Americans Tour Sainsbury’s | US vs UK Grocery Stores | Live Well For Less
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Are you more of a Sainsbury’s or Tesco kind of household? Well, whatever suits your fancy, we are here to walk you through what it’s like to be an American walking through a UK grocer!
There is a massive Sainsbury’s close to our house (as shown in this video) and the other stores are not nearly as impressive, so we do about 98% of our weekly shopping at Sainsbury’s. We have come to really love the store and are quite impressed with their home delivery service!
In this vlog, we review the similarities and differences between US and UK grocery stores. Everything from the layout of the stores to where we keep our eggs. There are so many small details that add up to make the two experiences feel wildly different despite the fact they are essentially the same thing!
We have been Americans living in England for just about 3 years now. We have eaten British snacks, explored beautiful locations throughout the UK, and lived and worked alongside our British friends.
Tell us, what kind of UK content should we make next? What would you like us to share? What did you think of the video? Leave a comment, like, and subscribe for more!!
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Costco!
Thought I recognised the shop, we are in Lakenheath, up the road :-)
Waitrose is a must, Newmarket one is good :-)
Is why you can’t export any meat to Europe is full of drugs ,FACT
Americans label our food as bland, but maybe that's because their palettes have adjusted to eating oversugared, oversalted, food packed with chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavourings.
I work for Sainsbury’s and to help you with your comments about the lack or limited amount of “American Food Products” on the shelves, it is because of the UK’s (and most of Europe in fact) very strict rules about the ingredients based on additives; sugar quotas; modified starch; artificial flavourings and food colourings - a lot of which are actually banned! - in “factory produced” food. Most of the USA’s products do not meet any of the criteria needed to warrant them being imported to the UK (and Europe again) and sold in the supermarkets. Only those products that meet the UK and EEC standards will be on sale.
Another very important factor, is that all products - fresh foods, dairy, bakery items, tinned and canned - will always have to have a food ingredient quota listed on the packaging, the fat content, the sugar content and its “calorific” value and that is the Law. It appears that food produced in the USA often cannot follow that ruling either, or the packaging information on an item could appear to confuse people in the UK, who may have special dietary needs and want to purchase that item. A more informative label is placed over the original label to aid and assist them.
Most Sainsbury stores will have a World Foods Aisle, that will legally be able to sell fresh and packaged products from other countries, it must be disappointing for people from the USA, holidaying over here, not being able to buy the food items that remind them of “home”. It’s not that all UK supermarkets are being “picky” about what American products they choose to sell, it’s just the rulings and Laws prevent the purchase of the items from the food markets.
In my store, we have Reece’s Cups, Nerds, very large marshmallows and a few other sweets (candies) - it is a very small quantity, sorry! 😵💫😄
And thank goodness for those rules! Very informative, thank you.
I use Sainsbury's all the time. They are very good and on time or early delivering to my house.
Reeses peanut butter cups are expensive in the uk for some reason
@@davehoward22 import tax probably - passed on to the consumer 😲🙄 - some of the “all American” kiddie cereals are double the price of a similar UK version
Why eould we want American junk on our shelves
I lived in the U.S. for 20 years, I prefer the quality of food in the UK and the Supermarkets in the UK
No doubt the quality of food in the UK is much better and alot more healthier
Our fresh products may not last as long as their U.S. counterparts, but then that begs the question as to why?
@@PortmanRdthey're sprayed with chemicals that's why, cancerous chemicals
Anything we do is better than America 🇺🇸
8pm closing isn't a 'fun little difference', it's THAT store! My local Sainsbury's is 10pm and there are plenty of 24hr supermarkets about!
Yeah Michael you're correct... Near to where i live... We have a huge Asda store that is open 24 hours a day... Except i think for on a Sunday where they close at 4pm... And reopen again at 7am Monday morning... I used to love going shopping around the 24 hour Asda store in the middle of the night... Especially if i wasn't feeling tired... Obviously at that time of night... It''s much quieter and there's fewer shoppers around than during the daytime... But there's plenty of staff still around though... As most of them will be restocking all of the stores shelves overnight. 👌
Sainsburys local is usually 23:00
Yeah, I have a Tesco that is 24 hr, another open to 11pm. But! when I moved here from California 40 years ago, they shut at 6pm, open to 8 on Saturday and Thursday and closed Sunday. That sucked!
@@GuillermoLG552 A few years ago many UK supermarkets did open 24 hours but stopped because of lack of demand. As for Sundays, all large stores in England are only allowed to open for six hours by law.
Most food in the UK is less messed about with it may not be organic but it's not loaded with chemicals or drugs. Also the variety of foods from custard tarts to new Zealand lamb speak for our wider pallet of taste.
Thank you for including me in your video 😄🖤 I served you guys on the tills 😁
Oh wow! Small world! I’m sure we looked like crazy people recording in a grocery store lol 😂
Milk, bread and other fresh foods have a much shorter shelf life in Europe because they don’t have nasty additives and chemicals added as in the US. North America is one of the very few countries in the world that wash their eggs, destroying the natural protective coating which then means that they have to be refrigerated. Most of the world don’t wash their eggs and they stay fresh at room temperature for weeks.
In America the staff at checkout stand up and help to pack but here they sit down and the customers have to pack the shopping themselves.
😊Up until about 4 or 5 years ago in the UK, we too could grab an unlimited number of free plastic carry bags to pack our groceries in. Nowadays, we realise that the world is full of plastic waste and, by law, we must either use our own bags or pay for each and every one we have to buy. It’s a great law as we avoid wasting literally billions of one-use bags and it’s a great way of doing one of many small changes that help our planet.
Honestly it's pointless as most products u buy are wrapped I plastic which is also one use
The small individual-packs of crisps means they will be more fresh, when you consume them, quality matters !
Why would you be disappointed about the Mexican food aisle? Surely it is to be expected as we are thousands of miles away from Mexico. 🙂
Aisle
Well that did occur to him later
Who want Mexican food anyway?
I would be disappointed by the Indian food aisle in America!!!🙄
@@alanshepherd4304 lol it’s not disappointing here at all
The cabinet blinds were pulled down during some exceptionally high temperatures in July 2022, Ely is in one of the driest and warmest regions of England.
Aldi have started fitting fridges with doors when they do a refurb on a store.
We also have Lidl, Waitrose, M&S, Iceland, and Farmfoods in most towns
About the limited choice of Mexican food in that particular Sainsbury, depending on geography and demographics, individual Tesco/Sainsburys stores adapt and stock items that relate to the locality, you might see an aisle section for Polish or Kosher items, and more differences if the store is near a university.
Mexican food isn't very popular in the UK hence not much demand.
Most Sainsbury's will be subtly different from the one you've looked at. So some may not have the sushi counter, some will have a pizza counter or a hot food, usually chicken wings or even whole hot cooked chickens, counter. Even the 8pm close is unusual, many don't close until 10pm and a few will close later. Except on a Sunday when it will close sometime between 4pm and 5pm.
Huh interesting 🤔 It’s like that in the states too. Even big chains have their own differences here and there
Sainsbury's took their hot food and deil out in their stores in Derby the big one on 2 floors as a pizza and sushi counter only now and replaced with more fridges and extra bakery products I don't know what it's like in other areas of the UK though
I love pre-made grab go British Sandwiches in most interesting stuff! My fave is Waitrose Cheese & celery sandwiches on granary bread!!
If you happen end up in Florida, Publix Supermarkets have a rather large British section.
The supermarket opening times are based on local need. In many busy areas they are open much later and in some cases 24 hours (from 6am Monday to 10pm Saturday). They can only open 6 hours on Sunday.
Regarding the plastic bags for shopping, here in California, it’s the exact same as UK but the stores also carry very strong plastic bags for 10¢.
Food stuffs in the UK don't have as many chemicals in them that's why they don't last as long.
How refreshing an American bro & sis who know the difference between England & Britain. I'm afraid going by U-Tube many of your countrymen may think we are some satellite floating in the sky. I hope you both have a wonderful time here. If you have not visited York you should.
in america you wash the eggs which removes it natural protective layer. we dont do that so eggs last fine without refridgeration
Food produced in the USA is often heavily adulterated with chemicals, sugar and salt. Many of its farming methods are considered to be harmful to animal welfare and unsanitary, so again, importing the produce would be illegal.
The vast majority of meat from the USA wouldn't meet EU/UK food standards I'm afraid. Organic might, but it's not produced in a large enough volume to be viable.
The chest freezers in Aldi/Lidl/Iceland/M&S do have sliding doors or lift up lids. Warm air rises but cold doesn't so much, so open freezers dont make the shop colder its the opposite, the store temperature can influence the temperature of fridges and freezers.
My local Sainsbury’s stays open until at least 10pm, 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays pre-covid. Sainsbury’s determine what will sell well. My Sainsbury’s has a whole aisle devoted to, “International food”, which is mostly Polish. Many people make basic Mexican foods themselves. Ingredients for chilli you’d find all over the store with the other foodstuffs, not in a special place. Eggs can be kept outside a fridge because UK eggs don’t have to be washed, as standards of animal husbandry in the UK are much higher than in the States. Washing eggs removes the protective layer from the eggs, lessening their shelf life. The USA even adds far too much extra sugar to bread. Altogether, British food is better, whether it’s the raw ingredients or the factory created goods. British food also has to state what’s in it and the calories per portion or 100g.
The USA needs to get with it and stop using throwaway bags as if there’s no costs. Yes, they’re more convenient but there’s a hidden cost. They’re made with carbon fuels and treating them as disposable is not good for the planet and it’s population in the long term. That’s why the UK charges 10p for bags - by law - to stop overuse of throwaway plastic bags. It took a while for us to get used to it, but you just need to keep ‘bags for life’ in your car and foldaway bags in your handbag. At first, people forgot to take bags so eventually you get enough stocks in your house and car. Shops don’t use bags for deliveries any more either, except for Ocado, which means you have to do the grocery shuffle on your doorstep with the delivery man.
Pronounced SAINSBREES not SAINS BERRIES.
What about LIDL, M&S, CO-OP, COSTCUTTER, FARMFOODS, SPAR, KWIK SAVE, PREMIER, ICELAND ?
Food in the USA lasts longer because it's full of preservatives and chemicals that are banned everywhere else !
British breakfast cereals have WAY LESS sugar in them.
A lot of UK freezer/cold sections have sliding doors on them. ALDI for instance.
Kwik Save went a while back.
You wouldn't really do your weekly shop at a costcutter, spar, or premier.
@@davebirch1976 We still have one in our town !
@@enemde3025 I've just googled it and apparently it's now something to do with Costcutter so it's not the Kwik Save we all remember from the 90s
Pronounced SainsBURIES not SainsBURIES.
@@williambelford9661 No! It's pronounced SainsBURIES.
Here in Florida, we do have supermarkets you have to bring your own bags. If you forget your bags we can buy them.
Weighing your own produce and getting a sticker is more unusual in the UK. We tend to weigh it at the checkout. Spain expects you to weigh it in the store and get a sticker. I stood in many a queue in Carrefour in Barcelona to weigh fruit.
Hi Guys. Enjoyable video, thank you. The supermarkets closer to London are usually open to 10pm. Some are 24 hour, except Sundays. I think America is not so strict on additives and sadly, farm animal welfare, with food in general, but I do love shopping in supermarkets abroad. Shopped in Manhattan in early 2023, I know it was Manhattan prices, but ouch, I couldn't believe how much food was. I kept sending photos of price stickers home to the UK as no one believed me. Enjoy your time in the UK. 😊
One thing I've noticed is that in many supermarkets in England the cashier dosen't have to stand all day. There is a stool for the cashier. Also, there is one line to check out. Whoever is at the head of the line goes to the first available checkout.
Probably the greatest difference is that most parts of the UK have loads of easily accessible local shops and many people buy meat, fish, vegetables, bread and deli food from small local shops where the quality is generally far better (and often cheaper) than the supermarkets. These are often within walking distance of where people live. We also do a lot of shopping online and less and less people do supermarket shopping in person but online.
less and less people do supermarket shopping in person . wanna bet ? my local sainsburies is packed after 3pm.
it must have been odd for the Americans to buy food that is not 50% fat or 50% sugar and the rest is preservatives to maximise profit for US capitalists. In the UK the consumer is put first rather than profits.
Having lived in the USA for a year the big differences I noticed in supermarkets are that the USA ones would have many more choices of the same product, ie loads of different burgers, however the number of different products was fewer. In comparison the USA supermarkets had very poor selection of desserts, they just don't have the range of chilled ready to eat foods. In comparison they don't exist in the USA, the Delia counter also just doesn't have such a big range. I speak as someone who thinks the best part of shopping is going through the exit doors.
There are quite a few people on UA-cam who have moved to the UK from the US. Probably one of the better known posters on here is Amanda Rae, who married an English guy and moved to Britain 10 years ago. She posts about her experiences of using the NHS, British foods, the culture and customs etc. Maybe you might catch Amanda on her UA-cam channel?
Not all food stores close at 8pm - in most towns there will be “Convenience” or neighbourhood stores open until much later. We have a ‘Tesco’ store near us open until midnight. In London ( and other big cities) you can usually find places open 24 hours.
America needs to get with the times .Free plastic shopping bags need to be fazed out soon as possible .This as been the case in Europe for a few years now.
They are slowly making that adjustment, but completely agreed. It’s an easy policy to make and it helps so much. Lots of places encourage use of reusable bags, they offer discounts for every bag you bring in, but then they still offer the free ones… smh 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏻♂️
Well established practice in California.
Well,of course there are more grocery storw chains
They were and then COVID hit.
Also I am able to bring plastic bags back to the store for proper disposal. Or people use them as pet poop bags when on walks, trash bags for smaller garbage, etc..
the uk has regional supermarkets too. for example booths which is a northern supermarket chain
Pretty dumb to observe that there are more supermarket chains in the USA. The last time I checked the latter was a slightly bigger country. I've lived in California for 32 years and have never seen or heard of any of the chains you mentioned. If you take it region by region , the numbers are comparable. Even here in Los Angeles there are about half a dozen or so, some of which have open top refrigerators. As the Sainsbury's was just about closing I suggest the curtains were pulled down to save energy over night. Of course the Sushi was picked over. It was closing time ! Your observations are rather short sighted so I 'll not be following you. Thanks for trying though.
Thanks for the view and taking the time to comment, it really helps the channel grow!
I think Colin got triggered…
Good observations. You're right about the curtains on the chilled section - definitely only pulled down as they were about to shut.
My Sainsbury's stays open until 9.00, it varies from place to place because some are in rural areas and do not need to stay open until late.
Food regulations in the EU are far stricter than the US . US milk & dairy would use more preservatives and the UK consumers wouldn't like long life milk etc.
Where are they from in the US (Utah??)? We definitely have international wines everywhere here in the US...that made me LOL! Also, they must not have shopped at a place like Trader Joe's. I'm originally from Oregon, so we always bring our own bags. There are definitely regional differences, but I'm sure there are in the UK as well. We also have Aldi and Lidl in the US -- and my local Aldi also closes at 8 p.m.
The reason it goes off faster is we don't put any rubbish in our food
Im starting to hear some british accent! Well done! 👏👏👏😉
"Supermarket" does get used in the US, but I suspect it's regional, and may be a little old fashioned. You'll hear it in the East, particularly around NYC, and possibly more by older people.
We also have Co op, Iceland (which sells frozen and fresh) and Lidl
Loving this in the 70's we were at the RAF Hospital Ely so know this area well.
I use the Sainsbury's online app and it is a lot better than going out to buy them.
As someone who has lived in both the UK and the USA (NYC) for many years, I have to say that almost every variety of pre-packaged, tinned and frozen foods are of a vastly superior quality in the UK……and don’t get me started on the candy - in the UK we’re talking a Willy Wonka Wonderland compared to the mostly nasty junk, especially chocolate-based rubbish that Americans have to suffer.
Unlike the other two youtubers who talk about England, who never come here?
Another thing is cashiers in the UK, for the most part, sit in chairs, whereas US Cashiers stand for the most part. Only shop in the US I have seen Cashiers sit is Aldi wich is a European shop.
I have shopped in American grocery stores in Florida the Carolina’s, Pennsylvania and there are a large amount of choice of items that are basically cardboard and highly processes. So for the healthy side there is much in the states that is poor nutrition.
Of course the Tea is bland - Liptons is about the main choice. The cheese is bland and boring as is the bread of a poor quality.
Most meat is done on an industrial scale and not pasture fed as is much of our beef and lamb. Lamb being not that frequent in America.
The bacon is usually one choice. The wine as you say is mostly California which misses out on our New world fantastic wines from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. We also enjoy wines from South America and California. Finally we have the more traditional wines from Europe and even the odd British wine.
on our last trip to the US we were astonished by how the states seems to have lost the memo on saving the planet from single use plastics and styro-foam etc. Single use items are EVERYWHERE. Kind of makes you wonder why we bother
Milk (dependent on where you shop) lasts 7-10 days. There's no extended life through additives but a weekly shop is easy enough excluding the fresh vegetables of course...
If you went at closing time, no wonder there wasn't much on the shelves. Why stock an empty store, when they'll be removing dated stock and disposing of it, go early morning and get all the fresh stuff first, or go to a late night store where they're still stocking shelves for late night closing...
You forgot the COOP, Iceland, Lidl and Marks & Spencer’s. So you left four supermarkets out?
They also forgot Tesco.
You didn't show the gluten free and allergen section, Sainsburys name this aisle 'Free From'
Indian food in the Uk is mainly Bangladeshi.
biggest different is the sales tax issue in the US. In the UK see a price, thats what you pay. Everywhere.
Good video but as well as Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Aldi & Morrisons, there's also Marks and Spencers food, Lidl, Iceland, Farmfood and co-op. people always seem to point out the fridge section and the eggs that are just on a shelf. Isn't another difference the price on the shelf in the UK is the price you pay at the checkout, where as i think in the US tax gets added on at the end, i think i heard some Americans say that anyway.
Most larger stores are putting doors on fridges now to conserve energy due to the energy price rising
That is just one store, they vary between stores and brands. But I would prefer the Publix that I went to in Florida.
American stores are amazing! Love love love going into american stores when on holiday in the states. One thing that I always remember are the massive shiny apples on sale in the US. And the variety of products is off the scale there.
I see that differently- I find the uniform perfection of fruit and veg in US shape offputting- I want an apple that looks is if it was once on a tree, not artificially generated perfection.
Waxed
Shiny big apples tasting of nothing
Showing my age but it doesn't seem that long ago when alcohol could not be bought on Sunday afternoons and even more recently after 10.30 pm.
So Americans can buy a gun but not some cider on a certain day? That sounds a bit daft.
It's said Sainsbury is the UK Kroger.
You mispronounced Waitrose, the t needs to be clear, like wait-trose not way rose :-)
Also, “sainsbrees” is how you would say it, not sains-berries.
The fruit and veg self weigh thing is new to me, I have never seen that in a UK store before and I have lived here all my life. Lots of things you pointed out are specific to that store and don’t really apply anywhere else. I think a Tesco would probably have given you a better indication of your average store. Sainsbury’s is kind of middle class (especially in Ely) and as such will have specific counters like sushi counter which I have never ever seen.
Waitrose has them
I'm surprised you didn't mention the lower drinking age, when you talked about the alcohol
The more i drink , the lower i get :)
you missed the packet o9f Brains' Gaggots in th first freezer
Said about the cereals but was in Sainsbury's worse shop for various cereal lol ..
We would be equally disappointed in the US for their lack of Indian food options
Healthier cereals and I prefer muesli.
Milk in the UK lasts long enough! --- Anyway I have my milk delivered to my front door, I don't buy it in the supermarket.
Paying the amount on the ticket,no local taxes etc
Is it true that cashier's aren't able to sit at their till?
I been lived in both countries but UK much safer than USA , people are more polite and you don’t see much Black and gangs stealing or with gun !
A day out at Sainsbury's 😂
Yall live in Ely
The biggest difference and the most sensible we dont sell guns next to the dairy products.
What about Lidl?
And Lidl’s
Lived in the States for 31 years and the UK stores are much better than the USA. They are very opinionated about a lot. The bag situation is to decrease the use of plastic. In the States, the cashier bags for you so puts 3 or 4 items in each bag, which is ridiculous. You walked out with 3 times more bags than are needed. The plastic usage is dreadful, and they don't recycle. Where I live now (Scotland), we have 4 bins. Paper and cardboard, plastic, garden and food waste and misc.,
Ely Sainsbury's must be different to just about every other Sainsbury's that shut at 22:00
My local Sainsbury's (Superstore) is open 6am to 11pm (except on Sunday's). It also has more 'specialist' counters - Sushi, Pizza, Fresh/Wet Fish, Hot/Ready to Eat food and Bakery. It has an Aldi next door, so competition is good!
I live in Ely and this Sainsburys is open until 10pm.
You have a lot of chemicals in your food that keeps it longer, I watch a lit if comparative channels and they tell us that our food us fresher, they said they can only buy organic food because they have so many chemicals in the ordinary food, plus you pay extra tax at the checkout, we don't, what you see is the price, and your food is a lot dearer
Don’t compare, just show us. We will notice the difference.
You forgot Lidl.
i’m just saying they missed lidal 1:40
Lidl
there are fewer colourings and chemicals in UK cereals
M & S ???
I hate the US supermarkets. The choice of real beer and ale and cheeses is terrible and the Bread has sugar in it in US. Glad I live in Great Britain.
Just me hearing Pedro Pascal?
Milk doesn’t last as long because it is milk, only milk.
Not exactly true. Most milk consumed in the UK is pasteurised while in the EU it's usually UHT which keeps for months unopened. And UHT is just a different way of treating the milk.
cider by the beers is an alcoholic
Yum! Chlorinated U.S Chicken. 😂
That’s why there is so much obesity in the states ....
Lol u are hilarious lol the uk just does everything better and its affordable and much healthyer also we like class and style over cheap trashy junk
She is disappointed in the Mexican food isle cause she thinks the food isle is here illegally and she thinks we should build a wall to keep it out
Vegemite.
Ain't even English :s
When I Married Sara-Jayne the Everton USA Chairwoman In Chicago Illinois USA In 2009...She couldn't believe we drive the trolleys on the wrong side of the SuperMarket the Fucking-Nightmare ffs...
The biggest difference between American and English groceries is the price American groceries are about two to three times more expensive than ours