Groceries at my doorstep!

You just finished work. It’s freezing outside. No wait, its summer. It’s sweltering outside and all you want to do is turn on the AirCon and make yourself a cold smoothie or enjoy an ice cold beer. Damn! Nothing’s in the fridge. I guess you can order from Sherpas for the fifth time this week…OR you could take advantage of one of the many popular means of grocery home delivery. Whether it is fruit, meat, or beer, it is probably available to you.

Most home delivery focuses on foreign products that provide premium imported goods at premium prices.  Keep in mind that there are a lot of local grocery stores that provide the same goods at a much cheaper price.  Unless you are crazy about organic, you can get vegetables and cuts of meat at any open-air wet market. In my experience, Chinese beef is the only meat that doesn’t cut it (no pun intended).

The Biggies

CityShop (http://www.cityshop.com.cn) is often recognized as the most convenient and relaxing foreign grocery store chain in Shanghai. The home delivery system is also quite hassle-free and the English website makes it easy to order online. For purchases of 200RMB or more, the delivery is free (within Shanghai, excluding Chongqing) and brought to your door within 24 hours. I have used this service before and I have always gotten my groceries on the same day.  Deliveries can also be made to Chongqing, Jiangsu and Zhejiang on a limited schedule.  A more detailed explanation of this can be found on its website.

Carrefour also has home delivery and an online store (http://e-shop.carrefour.com.cn/en/). Prices are less expensive than City Shop but the website is a bit harder to navigate (just like the brick-and-mortar store). The advantage here is that Carrefour is fully stocked with Chinese products and you can also order more non-food items than you can at City Shop. Delivery is free for orders of 100RMB or more and it will be delivered within two days.

The Challengers

Feidan (http://www.feidan.cn/) is relatively new to the scene but is fast becoming my favorite imports store (mainly because they are the only store that sells a big bag of tortilla chips for only 20RMB!). With only five very small locations in Shanghai, they don’t have the same variety and don’t carry as many local products as City Shop or Carrefour, but they pack a mean punch with their free, three-hour delivery service (for orders made before 6pm and over 100RMB). In an attempt to be competitive, they also offer imported beers and cheeses at slightly lower prices than City Shop.

MyLocalStore (http://www.mylocalstore.cn) gets rave reviews from those who use it. The store is online only and has the most easy-to-use and beautiful user interface of all the aforementioned stores. MLS focuses on produce from all around the world and may be the best option for those who can’t stomach the local produce market. The branded groceries and non-food products themselves do not match the two biggies and I was pretty upset with the limited selection of alcohol. But given time, this startup could expand and really challenge the others with its unique “loyalty point” system (you get 1 point for each RMB you spend which you can then redeem for more groceries). Delivery is free for orders of 100RMB or more and are next-day in most cases.

Smartdirect (http://www.smartdirect.cn) has a very user-friendly website and is gaining some headway as a premier online home delivery service. Judging from the lists of empty food categories, it appears that it is planning on expanding and introducing new products to its line. The beer and wine selection isn’t bad either. Delivery is free for those in Puxi (100RMB and over) and can be delivered within three hours if placed before 3pm. Weekend delivery orders must be placed on Friday before 6pm.

Niche Stores

Just Beer  http://www.justbeer.cn/) catalog serves Imported Beer and Wine that is tough to get anywhere else.

HeleKang (http://www.helekang.com/english/) delivers real ORGANIC fresh veggies, and has filled out its product line rather nicely with other local and imported organic foods.

Everwines (http://everwines.com/) delivers imported and domestic wines to your door. The website is easy to use and they often have special deals.

Abendbrot (http://www.abendbrot.com.cn/) found their niche in baking and deliver good German bread to the hungry and health-conscious crowd and developed quite a following.

Elders (http://www.elders.com.cn/en/) has been around for a while. They specialize in Aussie imports, with a focus on the much-lauded Australian beef.

For extensive information on alcohol and other niche delivery services, check out Mat's post here: http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/alcohol-food-delivery-t74233.html

What is your favorite Online Grocery Store? Do you have any advice? Sucess stories? Horror stories? Let's talk about them here: http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/best-online-ordering-and-grocery-delivery-t111347.html