Supermarkets in Nicosia: from most glamorous to most budget-friendly

Modern type of supermarkets appeared in Cyprus 25-30 years ago.

At first, they were locals: Nicosia had its own chains, in Limassol and other cities had their local.

For example, the Orphanides hypermarket, which was the prototype of new stores and did not survive the financial crisis, was a store in Nicosia. Residents of other cities came there to buy everything they needed once every several weeks, go for a coffee, buy new flowers.

AlphaMegaSupermarket

The most expensive, but at the same time the best supermarket chain in Cyprus is AlphaMega.

Previously, the supermarket was called Charalampides, the chain had only two stores, both in Nicosia: in Engomi and Strovolos. After the rebranding, the chain has grown. Now there are supermarkets in all cities of Cyprus.

What is good about this supermarket?

A wide variety of cheeses, fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs, fish, seafood. High standards for freshness and quality. The supermarket has a wonderful bakery that bakes very good quality bread: Polish, German, Russian Borodinsky, Italian ciabatta, gluten-free bread, protein bread with a low glycemic index (it has only 12 g of carbohydrates per 100 grams). An excellent system of bonus cards, which allows you to exchange points for coupons equivalent to money, as well as an application for collecting coupons for which you can get gifts.

Supermarkets Athienitis and Sklavenitis

The most budget-friendly supermarkets over the past decade are the local Athienitis and the supermarkets of the German Lidl chain compete.

The first Athienitis Supermarket in Cyprus was located in Palouriotissa, Nicosia. Rich housewives from all over the city and even from the villages nearby went there to buy food and other goods; some went there with their housekeepers. On weekends and on the eve of the holidays, it seemed that it was a zombie apocalypse and people were preparing for a long sitting in bunkers, otherwise how can one explain lot's of canned food, dozens of packs of pasta, rice and flour, stacks of chocolate, piles of cans and boxes for different purposes and on top of these mountains - several packs of toilet paper?

In fact, everything is explained easily. Athienitis is a very big supermarket, many families buy products here for several months for themselves, as well as for the mother, sister and Maria who lives next door.

Old Athienitis is not the most pleasant place for fans of glamorous shopping: it is crowded and noisy. The new Athienitis, which opened at the end of 2018 in Nicosia Mall, is very convenient, but located outside of town.

What is good about this supermarket?

Of course, prices. Prices for many products are really low, in some cases the difference is 20-30% or even more. The assortment is also good, but here you will not find many deli products, for them you will have to go to AlphaMega or small delicatessen shops such as Bawarian Delikatessen or Prinos Froutaria, where there is a large assortment of cheeses, cold cuts meat, pickled vegetables, seafood.

Sklavenitis is also considered one of the low cost chains.

Previously, these supermarkets belonged to the French chain called Carrefour, but a few years ago they were acquired by the Greek chain Sklavenitis.

What is good about this supermarket?

The supermarkets of this network have inexpensive quality products from Greek manufacturers. As a rule, Sklavenitis supermarkets are very conveniently located. Their cons are the assortment which is quite basic.

Supermarket Papantoniou

The Papantoniou supermarket chain, which for a long time was located only in Paphos, eventually moved eastward, first to Limassol, and then to Nicosia. It is huge in area and here you can find literally everything. In terms of prices, in some positions it is more expensive than AlphaMega, but Papantoniou can have big discounts.

What is good about this supermarket?

An excellent assortment of fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, fresh pastries. The supermarket cooperates with Sainsbury's, and only here on the island you can find original English products from Devon, Yorkshire, Cornwall - English Scones and Clotted Cream, frozen "shepherd's pie", real English sausages, marmite and more.

Supermarket Lidl

Lidl is a chain of budget German supermarkets. In addition to the constant assortment, weeks of Italian, English, Spanish, French, German cuisine are periodically held there and you can buy rare products and delicacies like foie gras, jamon, bresaola, Roquefort and Stilton cheeses, truffles and more at quite reasonable prices.

What is good about this supermarket?

High-quality, fresh and budget products, a large selection of inexpensive cheeses.

Metro Supermarket

Metro is represented in Nicosia by three supermarkets: two of them are located in Aglantzia, one is in Strovolos at the roundabout leading to the exit from the city.

What is good about this supermarket?

The supermarkets of this network have a good range of goods, there are promotions and discounts.

About prices

According to the Consumer Protection Service, a market basket (50 basic items from food to household chemicals) in Nicosia is the cheapest in the Athienitis supermarket. In second place is the Sklavenitis chain. Small chain Ioannides is third, while Metro was the third most expensive, AlphaMega was second, and Papantoniou was for the richest clients.

Other cities:

1. Limassol: Sklavenitis is the cheapest, followed by Metro, Lyssiotis, AlphaMega, Papantoniou and Papas.
2. Larnaca: Stelios, followed by Sklavenitis, Metro, Alambritis and AlphaMega.
3. Paphos, Sklavenitis, followed by AlphaMega, Philippos, Papantoniou and P. Papamichail.
4. Famagusta (areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus): Kokkinos, followed by Sklavenitis, Metro and Litsa.

Everyone's favorite Lidl did not participate in the list above, because the government compared products from the local manufacturers that are not available in the German chain.

The Cypriot climate, especially in summer, is not good for long walks to big stores, so large supermarkets and shopping centers are very popular - you leave your car in the underground parking and slowly walk between the shops in an air-conditioned space with pleasant music.

This is many times more pleasant than the quest to find a parking lot on the weekend on the central shopping streets, where you will have to rush between stores in the summer (+40) and, upon returning, get into a boiled car. That is why in recent years there has been a trend in Cyprus - stores are leaving the shopping streets and moving to shopping centers, supermarkets, as well as confectionery, delicatessen shops, tea, coffee, flower shops are also moving there.

The cost of rent is very high in shopping centers, so it is possible that supermarkets of the same chain located outside the shopping centers will be cheaper than their collection located inside the shopping center.

Where do you go shopping and how much does your weekly basket cost? Share your impressions in the comments!

Detailed information about all projects in Nicosia can be obtained from the specialists of the No. 1 real estate agency in Cyprus DOM by phone +357 22 030670, or in person at: Archiepiskopou Makariou III 1, Lakatamia 2324, Nicosia, Cyprus.

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