food shopping
Importing
You may buy food in France where it is cheaper and take it across the border into Switzerland, and vice versa. There are restrictions on how much you can take across per person on consumable items, such as meat, dairy products, cigarettes and alcohol - see links below for amounts per person. If the goods you import exceed set values the Customs officials will calculate the tax and you will have to pay immediately. |
Opening Hours
Stores in France are open longer hours than in Switzerland. In France, you will find a few supermarkets and bakeries open on Sunday mornings from 9 to 12. In Switzerland everything is closed on Sundays, except the shops at the airport.
Online food shopping and delivery service has taken off here. Check to see if your local can deliver to you.
Check our International, Organic & Seasonal Food page
France
Stores in France are open longer hours than in Switzerland. In France, you will find a few supermarkets and bakeries open on Sunday mornings from 9 to 12. In Switzerland everything is closed on Sundays, except the shops at the airport.
Online food shopping and delivery service has taken off here. Check to see if your local can deliver to you.
Check our International, Organic & Seasonal Food page
France
- Carrefour, Segny is open Mon - Sat. from 8.30 am to 8 pm, Fridays 8.30 am to 9 pm
- Carrefour, St. Genis is open Sundays from 9 to 1
- E.Leclerc, ch Bois Candide, Ferney-Voltaire - at the roundabout near the Swiss border of Meyrin
- Grand Frais, ZA du Bois Candide - Route de Meyrin, 01210 Ferney-Voltaire. Open Sundays from 9 - 12
- Grand Frais, ch Bois Candide, Ferney-Voltaire - near E.Leclerc
- Intermarché, St. Genis and Gex are open Sunday mornings from 9 to 12
- Migros, Val Thoiry is open Mon - Sat from 9 to 9
- Grocery stores that close at lunch: Ed and Cocinelle
- Aligro Marché - similar to the American super store Costco. At rue François-Dussaud 15, Acacias (Geneva)
- Coop - grocery stores are located in every neighborhood
- Globus - Their international food and wine market is expensive, but worth it for those hard to find speciality items. Located on the rue de Rhone in downtown Geneva and at the Balexert Shopping Center.
- Le Shop - order your groceries online and have them delivered to your door!
- Migros - grocery stores are located in every neighborhood. The airport store is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.
Online & Deliveries
- Food from Small Producers around Switzerland that give you options for online shopping and delivery.
Shopping Bags
Plastic bags were banned a few years ago, so you have to buy shopping bags in grocery stores. Supermarkets sell reusable cloth and plastic bags for 30 cents or so (it’s good for the environment if people use fewer bags). It’s easiest to keep them in your car.
Checkers do not bag groceries.
Plastic bags were banned a few years ago, so you have to buy shopping bags in grocery stores. Supermarkets sell reusable cloth and plastic bags for 30 cents or so (it’s good for the environment if people use fewer bags). It’s easiest to keep them in your car.
Checkers do not bag groceries.
Shopping Carts
Can be found in store parking lots or inside the store near the entrance. Put a 1 or 2 EUR, or a 1 or 2 CHF coin in the slot on the cart, and the cart will be released from the chain. Get the coin back by pushing the chain into slot. You can get a plastic coin (bouchon) at the Info desk (Accueil) in big stores: Je voudrais un bouchon pour le chariot, svp. They will give you a round piece of plastic you can use instead of a coin.
Can be found in store parking lots or inside the store near the entrance. Put a 1 or 2 EUR, or a 1 or 2 CHF coin in the slot on the cart, and the cart will be released from the chain. Get the coin back by pushing the chain into slot. You can get a plastic coin (bouchon) at the Info desk (Accueil) in big stores: Je voudrais un bouchon pour le chariot, svp. They will give you a round piece of plastic you can use instead of a coin.
Weighing Produce
When buying fruit or vegetables that are not packaged, you must weigh them yourself (except at Intermarché stores in France). First put produce in plastic bags (provided), note the number (on the sign hanging up) for the fruit or vegetable, go to the weigh station (in the produce department), put produce on scale, push the corresponding number. A sticker prints out – put it on the bag.
Most stores now have recognition scales - put produce on the scale, one or more pictures appear. Push the corresponding button - a sticker prints out – put it on the bag.
Val Thoiry Migros has an attendant in the produce section who weighs items for you.
When buying fruit or vegetables that are not packaged, you must weigh them yourself (except at Intermarché stores in France). First put produce in plastic bags (provided), note the number (on the sign hanging up) for the fruit or vegetable, go to the weigh station (in the produce department), put produce on scale, push the corresponding number. A sticker prints out – put it on the bag.
Most stores now have recognition scales - put produce on the scale, one or more pictures appear. Push the corresponding button - a sticker prints out – put it on the bag.
Val Thoiry Migros has an attendant in the produce section who weighs items for you.
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