If we are indeed what we eat, then where we can get the best bang for our buck is a topic of utmost importance. Of course, plenty depends on your personal preferences for what you like to eat, indulge in, or splurge on. But, most shoppers prefer to be savvy with both convenience and budget, especially if you are an expat living in an expensive city such as Salzburg, Austria.
On top of it all, if you happen to be a student who lives in a hostel with limited storage and a shared kitchen, you have a few extra steps to factor in.
So, let’s take a deep dive into Salzburg’s supermarket scene.
Spar vs Hofer vs Lidl
The big three contenders among supermarkets in Salzburg are Spar, Lidl and Hofer. Most people shop for their everyday and occasional needs in these stores. So, which is better?
Spar
If you are motivated by convenience alone, then Spar might be the go-to supermarket for you simply because of their sheer numbers! We live in the heart of Salzburg and there are four Spar stores in our immediate vicinity.
One, located on the ground floor of Mozart’s Geburtshaus, is even open on Sundays and certain holidays for limited hours. It is practically a hop from our place. What can be easier?
Well, it is not only about convenience. Spar delivers on the quality front, albeit some of their products — like fresh produce — are more expensive than the ones available at their competitors. Spar does have its own line of products, including the premium line, Spar Gourmet. However, it is the S-budget range of products which are not only decent in quality but inexpensive as well. You will find even more variety and specialty items at Eurospar and Interspar, which are bigger than the regular Spars.
Spar is best for shoppers looking for quality, variety and specialty items, but who are willing to pay a bit more for it.
Hofer
Hofer (you may know it as Aldi in any country other than Austria) has a reputation for offering good value overall and with their own-brand products. In general, they have a broad selection of essential groceries, with some seasonal and special offers on non-food items thrown in from time to time. They do the basics right. But where Hofer loses out on is with variety, even when compared to stores like Spar or Billa.
Hofer is best for the budget-conscious shoppers who want decent quality without breaking the bank.
Lidl
The seasonal offerings and basic prices of regular grocery products such as dairy, egg, or bread, are pretty similar across Hofer and Lidl. While some swear by the superior quality at Hofer, Lidl-loyalists are willing to cross borders to get their grocery needs quenched here.
Where Lidl wins over Hofer is their selection of private-label products that are competitive in terms of quality with any of the major supermarkets here in Salzburg. The Lidl Deluxe range of products is quite competitive in terms of value and quality, with some products winning over the Spar Gourmet offerings.
Lidl is best for those looking for a balance between cost and quality and is a clear winner for those who do diligent monthly grocery hauls.
The other contenders: Billa and Penny
Billa definitely wins when it comes to quality of their meats and the range of their gourmet cheeses (especially Billa Corso). They also have a wider selection of fresh produce. However, the pricing of most items (except for Billa’s Clever range) is higher than their competitors. Billa is the destination if you are looking to splurge on a few specialty products or are unwilling to compromise on the quality of your fresh
produce.
While Billa holds the reputation for being the most expensive, Penny is known for being the cheapest supermarket in Salzburg.
At Penny, you can easily get an 800 gram pack of fresh chicken for nearly half the price of a similar product at Spar, Lidl or Hofer. But Penny’s quality can be inconsistent, especially with fresh produce. Nevertheless, Penny is ideal for the cost-conscious shoppers looking for the lowest prices on everyday essentials.
The specialty shops
Salzburg may not be one of Austria’s bigger cities but what it lacks in size it makes up for in historic charm and specialty grocery destinations. You can head over to the Turkish butcher shops for the freshest meat in Salzburg.
For authentic Indian ingredients such as fragrant long grain basmati rice, lentils, whole spices and mixes, you have Aekshea World Supermarket. You can find some of India’s biggest name brands available at this store, from India Gate to Lijjat.
For a dedicated store for your Chinese, Korean, or Japanese needs there is the Asian Specialty Market, located on Schrannengasse. We love heading over here for their wide variety of spices, condiments and leafy green produce (something sorely missing in most of the big supermarkets).
It is located right opposite to the square that holds the weekly Schrannenmarkt, the historic farmer’s market that takes place every Thursday. Finally, there is another haven for fresh produce in the heart of Salzburg: Grünmarkt at Universitätsplatz.
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Read more about Salzburg here in Dispatches’ archives.
Debiparna Chakraborty
Debiparna Chakraborty is a journalist is from Kolkata, India. She has worked for publications such as Far Out Magazine, The Times of India, The Indian Express, reviewing films, TV shows and penning food, travel, lifestyle articles and personal essays for nearly a decade. She recently moved to Salzburg, Austria with her partner-in-life and continues to document life and write wherever she can find a cosy corner; a warm cup of tea (or even a good bowl of soup) being nearby never hurts.
