FRENCH GROCERY STORE DIFFERENCES TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

I’ve always liked going grocery shopping and even after 10 years in France, I still get excited to go to the French grocery store. I always find new (or new to me) products to try and it never gets old. But there was a bit of a learning curve when I first arrived in France. French and American grocery stores look similar enough, but they aren’t the same. Whether you’re just curious or want to be more prepared for your trip, this video is for you. I discuss some little differences to be aware of between French grocery stores and those in the U.S.

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Salut! I'm Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/YouTube channel Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond." I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, food, travel, language, and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!

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#frenchculture #grocerystores #frenchgrocerystores

[ntglty]

I will add few things:
1. They don't have public bathrooms, they will not allow you to use the bathroom.
2: Most of the time, you need to weigh your produce and get sticker before you get to the cash register.
3. Most stores and other places don't take American Express (yes, you can leave home without it).
4. Fruits and vegetables have "place of origin" clearly stated (from Spain, France, morrocco, etc).
5. You can buy heavy alcohocol, like Whiskey, Vodka etc.
6. You can explain your illness to a Pharmacist and he/she can actually recommend you a medicine that does not require a prescription, unlike in the US.
7. The best thing is: Everything tastes much better and much cheaper than the US.

[MysteriousBeingOfLight]

Me and my family spend 20 years in expat in North America and when we came back in France it was like paradise again! Much much cheaper prices, organic options everywhere that, non GMO etc. Was very pleased!

[mikeofcomx]

I sample an ordinary supermarket in Brittany and was staggered at the variety of good food being sold. The fish counter was incredible, the cheese counter was amazing, the breads and pastries were unparalleled. The wines were kept in a cooling room, but part of the market, and the choice there was nothing like the choice back home. The mustards, the soups, the oils and sauces, all of it was mouthwatering and my wife had to hold me back from buying one or more of everything! My own ordinary supermarket was by comparison impoverished. I am embarrassed and shamed when I return to my home town’s supermarket, seriously. I’m not talking about an American supermarket here, but a British one! Why oh why can’t we do it properly!?

[Imaginexall]

About the eggs, it's not just a difference of processing, it's just that we don't process our eggs at all x) that's why you can sometimes find feathers or mud stuck on it. The shell is naturally protected, and we never EVER wash it.
By cleaning the shells as in the US, you're removing that natural protection and that's why in those countries, eggs need to stay refrigerated.
As for the diseases, our chicken are vaccinated, so the eggs need nothing (I heard that US chickens aren't, but idk if it's true).

[hugueslepeltier]

Bonjour. C'est toujours intéressant de voire la différence entre pays. Je suis français et ça nous permet aussi d'en apprendre plus sur les Etats Unis. Merci beaucoup.

[pilotgrrl]

The first time I went to Europe, I bought grocery bags as inexpensive souvenirs. I even have one from "my" store, La Vie Claire.

[YoureMadeOfLove]

I remember years ago the U.S. doing away with scented and dyed TP because it isn't healthy for the bottom. I was shocked to see pink TP in France in this day and age and boy do they love pink TP. I am finding public restrooms in the french grocery stores thank goodness. If it's an Intermarché it'll be outside of the actual store but in the mall. Grand Frais has them in the store. Other than having to weigh and place the price sticker on produce yourself I found the fact that the grocery store checkers get to sit in comfy office chairs while they work impressive.

[yubeuser]

One thing my spouse and I experienced in French grocery stores - I am not sure how widespread this is, our experience was outside of large cities, but at what I think is a nationwide chain, Super U. There weren't scales at the checkout. We were going on a hike and wanted some fresh fruit, typically sold be weight. When we got to the checkout, the cashier looked oddly at our produce and then decided she needed take it all, go back to the produce section to weigh all of our stuff. We didn't know that we were supposed to have done that. Whoops! We felt badly, apologized, but now we know! This was in the Normandy region near Bayeux, FWIW. Great channel, love your work, hope to be back in France soon!

[theoldone]

Just got back from my third vacation to France, this time in Lyon. On this trip, I learned that you have to scan your receipt to get beyond the gates at the self check out area. I also learned that you can’t just walk anywhere in the store and that there are gates to prevent you from going the wrong way. I’m sorry, Lidl employees and customers, for setting the alarm off. I was so embarrassed I left without buying anything and didn’t go back.

[elblanco]

Was just in Boulogne-Billancourt, so much truth here! Fortunately, here in the U.S. we're getting used to bagging for ourselves as we finally get used to bringing our own bags. The opening of the packs to get individual bottles of water, etc. is still strange, but once you "get it" becomes quite liberating. As an American, the non-refrigerated milk and eggs are fantastic! Since we had to get covid tests before returning, we got to enjoy how good the pharmacies in France are -- which was polite, professional, and easy to deal with. We *did* not know the milk cap colors, so I think we got lucky with our milk purchases. The biggest problem was figuring out how large of a milk we should buy! BTW, the local groceries and pharmacies were less than 3 blocks away, well stocked, helpful and polite, and wonderful!

[arraelle]

As a french, I really thought that adults where casually breaking the rules by grapping 1 bottle of water out of the six pack package. But as I grew up, I quickly learned that it was normal in our culture. This to say that it can be confusing at first even for french people xD But yeah, it's totally normal.

[regisdumoulin]

In France you used to get free bags at the supermarket until this was outlawed on grounds of environment protection. Also, little wheeled caddies used to be for older people too until the removal of the free bags a few years ago

[jaklg]

What is funny is that almost everything that you said from the bags to the shorter hours, to the shopping trolley, is how it used to be in America pre 1970s. I remember going to the store with my grandma and her having the trolley. I am sure that anyone over the age of 50 remembers this.

[Eniphesoj]

These videos are really informative. I have been in France since forever, and with most of the things you say I am like, "yeah, how else should it be done?" But then I actually learn a lot of stuff about the US along the way.

[tim]

I have a vague memory of pink or green toilet paper back in the early ’80s. It used to be a thing in the US (and some searching online shows it was fairly common in the ’50s and ’60s) but it disappeared sometime in the ’80s. I only ever remember seeing it in the supermarket or in old people's homes. I remember the first time I was in a Carrefour or Monoprix and saw the colored toilet paper I was instantly flooded with memories of green toilet paper at my paternal grandparents' house. I'd long forgotten it until I got that visual reminder.

[evelyngrammar]

I was relieved when I figured out I could remove a single bottle of water from a six-pack of liter sized bottles. As a tourist, one was enough. Fun to see these differences, thanks!

[dev]

I LOVE going to the grocery store in France (or any European country). I always find something and think "I wish we had this in the US". I generally shop in stores in city centers. Based on my experience, they don't have extensive bakeries, butchers, or vegetable selection. There is no need since those specialty stores are generally near by.

BTW, some of products are the same as what you find in the US but some are much better. I've bought what the French consider generic cookies, crackers, and candies and then serve them during my annual Christmas party and the folks rave about them (pre-Covid). I am always embarrassed to admit that the entire box of cookies was only $3.

[fredchristiansen]

It's been 50 years since I spent a school year in France, so I really enjoy your anecdotes on life in "la belle France".

[r.s.brousseau]

Great video Diane. As for the milk, when I was in France, I pretty much only used the UHT Milk for hot chocolate and choking down cold cereal. I was invited for dinner at a friend’s and they offered me milk at dinner. I politely declined, stating that I didn’t care much for the milk in France. They laughed because they didn’t drink/care for UHT milk either. They only drank fresh milk, then told me where to find it in the store. Mind blown. This was after several visits to France.

[dorismcmullan]

Hi ... I've lived in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) and across the river in Gatineau (Québec) and in both places grocery stores have given up on shopping carts that use a coin-operated money-back locking system. Too many people (of the thief variety) failed to understand that coins do not accumulate in the lock. They'd steal the carts and smash the locks to get at the money, only to find there was none there. Instead of figuring out that none of the carts had money in them, the vandals just kept attacking other carts. Grocery stores gave up because too many carts were damaged beyond use.