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 Their website is out of date, but there are offers: check out the signs in-store if you’re there.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?
Thursday 15 December, 2011 at 4:07 pm
I use my local Centra (Cork St in Dublin) quite a bit anyway. They usually have good offers on named brands well below the cost of the supermarkets, things like milk and butter are pretty much on a par. I wouldn’t do ALL my shopping there but if I want a massive box of Cheerios for €1 that’s where I head 🙂
Thursday 15 December, 2011 at 11:37 pm
my local londis has dawn “not from concentrate” juice for e1 at the mo, thats even cheaper then aldi and lidl!like jon i wouldnt do all my shopping there but a flyer comes in the post every week or so and i always check it out!
Friday 16 December, 2011 at 9:48 am
funny how supply created the demand…. Remember when there was nothing opened on Christmas day? I come from a country where shops are closed on Sundays, and after 12 years of living here I find it annoying to have to plan in advance, knowing that there is no convenience shop around the corner to get some milk. But really, if you plan well, there should be no need to shop at all. I worked in retail for a little while, and the amount of shoppers who come on Sundays or bank holidays because…. well, because the shop is open, really, is amazing. People who don’t really have anything to buy, but go shopping anyway. I do shop on Sundays, although I try not to. But bank holidays? Never. If there is no milk in the house, so be it, we’ll drink wine instead 🙂
Friday 16 December, 2011 at 9:49 am
And yes, Centra have very good special offers. But make sure you check the receipts, they tend not to update their computer with offers.
Friday 16 December, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Centra on a sunday morning is DANGEROUS esp if hungover, i pop down to ‘just’ get the paper. I then discover I need milk, juice, sparkling water (as much liquid as i can carry). I feel like I deserve a nice brekkie so pastries, bacon, bread, mushrooms. Maybe a wee treat for after as we will prob spend the day on the couch. Que walk of shame as I leave the shop after spending between €20 – €40 on nothing substational, not even dinner. They do have good offers but we usually get stung buying bread – between €2.50 – €3 for a loaf. Crazy when you can get a nice loaf in Lidl/Aldi for €1.