One of the adventures of living abroad is re-learning how to do the most mundane daily activities, like grocery shopping. We went from the laid-back stroll of buying fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets and feiras of Brazil to the efficient speed race of grocery shopping in Switzerland.
Down a country road
Due to a typo in some official mailing paperwork, we came to meet our neighbors across the street. A Swiss man who lived in the U.S. for 10 years and his Austrian wife who has lived in Switzerland for 30+ years were not the typical couple we had come to expect. There is a saying in Switzerland that once you make a Swiss friend, you’ve made a friend for life. Typically, Swiss people are hard to get to know, sometimes taking years for an invite into their homes. However, once a Swiss person has befriended you, it sticks. So, we were a bit surprised when we knocked on their door one evening the second week we were here to explain how our mail might be delivered to their home by mistake and were invited in for beer and tea.
Since then, I have gone grocery shopping each week with Hilda, the wife. She has been a godsend for us. As we live quite far out in the country here without a car, getting to the grocery store can be a challenge. Our nearest grocery store is about a quarter of a mile walk past a cow farm. It’s quite a change from our days in São Paulo.
Hilda and I go in her car two towns over to a few different grocery stores. First, there is Spar, which is comparable in size and selection to a Food Lion (I can’t compare anything in Switzerland to price, though, since everything is much more expensive here, but that’s for another blog post). Then there is Migros, which is something like a Wal-Mart with more than just food but not a superstore. Next is Coop, more high-end like a Publix, and Coop City, comparable to Wal-Mart Super Centers, can be found in bigger towns. There is one discount grocery store chain, Aldi, which can also be found throughout the U.S. Finally, there are smaller convenience stores, like Volg, where Chris picks up milk and some other smaller daily items on his walk home from work. There are also lots of individual shops, like bakeries, butcheries and pharmacies.
On a mission
Unlike Brazil, grocery shopping (and pretty much everything else) in Switzerland is a lesson in efficiency. From the way the store is stocked to how people go about their shopping trip to the checkout, everything is organized to get you in and out quickly.
Shoppers aren’t browsing; they are grabbing and going. I think I’m the only one who doubles back to areas to check prices. I look for “action” items as these are how products are marked for “sell” because they are near expiration.
Checkout is quick, and you’re expected to bag your groceries and pay all at the same time. There is even a divider at the end to separate groceries of shoppers in the process of checking out. If it weren’t for Hilda helping me, I’m pretty sure I would get a lot more glares from people in line behind me. You also bring your own bags as plastic/paper bags are either not available or only available for cost.
Like the U.S.
For the most part, it seems Switzerland has many of the same foods as the U.S. I’ve adopted new eating habits here, so I haven’t looked for the same products as I did in Brazil.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found in the grocery store, but the selection isn’t as wide. It does seem every imaginable meat can be found here, though. Cheddar cheese is still hard to find, but we’ve been experimenting with Swiss cheese and a wide variety that is available here. Nutella is still the No. 1 choice for a sandwich spread, but you can find peanut butter in the regular grocery stores (there are no Wal-Marts or Sam’s Clubs here). Mayonnaise and mustard come in tubes like toothpaste instead of bottles along with tuna salad. Fresh bread is available almost anywhere, including convenience stores. Soups come more in packets to be made instead of already-made in cans.
Swiss food is of a heavier diet, so preservatives are more like the U.S. instead of Brazil. Most food will keep here, and Switzerland is freezing produce for later use more and more. A friend of mine lived here about six years ago, and she told me then she could never find food that was out of season. Now, though, it seems you find more produce in the frozen aisle.
When it comes to grocery shopping, are you more Brazilian like and stroll through the store looking at all the items? Or are you more Swiss like, focused to get in and get out?
-Monica
How long have you been in Switzerland and when do I get invited? Or do I wait until you get at your next assignment?
Dr. P, we’ve been here since the beginning of February and are scheduled to leave in July for Asia. You always have an open invitation wherever we are.