only fruit and veg but also rice, grains, biscuits, Organic Valley Milk, health products (they even have DDT free mosquito repellent), meat and also stock Wobabybasics organic baby wear. They waver the 10rmb delivery fee if you spend more than 100rmb.
TONGCHU ORGANICS www.tongchu.com.cn
They stock a small selection of fruit and veg, as well as a section of NATURE’S GATE natural toiletries and beauty products including a small range of WELEDA products (diaper cream, toothpaste and pregnancy body oil).
HIQUALITY www.hiqualityfood.com need to check this out
BIO FARM www.biofarm.cn
SHORGANICS www.shorganic.com
ORGANIC FARM www.organicfarm.com.cn
OTHER FOOD
CHOCOLATERIE
Good selection of Belgian style chocolates, including Easter eggs and bunnies and the very unique Kamasutra chocolates
Fuxing lu between Ruijin lu and Sinan lu
AWFULLY CHOCOLATE
Offers 3 variations on chocolate cakes and ice cream. The place looks very clinical and doesn’t even smell of chocolate, the cakes are not bad though. Only sold per cake not per slice
Xiangyang lu between Fuxing and Nanchang
BEBE MAMIE
Natural sugar-free, thick delicious yogurt in recyclable glass containers. Delivery only with a minimum order of 8 jars per week.
Order@bebemamie.com 6269 1701
SHANGHAI PIE www.shanghaipie.com
Selection of meat pies, sausage roller even has a veggie choice “Organic ratatouille and goats cheese pie” which is very thoughtful for a meat pie company.
ELDERS Delivers imported meet and pies by Shanghai Pie ww.elders.com.cn
Shanghai Mama