There are plenty of grocery stores to choose from in Seville, and while we generally choose Mercadona or El Corte Ingles, there is always a little time for a trip to LIDL. LIDL is a German owned grocery chain with a number of locations in Seville (and much of Spain). It is known for its cheap prices. We have fun making a visit about once a month in what amounts to a treasure hunt. While the majority of items they sell cater to Spanish customers, there are plenty of international items to find. Every month they bring in items from different countries - this week it's Greek and next week it's British. Theses are always some kind of cheap, off-brand items. And I'll be the first person to say stay away when they do the American week. There were no brands I recognized and everything we tried was awful. But other countries fair better and we've hunted down some hard to get items such as spinach and tomato wraps. And when I go back next week I'm not sure if I'll be able to pass on that 5 Euro bottle of Ouzo. Ok, I will pass on that. But when you are looking for something international you never know what you may find at LIDL.
Also worth mentioning are the bazaar and holiday periods. The bazaar is where they sell anything and everything in LIDL: clothes, electronics, kitchen ware, band saws, lights, pencils, backpacks, children..well, maybe not children. The selection is always minimal but the deals can be very good. This has led to a small, loyal and crazed following of LIDL shoppers who show up every week on the morning the merchandise arrives to buy up everything and anything good. Finally, for expat during the holidays there are all sorts of goodies to be found - Christmas chocolates and cakes, decorations, lights and more. And even items for Halloween, although these are easier and easier to find in the city as the holiday grows in popularity more every year.
I don't hold stock in LIDL but I feel like every trip is a treasure hunt. So I guess they've got me hooked.
