Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Poland: What You Need to Know and How to Save Money

Where can you buy groceries in Poland? Which supermarkets offer the best value? If you have recently moved or are preparing to do so, these questions are very much relevant to you. In this article, we have compiled information on everyday grocery shopping in Poland: who is the cheapest, how stores operate and where to find the best deals.

Which Supermarkets in Poland Are the Cheapest and Which Are the Most Expensive?

First of all, it is worth noting that the market situation changes constantly and rankings are updated every month. Biedronka, for example, was long considered the most budget-friendly choice for daily shopping, but that is no longer the case.

Up-to-date data can be found in the "Price Basket" project - a joint study by the portals DlaHandlu.pl and PortalSpożywczy.pl, which monitors prices on dozens of products across more than 20 retail chains every month. Researchers assess the value of a basket of 50 products in supermarkets in Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Upper Silesia, Kraków, Lublin and the Tricity agglomeration. Information for your region is available at dlahandlu.pl - select your city using the Pokaż sklepy z regionu filter.

According to the 2026 study data, the three cheapest chains are:

• Auchan - the consistent leader on low prices
• Dino - rapidly expanding while maintaining competitive prices
• E.Leclerc - returned to the top after a period of falling behind

Biedronka and Lidl, despite their popularity and reputation as budget chains, sit in the middle of the ranking in 2026. The most expensive remain Carrefour Express and Żabka - these are convenience stores for picking up small items, not for a full weekly shop.

The Most Popular Polish Supermarket Chains

A brief overview of the most widespread chains.

• Auchan - a French chain that remains the cheapest in Poland. As of 2026, it has around 220 stores in various formats, including the convenient Easy Auchan points at BP petrol stations.

• Lidl - German supermarkets with a wide range and moderate prices. In July 2026, Lidl opened its 1,000th store in Poland - in Katowice - and the chain now has over 1,000 locations across the country.

• Biedronka - the largest and enormously popular chain with a recognisable logo. As of 2026, around 3,900 Biedronka stores operate in Poland across more than 1,100 towns and cities. It was previously among the cheapest; it now sits in the mid-price range.

• Dino - one of the fastest-growing chains. In the first half of 2026 it opened more than 148 new locations and now has over 3,100 stores across the country.

• Kaufland - a German hypermarket chain with around 240 stores in Poland. It offers a wide range and a clear store layout.

• Netto - a Danish chain with around 660 stores, mainly in the southern, western, northern and central parts of the country.

• Aldi - another German chain with a presence in Poland. Prices are in the mid-range.

• E.Leclerc - a French chain with around 44 large stores in Poland - hypermarkets, shopping centres and outlets. Larger formats traditionally offer more competitive prices.

• Carrefour - a French chain with around 780 retail outlets in various formats. Large Carrefour stores are more affordable, while Carrefour Express is one of the most expensive formats in Poland.

• Lewiatan - a Polish franchise chain with around 3,200 retail outlets run by independent entrepreneurs.

• Intermarché - a franchise chain with Polish capital and around 200 stores.

• Polomarket - a Polish chain with over 280 retail outlets.

• Żabka - the most widespread chain in Poland: over 13,000 stores and still growing. You can pop in for any small item or a snack, and it is also open on Sundays when most other stores are closed. However, Żabka is not suited to a full grocery shop - it is one of the most expensive formats on the market.

Polish Store Opening Hours

Polish grocery stores operate Monday to Saturday - hours vary depending on the chain and city. Most Biedronka and Lidl stores are open from 6:00 to 22:00 or 23:00.

The working day in Poland starts earlier than in Ukraine: most people are at work by 7-8 in the morning and finish earlier in the day. To avoid queues at the supermarket, do not go there between 15:00 and 18:00 - that is peak time.

A separate matter concerns trading Sundays.

Since 2018, Poland has had a law restricting retail trading on Sundays. Most large stores are closed on Sundays. Those that may remain open include petrol stations and their attached shops, pharmacies, florists, post offices, retail points at hotels, airports and railway stations, and shops where the owner personally serves customers.

In 2026, the trading Sundays (niedziele handlowe) - days when large stores are open - are:

• 25 January
• 29 March
• 26 April
• 28 June
• 30 August
• 6 December
• 13 December
• 20 December

There are 8 trading Sundays in total in 2026. Please note: 24 December 2026 is a complete trading ban.

If you need to buy groceries on a non-trading Sunday, use a delivery service - available from most major chains: Auchan, Biedronka, Kaufland, Carrefour, Żabka, Stokrotka. Some chains have their own delivery service; others work through Glovo, Everli or Uber Eats.

Faster and Cheaper: Simple Money-Saving Tips

Get a loyalty card. You can obtain one at almost any Polish store - just ask at the checkout. The card gives access to discounts and personalised offers, which can make a noticeable difference to your final bill.

Explore store own-brand products. Auchan, Biedronka, Lidl and other chains sell products under their own brands - available only in those stores, often of very good quality and significantly cheaper than well-known brands.

Use self-checkout tills. Queues there are usually shorter and you can get through your shopping faster. Some Polish stores offer a Ukrainian-language interface at self-checkout. If you run into any difficulties, staff are always nearby.

Mobile Apps for Smart Shopping

Most major chains have moved their loyalty cards into dedicated apps. Lidl Plus lets you shop with special offers. The Carrefour app gives access to promotions and discounts - simply show a barcode at the checkout. Żappka from Żabka lets you collect points and redeem them for products.

Beyond chain-specific apps, there are independent services for finding the best prices.

QPONY - an app with promotions, coupons and sales at shops, restaurants, pharmacies and home appliance stores.

PEPPER - a free app with discounts, promo codes, coupons and deals at various venues and shops.

MojaGazetka - current discounts on food, cosmetics, building materials and other categories.

PROMOTHEUS - an app with promotional leaflets from popular stores.

If your grocery budget is very tight, take a look at Foodsi and Too Good To Go - apps through which restaurants, cafés, bakeries and supermarkets offer food approaching its best-before date at very low prices. The principle is simple: you reserve a bag, pay and collect it in person from the outlet. With Foodsi, you can often choose the type of products. With Too Good To Go, the contents of the bag are not known in advance, but you can ask the outlet whether it contains any allergens.

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