How to Choose a Discount Food Store

Among the many proposals that we receive to save on food shopping (and everyone certainly needs it) there are the avalanches of offers that arrive from discountNot always convenient, and often high risk of waste. To avoid unpleasant surprises, follow these tips.

Index of topics

The price

The low price of a product is not everything, the quality must still be guaranteed, and if the price goes too low there is the suspicion that the quality of the chosen product is poorProtect yourself by comparing prices, and don't settle for the first offer; check that a lower price doesn't also correspond to a smaller package (in which case the savings could be entirely theoretical), and, conversely, don't be fooled by larger packages.

3 for 2 offers

Discount stores often offer this type of deal (even “Buy 2 and pay 1”), but it is not a given that they are worth it: always check the expiration date of the products, especially dairy products, carne and frozen.

The quality

There are only two ways to be sure you've chosen well. First, try and purchase the product that seems to meet your needs and is attractively priced. Second, carefully read the ingredients, provenance, and nutritional information. From this information, everything should be clear.

The assortment

If you do a “complete” shopping, check that there are:

basic products (milk, dough, rice, eggs, oil)
alternatives (wholemeal, gluten-free, organic, plant-based)

Some discount stores have less choice but guarantee consistent quality.

Transparency

Choose discount stores that clearly indicate:

the origin of raw materials
the production plant
any certifications (DOP, IGP, BIO)

The convenience

Your food discount store must have these logistical characteristics:

Proximity to home or work
Parking and ease of access
Speed at the checkout (including self-checkout)

The right time

In larger discount stores, some discounts on fresh produce arrive around midday or close to closing time. So you can find them fruits and veg and discounted bakery.

A final, but very important, tip: maintain a routine, even with the discount grocery store you've chosen for your shopping. After 2-3 consecutive shopping trips to the discount store, you will know which products are really convenient, which domestic brands are worth buying and which offers are just “appearance of savings”.

This is the real secret to smart saving.

How to choose a discount food store to really save money