Grocery tourism is moving souvenir shopping into the supermarket aisle. Travelers are routing itineraries around stores stocking foods and products they can’t get back home. Here are the 12 fueling the trend.
What Is Grocery Tourism and Why Are Travelers Seeking Out Grocery Stores?
Grocery tourism is the growing habit of building supermarket visits into vacation itineraries to hunt for regional products, store exclusives and unfamiliar foods.
Expedia’s “Goods Getaways” trend tracks travelers bringing home local products they can’t easily find elsewhere. Skyscanner’s “Shelf Discovery” trend frames supermarket aisles as part of the travel experience itself.
I’ve Tried Way Too Many Travel Strollers — The Best (and Most Lightweight) Option Is Now on Sale
Which Japanese Grocery Stores Are Must-Visits for Food Tourism?
Japan’s convenience stores, known as konbini, sit at the center of the trend.
- 7-Eleven offers quick, inexpensive finds. Japan’s tourism organization highlights onigiri, bento, kara-age, trendy snacks, sweets and drinks.
- FamilyMart is called a treasure trove of food and unusual flavors by Japan’s tourism organization, with FamiChiki, onigiri, canned coffee, nikuman and oden.
- Lawson adds localized, region-specific products, meaning shoppers may find different items depending on where they are in Japan, per Japan’s tourism organization.
- Don Quijote, better known as Donki, combines groceries, discount shopping and souvenir hunting under one roof. Don Quijote offers tax-free shopping for eligible international visitors.
What U.S. Grocery Stores Are Drawing Grocery Tourism Crowds?
Two American grocers show how different the trend can look stateside.
- Erewhon in Los Angeles offers celebrity smoothie collaborations, drinks around the $20 mark, “It” tote bags and ultra-premium produce, fitting Skyscanner’s “Shelf Discovery” trend.
- Trader Joe’s has built a cult following around private-label foods, including store-exclusive snacks and rotating seasonal products. These edible American souvenirs match Expedia’s “Goods Getaways” trend.
Which Asian-American Markets Fit the Food Tourism Trend?
Four Asian-American markets round out the U.S. side. Each combines international packaged foods, specialty produce and in-store dining.
- H Mart lets shoppers browse packaged international goods, including Korean products, alongside in-store dining.
- 99 Ranch Market offers packaged Asian foods and fresh specialty items, with Taiwanese packaged goods among the international products represented.
- Lotte Plaza Market joins H Mart, 99 Ranch and Mitsuwa in combining imported groceries, hard-to-find fresh ingredients and prepared food counters.
- Mitsuwa Marketplace rounds out the group with Japanese packaged goods and a closer-to-home version of the discovery that makes foreign supermarkets appealing.
Which Grocery Stores Overseas Are Grocery Tourism Destinations?
Spain and London anchor the final stops, at opposite ends of the price spectrum.
- Mercadona is a budget-friendly Spanish supermarket chain gaining attention for its private-label products and ready meals. Visitors also get a look at the everyday supermarket locals actually use.
- Fortnum & Mason in London takes the grocery pilgrimage upscale. The historic luxury grocer dates to 1707 and has become a destination for food-focused visitors, offering a completely different experience from a konbini or everyday supermarket.
From quick konbini snacks to luxury London finds, grocery tourism gives travelers another way to experience a destination. The best souvenir might just be waiting in the grocery aisle.
