Navigating French Supermarkets: Expect the Unexpected

If you've just arrived in France, your first trip to a supermarket can feel like a small adventure — and not always the relaxing kind. Let's be honest even if it's not your first trip it's still takes time. Items often don't appear where you expect. Anchovies? Don't head to the tinned fish aisle; look near refrigerated saumon fumé. Eggs? They're sitting out unrefrigerated. 

alongside most milk, also unrefrigerated. Even hand soap can surprise you: in many stores, it's tucked in the "female care" section — though, hopefully, men too wash their hands! Cottage cheese is another test of patience: each supermarket that has it keeps it in a different spot, always in tiny quantities, so you need sharp eyes to spot it. 

The key? Take your time, explore the aisles, and embrace the small quirks. Once you know the patterns, be prepared for the store to rearrange everything .