Out of cream! Out of crisps! No more pickles! A Quality Street crisis…
Christmas is one of those weird, insanely voracious times of year when the whole day can be ruined by the absence of mustard, cream soda, or vol-au-vent cases. There seems to be an awful lot of nipping out to the shops. Now, I’m one of the few people around who enjoys supermarket shopping with something akin to the intensity others love shoe shopping (weirdos. Oh God, how I hate shoe shopping. And Tesco, I hate supermarket shopping in Tesco). But the idea of joining the thronging masses in Superquinn or Dunnes or SuperValu, getting into a scrap with someone who’s nicked your car park space, joining a huge long queue - it might be worth it for a big shop at Christmastime, but it can’t be done just for some milk.
So the convenience store jumps into your path like an annoying chugger, desperate for your attention. Chances are you’ll find yourself there a fair bit over the next few weeks because… well, it’s convenient.
It’s not all bad. Londis has some decent deals, including some offers on wines (as competitive, or slightly cheaper, for mass brands such as Jacob’s Creek and Blossom Hill in the big supermarkets), tins of Cadbury Roses (€5.99 for 850g, almost half the price of Superquinn), and other good deals on selection boxes and sweets. Their website is out of date, but there are offers: check out the signs in-store if you’re there.
Centra‘s always good for own brand products: I recently picked up a carton of Centra cream there for €1.39, which comapred with €2.19 for the same amount of Avonmore cream. You can also pick up 24 Budweiser or Heineken for €24, €2 selection boxes, a number of half-price vegetables, and some half price king prawns. Not bad if you’re going to the convenience store; not bad anyway.
Spar aren’t quite as good for the promotions, although four firelogs for €5 is a good deal.
Will you use your local shop more than usual over Christmas?
