Ah yes, Overseas Supermarket—the spiritual home of every expat who’s ever declared “I moved to Spain for the sunshine and the Spanish lifestyle” … before promptly filling their trolley with Pukka Pies, Robinson’s squash, and enough Heinz Baked Beans to survive Brexit, another lockdown, and a zombie apocalypse combined.
I enjoy Keno and Douwe Egberts coffee, but I have friends bring this across from the UK, when I am running low. Why? It’s half the price back in Blighty!
The Overseas Supermarket phenomenon has become as much a part of Spanish expat life as complaining about the weather being too hot and insisting paella should have chorizo in it. These temples of overpriced nostalgia dot the Spanish coastline like beacons of financial doom, promising homesick Brits a taste of home at prices that would make a Harrods Food Hall blush.
You’ll find this glorious British institution dotted across Spain, from the sun-soaked streets of Javea and Benissa, to the palm-lined promenades of San Javier and Vera. And of course, the Canary Islands are well-stocked too, with shops in Lanzarote and Tenerife, including those essential “Express” stores—because sometimes you simply can’t wait to get your hands on a frozen Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Pudding.
British Prices… with Added Sunshine Tax
Let’s be honest—no one walks into Overseas Supermarket expecting bargains. This is not Lidl. This is not Mercadona. This is a place where nostalgia costs dear.
You’ll spot it straight away. That familiar bag of Walkers Crisps marked “£1.25” on the front, boldly priced at €3.49 on the shelf. Or a packet of Warburtons Thick Sliced White, which in the UK would cost less than a cup of tea, now lovingly frozen and flogged for €3.95.
But don’t worry – it’s “specially imported” and “freshly delivered,” which apparently justifies the 300% markup. The fact that it’s usually three days off its best-before date by the time it reaches the shelves is just part of the authentic British experience.
And don’t even get me started on the Aunt Bessie’s range. You thought Yorkshire Puddings were cheap? Not when they’ve been lovingly defrosted, re-frozen, and dragged across Europe on a lorry with the air con turned up to full blast. €4.63 for a bag of frozen batter? Absolutely. It’s practically an investment.
That’s assuming you can find them between the fellow expats conducting what can only be described as a rugby scrum over the last bag of McCain’s oven chips. The irony isn’t lost that these are the same people who moved to Spain for the “better quality of life” and “lower cost of living.”
Christmas? Oh, You’re in for a Treat
The best time of year at Overseas Supermarket has to be Christmas. It’s like watching a festive-themed social experiment.
You’ll see fully-grown adults scrambling for tubs of Quality Street, weeping tears of joy at spotting the Radio Times, and casually parting with €9.49 for a selection box that’s still got the original £2.99 UK price tag printed on it.
That’s right—€4.50 for a magazine you’ll barely read and €3.75 for a jar of mincemeat you could have made yourself with a handful of raisins and a splash of sherry.
Where to Find These Halls of British Goodness
The Overseas Supermarket empire has cleverly placed itself exactly where you’ll need it most—right near every large expat hotspot in Spain:
Mainland Spain
- Javea, Benissa, Moraira (Express), Cabo Roig, San Fulgencio—all in the Comunidad Valenciana
- San Javier in Murcia, perfect for a pie and pint after a beach walk
- Vera in Andalucía, just in case you fancy a crumpet in between flamenco shows
Canary Islands
- Lanzarote: Playa Blanca (Express)
- Tenerife: Las Chafiras, Los Cristianos (Express), Torviscas (Express)
They know exactly where we are. They know exactly what we want. And they know exactly how much we’ll pay to get it.
FAQs About Overseas Supermarket
What’s the best time to visit?
If you want peace and quiet, early mornings on a weekday are ideal. If you fancy people-watching, go during the pre-Christmas rush—it’s like a scene from a David Attenborough documentary, but with trolleys and pork pies.
How’s the parking?
Usually pretty good, as most shops are on retail parks or main roads with free parking. You’ll need the boot space for all those jars of Branston Pickle anyway.
Is it accessible for people with limited mobility?
Yes, most stores have ramps and wide aisles. After all, they cater to every age of expat, from spritely 60-somethings to those who just want to shuffle down the frozen aisle in their sandals.
What else is nearby worth seeing?
Well, apart from the sight of Jim from Blackburn loading 18 loaves of Warburtons into his boot, you’ve got beaches, golf courses, and tapas bars nearby. Just in case you fancy trying the local cuisine between pies.
In Praise of British Comfort… at a Price
In truth, we all know the deal here. Nobody needs to pay €4.99 for HP Sauce. Nobody needs a frozen spotted dick in 35°C heat. But it’s comforting. It’s familiar. And it’s a tiny taste of home when you’ve had your fill of paella and padrón peppers. Do you really need your table salt to be CO-OP brand?
What makes it all the more amusing is the alternative. Spanish supermarkets stock perfectly good bread, excellent local produce, and world-class ham at prices that would make your UK grocery bill look like a joke. But no – nothing will do except that specific brand of British mediocrity at Spanish premium prices.
The truth is, Overseas Supermarket has tapped into something deeper than mere convenience shopping. It’s selling identity, nostalgia, and a connection to home, wrapped up in familiar packaging and priced accordingly. And fair play to them – if homesick expats are willing to pay €4.50 for a magazine they can read online for free, who are we to judge?
After all, you can’t put a price on feeling properly British while sitting in the Spanish sunshine. Well, actually, you can – and Overseas Supermarket has done exactly that.
So here’s to Overseas Supermarket—the unlikely bridge between Costa Blanca sunshine and dreary British drizzle. It might drain your wallet quicker than a pint of Strongbow on a summer’s day, but admit it—you’ll be back next week for more.
Final Thoughts
We went a couple of times to San Javier, when we lived in the Murcia region. We popped in for a couple of frozen items and probably spent €20 or so in there. There were actually people with the big, deep trolleys stacked so high they couldn’t even see over the top. They were buying Waitrose olives, grown in Spain, canned in Spain, shipped to the UK, then shipped back to Spain and available to buy for 5 times the price than at the Spanish supermarket next door. I kid you not!……
