During our stays in Paraguay we had the chance to buy groceries in several cities, but also in rural areas. The experience was very pleasant in all cases and often surprised us — especially the availability of fresh produce, the service and the overall comfort of shopping.
Supermarket Superseis
Besides smaller local shops, the Superseis supermarket quickly became our everyday go-to during each stay in Paraguay. It opens as early as seven in the morning, so buying fresh breakfast was never a problem. You can find it in every larger city – we personally tried stores in Asunción, Villarrice, Encarnación and Ciudad del Este.
Every morning you’ll find fresh bread straight from the oven, fresh orange juice that you squeeze yourself on a special press in the fruit and vegetable department, as well as various combinations of fruit and vegetable juices. The staff prepare these for you in advance and they wait chilled on ice.
Like hotel buffets, but in a supermarket
A pleasant surprise for us were the hot counters — a rich selection of breakfast and lunch dishes that resemble hotel buffet-style food. Everything looks fresh and appealing. The staff are extremely helpful — they will weigh your food, pack it and advise you if you’re unsure about your choice.
Shopping even for your four-legged companion 🐾
If you’re used to buying dog kibble and canned food in supermarkets, you won’t be disappointed — you’ll find a wide selection here too. However, if you cook for your dog, the wide availability of quality ingredients will pleasantly surprise you. Ours has skin problems (regularly takes Cytopoint) and requires a special diet. In Paraguay we were able to cook fresh homemade meals for him — beef steaks combined with cassava, sweet potatoes, carrots or rice.
Financially it turned out to be significantly cheaper than hypoallergenic kibble and canned food imported from Europe — and most importantly, our dog was content, healthy and clearly happy. We feel he really enjoyed Paraguayan food and remembers it fondly to this day 😄.
Dog “parking” right in the store
One of the things that completely got us: directly in front of the checkouts inside the supermarket there are designated spots for dogs. You can safely “park” your pet there, you can see them the whole time and there are bowls of water and leashes to tie the dog.
In a country where summer temperatures commonly exceed 35 °C, this solution is priceless. You don’t have to worry that someone will steal your dog outside, nor risk its health in a hot car.
Drugstore and basic medical supplies
A practical part of shopping in Superseis is also a very decent selection of drugstore items. Besides standard hygiene items, we had no problem finding sunscreens, insect repellents, baby hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, as well as basic home first-aid supplies, for example plasters. Thanks to this it’s not necessary to look for a separate drugstore or pharmacy, which you will appreciate especially for a shorter stay or when traveling with children.
Availability of alcohol and cigarettes
A pleasant bonus is the alcohol selection — you don’t have to go to any specialized store, as in some other countries. At Superseis you can easily buy alcohol from local producers as well as well-known foreign brands. We personally liked the Argentine lager Patagonia and were also impressed by the selection of wines and prosecco, which would easily stand up in specialized wine shops. Cigarettes are also part of the offer; they are not freely on the shelves but available at the checkouts — just simply ask the staff. We can’t comment on the selection itself, as we are not smokers.
Sunday shopping in Villarrice: when the meat moves outside
We had an interesting experience at the Superseis in Villarrice on a Sunday. We wanted to buy packaged meat, but the store’s shelves were almost completely empty. At first we thought we had come late or that it was an exceptional situation, but soon we discovered that the reality is much simpler — and typically Paraguayan.
In front of the supermarket there was an outdoor stall with a large grill that at first looked like a random street vendor. In reality it was an employee of the Superseis chain who was grilling the meat right there and selling it freshly prepared to customers. The aroma tempted not only people but also local stray dogs, which peacefully gathered around the grill and added to the authentic atmosphere of Sunday shopping in Paraguay.
Summary
Grocery shopping in Paraguay is simple, comfortable, affordable and surprisingly very pleasant, even for travelers with children or a dog. Language is not a problem either — you can communicate using a translator on your phone or simply with hands and feet 😄.