Algarve Supermarkets & Shopping Price Guide 2011
If you are staying in self-catering accommodation on your Algarve holiday it is always useful to know what you can actually buy and how much food and drink costs. So here is some general information about Algarve supermarkets with some guide prices for a typical 'shopping basket' in 2011:
Algarve Supermarkets
The main large supermarkets in the Algarve are Pingo Doce, Continente / Modelo (both owned by the same company), Intermarché and Jumbo / Pão Açucar (also owned by the same company). Intermarché is a French chain of supermarkets and although it can be a little more expensive for some of the products, it is especially good for international brands. The other Algarve supermarkets are very similar in terms of ranges, fresh produce and value and each has a range of "own brand" products for cheaper alternatives.
There are also branches of Aldi, Lidl and Spar shops across the region, as well as lots of smaller grocery shops or 'mini-mercados'. In addition to the supermarket chains, there are some larger independent supermarkets, including Supermercado Baptista in Praia da Luz and Apolónia in Galé (Albufeira) and Almancil. They are popular with 'expats' and holidaymakers because they stock a large range of international brands for that 'home-from-home' shopping and they also have delivery services within their areas.
All the Algarve supermarkets have health food sections for gluten-free, salt substitutes, diabetic and vegetarian / vegan products, although some have bigger ranges than others; Pingo Doce supermarket has great value soya and seitan blocks! Soya products like milk, yoghurts and spreads are easily available in all stores as are baby milks, foods, nappies and toiletries.
Continente Supermercado and Jumbo Supermercado both have on-line shopping facilities so you can always take a look for yourself at local prices and their range of products.
Although Supermercado Baptista does not have full on-line shopping facilities just yet it is possible to place orders for delivery with them via their website. You can also find details about Apolónio delivery areas and times.
Algarve Supermarket Opening Hours:
General Algarve supermarket opening hours are from 8.30am (08:30) until 8pm (20:00) with extended hours until 9pm (21:00) or 10pm (22:00) in Summer and most supermarkets are now open every day of the week.
The only three days a year that the supermarkets are closed are Christmas Day (25th December), New Year's Day (1st January) and 1st May (Labour Day in Portugal).
Algarve Food Shopping Prices 2011
To get an idea of food shopping prices in the Algarve in 2011, here are a number of food items from a typical shopping basket. The "own brand" products are from Continente / Modelo supermarket, but you will find similar shopping prices in the other stores too.
| Butter 250g |
1,39€ |
Orange Marmalade (Own Brand) |
1,33€ |
Ketchup (Heinz 460g) |
1,99€ |
| Bread (white Algarvio loaf) |
1,00€ |
Eggs - 6XL |
0,99€ |
Pasta spirals (500g) |
0,42€ |
| Bread (large wholemeal sliced) |
2,29€ |
Baked Beans (Heinz - 415g) |
0,99€ |
Beefburgers (4 pack) |
2,20€ |
| Cornflakes (Kellogs 375g) |
1,99€ |
Yoghurts - Activia (4 pack) |
2.49€ |
Fishfingers (15 pack) |
2,99€ |
| Cornflakes (Own Brand 500g) |
1,19€ |
Yoghurts - (Own Brand Bifidus x 4) |
1,39€ |
Soya Spread (250g) |
1.29€ |
| Cereal - Muesli (Alpen 625g) |
4,74€ |
Apples per kilo |
1,49€ |
Tofu block (260g) |
2,44€* |
| Cereal - Muesli (Own Brand 500g) |
1,59€ |
Bananas per kilo |
0,99€ |
Seitan block (300g) |
1,99€* |
*The products we've listed are widely available in all the Algarve supermarkets but the Tofu and Seitan prices are Pingo Doce as they are the best buys at the moment!
Algarve Drink Shopping Prices 2011
See what is costs for a bottle of water, a litre of fresh milk, a can of beer and several other drinks in the Algarve supermarkets in 2011!
| Milk - Fresh 1L |
0,79€ |
Water - sparkling (0.75L) |
0,86€ |
Beer - Carlsberg (6 x 330ml) |
3,69€ |
| Milk - Soya 1L |
0,99€ |
Water - still (Own Brand 5L) |
0,29€ |
Beer - Sagres (6x330ml ) |
3,40€ |
| Tea Bags (Lipton's x 20) |
1,29€ |
Orange Juice (Own Brand 1L) |
0,66€ |
Wine - Borba Red 0.70L |
2,99€ |
| Tea Bags (Twinings x 25) |
2,25€ |
Gin - Gordon's 0,70L |
8,98€ |
Wine - Borba White 0.70L |
2,99€ |
There is a huge range of Portuguese wines and the starting price is around 1,30€ a bottle! We've picked the Borba as it is a popular wine from the Alentejo region and available in most supermarkets, but there are lots of very drinkable wines around the 3€ mark (and of course, you can pay a lot more).
Algarve Baby Food and Nappies Prices 2011
It's always difficult to know what to pack when you are travelling with babies, so here are the brand equivalents for some popular baby milks and example prices for baby products in Algarve supermarkets:
- Cow and Gate baby milks are equivalent to the 'Nutrilon' brand in the Algarve.
- Nutrilon 1,2 and 3 are equivalent to Cow and Gate 1, 2 and 3.
- Nutrilon Omneo 1 and 2 are equivalent to Comfort 1 and 2.
- Nutrilon AR 1 and 2 are for babies with reflux.
- Nutrilon HA 1 and 2 are for babies allergic to dairy products but is not Soya based.
- Aptamil milks are still marketed as Aptamil in the Algarve. 1, 2 and 3, being equivalent to First, Hungry and Follow On.
- The more specialised milks (including Soya) are only available in pharmacies.
| Huggies Nappies (136 x size 3) |
19,29€ |
Aptamil Baby Milk 800g |
13€ to 14€ |
Nutrilon Milk 800g |
12€ to 13€ |
| Dodot (Pampers equiv) 76 x size 3 |
13,89€ |
Aptamil HA Milk 800g |
16,79€ |
Milupa Baby Rice 250g |
2,69€ |
| Fennel Baby Drink - Milupa 200g |
3,45€ |
Aptamil Confort 800g |
16,29€ |
Nestle Baby Jars 250g |
1,49€ |
Algarve Supermarkets - Store Locator:
If you would like to see which supermarkets are in your area before you arrive on holiday in the Algarve, you can see the "Useful Information" pages on our Algarve Uncovered Resort Guides!