Types of Grocery Stores

While German culture isn't too far separated from American culture, Germany is its own country with its own history, traditions, and language. The following pages should help you navigate some of the cultural differences and give you a deeper understanding of the German way of life.

Budget Grocery Stores

Aldi

Aldi is the most popular discount grocery store in Germany. It was founded by two brothers who parted ways and split the company into Aldi Nord (Aldi North) and Aldi Süd (Aldi South). One of the brothers also opened Trader Joe's in the US, so sometimes you will see Trader Joe's products in Aldi. They aren't all that common and the ones they have aren't particularly special. Most of Aldi's projects are Aldi own-brand.

Netto

Netto is the third most popular discounter in Germany. It is also split between Netto and Netto mit dem Scottie (Netto with the Scottie). Though it has two signs, the products are basically the same.

Norma

Norma is a lesser common discount supermarket but there is one near the hostel in Jena.

Lidl

Lidl is the second most popular discount shop in Germany. Most of their products are Lidl's own brand but they have special Aktions (offers) where they sell name brands. Lidl also has theme weeks that change every week. Themes range from Greek to German, American to XXL. Products tend to switch over on Thursday (or at least they do in Berlin).

Penny

Penny varies greatly between shops. Some seem very much like a discounter and others have a higher-end feel. Though I haven't been to many, if I remember correctly, I believe that they tend to sell more brand items than some of the other discount super markets.

Hypermarkets

Hypermarkets are larger chain grocery stores where you can buy most anything. If one of the discount shops doesn't have something you are looking for, as long as it isn't too obscure, one of the below will probably have it. With that range of choice, comes cost. Though cheaper than many shops in the US, they still tend to be more expesnive than the discount stores.

Edeka

Edeka is a standard grocery store similar to Kroger. Like most grocery stores in Germany, it is significantly smaller than similar shops in the USA.

Rewe

Rewe is very similar to Edeka. In many ways they are indistinguishable from one another but Rewe does sell "Rewe feine Welt" (Rew fine world) products. These tend to be fancier such as nice salamis and cookies.

Kaufland

Kaufland is the largest of the major grocery stores in Germany. It is quite similar to Meijer in the sense that you can buy more than food there.

Turkish Grocers

Turkish shops are (mostly) independent grocery stores that specialise in cheap vegetables and meat. Normally you will have to weigh your vegetables before buying them. There is often someone standing by a scale. Take the vegetables or herbs to them and they will weigh your items for you, put them in a bag, and stick a sticker with the cost on the bag. Then take that bag to the cashier when you are ready to check out and you will pay there.

Bioladen (Healthfood Stores)

Bioladen sell a variety of healthy or organic food. They tend to be the most expensive option by far. You can always get organic ingredients at hypermarkets and a few at some of the discount supermarkets, but these shops will give you far more choices.

denn's

Alnatura

tegut

Cosmetic Stores

dm, Rossmann, and budni are basically CVSs or Rite Aids that don't sell over-the-counter or behind-the-counter medication. While medicine of any kind has to be purchased at an Apotheke, things from shampoo to sunglasses can be purchased at any of the below shops. dm and Rossmann are most common but budni is new to the scene.

A Divided Nation