UK Supermarkets & Food Shops

Buying groceries online can save a trip to the supermarket and make it easier to plan a weekly shop. UK supermarkets offer everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy to cupboard staples, frozen food, drinks, household essentials and pet supplies. Many supermarkets also provide home delivery or Click & Collect services.

Explore Major Supermarkets and Food Retailers

Tesco

Offers a broad range of groceries including fresh food, chilled and frozen products, food cupboard essentials, drinks, household items and more, with online delivery and collection options.

Sainsbury's

Shop for fresh food, food cupboard items, frozen and chilled products, drinks, household essentials and other groceries through its online supermarket.

Asda

Sells a wide grocery range covering fresh food, meat and fish, bakery, frozen food, cupboard staples, drinks, household products and everyday essentials.

Morrisons

Offers online grocery shopping across fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, fresh and chilled food, bakery products, frozen food, food cupboard items and drinks.

Aldi

Offers groceries including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, chilled and frozen food, bakery products, drinks, baby products and pet care items.

Lidl

Sells groceries including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bakery products, chilled and frozen food, food cupboard essentials, drinks and baby products.

Waitrose

One of the UK's major supermarket chains offering fresh and chilled food, bakery products, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, frozen food, food cupboard essentials, drinks and household products.

Ocado

An online grocery retailer offering fresh and chilled food, bakery products, frozen food, cupboard items, drinks and a range of household and personal care products.

Co-op Food

Offers everyday groceries including fresh food, chilled and frozen products, bakery items, drinks, cupboard essentials, household products and snacks.

Iceland

Specialises in frozen food and also offers groceries, chilled food, fresh products, household essentials, children's products and selected exclusive brands.

Marks & Spencer

Offers food through its Foodhall range, including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bakery products, chilled and frozen food, drinks and food-to-go products.

What Can You Buy at Supermarkets?

A typical supermarket can include much more than food for the next few meals. Supermarkets and online grocery retailers sell a wide selection of products for the kitchen, household and family.

Fresh food: Fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, eggs, bakery items and other chilled products.
Food cupboard: Pasta, rice, cereals, tinned food, sauces, cooking ingredients, snacks and other pantry staples.
Frozen food: Frozen vegetables, meals, fish, meat, desserts and other products.
Drinks: Tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices, water and other beverages.
Household essentials: Cleaning products, laundry supplies, kitchen essentials and paper products.
Baby and personal care: Nappies, baby products, toiletries and other everyday essentials.
Pet supplies: Pet food, treats and selected accessories.

Supermarket Shopping Online

Online supermarket shopping works particularly well for regular weekly or fortnightly shops. You can build a basket as you go, search for specific products and arrange delivery for a suitable time. Some retailers also offer Click & Collect, allowing you to order online and collect your shopping from a participating location.

Online services vary between retailers and locations. Delivery fees, minimum basket requirements, available time slots and collection services can depend on the retailer and your postcode, so check the details before placing an order. Tesco, Sainsbury's and other major supermarkets currently provide online grocery shopping and delivery or collection services.

Planning a Grocery Shop

A little planning can make online grocery shopping easier, particularly when buying for a household. Start with the meals or products you need for the coming days and then add the everyday items that are running low.

Make a list: Write down the essentials before browsing so you are less likely to forget something important.
Check what you already have: Look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards before ordering duplicates.
Compare pack sizes: A larger pack is not automatically cheaper, so check the price per unit where it is provided.
Think about use-by dates: Consider how quickly fresh and chilled products will be used.
Leave room for substitutions: Check how the retailer handles products that are unavailable when an order is picked.

Comparing Grocery Retailers

The cheapest-looking item is not always the only thing worth considering when choosing where to shop. The overall cost of a grocery order can be affected by delivery charges, promotions, product availability and the range of brands and own-label products offered.

It can also be useful to compare the same products at different supermarkets, particularly for larger shops. Loyalty schemes and promotional prices may affect what you pay, but terms and eligibility can vary between retailers.

Online Delivery or Click & Collect?

Home delivery is convenient when you want your groceries brought directly to your door, particularly for a large weekly shop. Click & Collect can be useful when you are already travelling near a participating store or would rather avoid a delivery charge.

Before choosing either option, check the available slots, charges and any minimum order requirements. Some retailers offer different services depending on your location. Tesco, for example, currently provides both home delivery and Click & Collect.

Specialist and Online Food Shops

Supermarkets are not the only option for grocery shopping. Specialist food retailers can be useful when you are looking for particular ingredients, international foods, premium products or items that are difficult to find locally.

Online-only grocery retailers can also provide a different shopping experience from traditional supermarkets. Ocado, for example, offers groceries online and includes fresh and chilled food, bakery, frozen food, food cupboard products and other household categories.

Things to Check Before Ordering Groceries

Delivery area: Check that the retailer delivers to your postcode and see which services are available in your area.
Delivery charges: Check the cost of your chosen delivery slot and whether minimum basket requirements apply.
Product availability: Some products may not be available in every store or delivery area.
Substitutions: Find out how unavailable products are handled and whether you can set your preferences.
Fresh food: Check product descriptions, pack sizes and dates where this information is provided.
Promotions: Check the terms of multi-buy offers, loyalty prices and other promotions before relying on a particular saving.

Grocery Shopping in the UK

UK grocery shopping now includes a mixture of supermarkets, convenience shops, specialist food retailers and online grocery services. Choosing between them depends on what you need, how often you shop and whether home delivery or collection is important to you.

For a regular household shop, comparing the overall basket can be more useful than comparing individual products. For smaller or more specialised purchases, a local shop or specialist online retailer may offer the products you need without requiring a full supermarket order.

The retailers listed above provide a starting point for finding food shops and online supermarkets in the UK. Visit the relevant website to check current products, prices, delivery options and availability.

Disclaimer: All trademarks, logos, company names and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Store information, product availability, prices, promotions, delivery options, collection services, and retailer policies may change without notice. Please visit the relevant retailer's official website for the most current information before making a purchase.