Grocery shopping in Johannesburg

Expats will find that grocery shopping in Johannesburg is similar to that of any Western country. South Africa has several large supermarket chains and a number of smaller specialty stores, and all types of shops are present in Joburg. As in all locations, where you end up going will depend on your personal tastes and budget, but the nice thing is that you’ll most likely find a store conveniently located close to where you live.

Furthermore, shelves will be stocked with many of the goods familiar from home, with the addition of a few strange new favourites. For a taste of true South Africa try Mrs. Balls Chutney, snack on a bit of biltong or load the shopping cart with Chockits, Salticrax, or Ouma's Rusks.

Otherwise, for the most part, grocery stores in South Africa claim an impressive meat and poultry selection, a massive assortment of dry and canned goods, and a healthy variety of fruit and vegetables. That said, the fish department can be surprisingly lacking given the nation's prolific coastlines, and the deli section can be disappointing.

Grocery stores in South Africa sell wine, but do not sell spirits or beer. However, many of the larger venues will have subsidiary stores selling all types of alcohol next door to their main shop.

Additionally, select chains accept utility payments, sell airtime for both mobile telephones and landline telephones, and even have on-site post offices or ticket box offices.

For those who have engrained the art of penny pinching into every aspect of life, Woolworth's and Pick 'n Pay have introduced rewards card programs that entitle shoppers to lower costs or small discounts on price.

Nationwide grocery stores in Johannesburg

►Woolworths – a little pricey but also the best quality food by far, not only within South Africa but worldwide; well-known especially for its fresh produce and good meat. It’s hard to go back to anything else after you’ve shopped at “Woolie’s.”
►Spar – similar price range to Woolworth's but not the same quality; larger selection, especially at Superspar centres, with many imported brands and a nice deli with freshly cooked meals; good European bread selection.
►Pick 'n Pay– similar selection to Spar (minus the imported brands) but lower prices; a good place to stock up on your basics like packaged goods and cleaning supplies. Pick 'n Pay also has an online shopping service where groceries can be delivered to one's home for a small fee.
►Checkers – same price range as Pick ‘n Pay, wide selection of household goods at Checkers Hyper.

Specialty Stores in Johannesburg

►Fruit and Veg City – a chain of upscale fresh food stores throughout South Africa.
Local butcheries – South Africans take their meats very seriously, and the proof is a wealth of excellent and mostly privately owned butcheries, like Schwaben Butchery in Edenvale, a veritable heaven for any German or Austrian expat, and Berliner Butchery in Deco Park.

If you’re used to buying in bulk, you will also find your typical discount markets:
 
►Makro – recently purchased by Wal-Mart, it has a similar set-up to Sam's Club. However, even though they mostly sell bulk items, they don't offer significant discounts; as you might come to expect from a similar store in your home country.
 

Pharmacies/drug stores in Johannesburg

 
►Dis-Chem – largest and most well-stocked South African drugstores; if you can’t find an item anywhere else, chances are it’s sold at Dis-Chem, from electric toothbrushes to fish-oil vitamins; also largest availability and pricing for prescription drugs, although the lines can be long!
►Clicks  – can be found in almost every shopping centre and often next to doctor’s offices, very convenient for your prescription drugs.