BY
Martina Pagano
Going to local supermarkets is one of my favourite travel activities. And it should be yours too.
Going to local supermarkets is one of my favourite travel activities. And it should be yours too.
Going to local supermarkets is one of my favourite travel activities. And it should be yours too.
Going to local supermarkets is one of my favourite travel activities. And it should be yours too.
Yes, I know museums are cute. But have you ever stood in a foreign snak aisle at 7 pm and understood a whole country through a €1.69 snack?
Maybe it’s because I come from Uruguay.
A tiny country with one official Red Bull flavour and the same 5 chips brands since the dawn of time. So when I travel and walk into a new supermarket Globalisation suddenly makes sense. You see products from everywhere.
And then the real dopamine hits when: finding something related to your country abroad. That moment when you see a dulce de leche jar in Portugal or a random “Uruguayan-style alfajor” in a Tesco and your soul leaves your body and you instantly become the proudest Uruguayan the world has ever seen.
I realised supermarkets are basically the Museum of Branding but with fluorescent lighting.
Every aisle is a story about how the country sees food, money, convenience, and pleasure.
The packaging. The prices. The new flavours. The portion sizes.
It tells you more about the local culture than half the tours in the city.
You learn what people eat after work. You learn what kids put in their lunchboxes. You learn if the economy is doing well by how much cheese costs. (Real economists will hate this.)
You also start imagining your life there, like a simulation.
“Ok if I lived in Amsterdam I'd probably buy this yogurt every day.”; “Lisbon Martina would absolutely be a girl-who-eats-pre-packed-salads-for-lunch.”; “Paris me drinks 3 different kombuchas.”
It’s like trying on lifestyles without committing to rent.
And it’s the closest thing to rediscovering the 3 P’s of marketing in real life. Product. Price. Place. I turn into a professional shopper.
I realised supermarkets are basically the Museum of Branding but with fluorescent lighting.
Every aisle is a story about how the country sees food, money, convenience, and pleasure.
The packaging. The prices. The new flavours. The portion sizes.
It tells you more about the local culture than half the tours in the city.
You learn what people eat after work. You learn what kids put in their lunchboxes. You learn if the economy is doing well by how much cheese costs. (Real economists will hate this.)
You also start imagining your life there, like a simulation.
“Ok if I lived in Amsterdam I'd probably buy this yogurt every day.”; “Lisbon Martina would absolutely be a girl-who-eats-pre-packed-salads-for-lunch.”; “Paris me drinks 3 different kombuchas.”
It’s like trying on lifestyles without committing to rent.
And it’s the closest thing to rediscovering the 3 P’s of marketing in real life. Product. Price. Place. I turn into a professional shopper.
I realised supermarkets are basically the Museum of Branding but with fluorescent lighting.
Every aisle is a story about how the country sees food, money, convenience, and pleasure.
The packaging. The prices. The new flavours. The portion sizes.
It tells you more about the local culture than half the tours in the city.
You learn what people eat after work. You learn what kids put in their lunchboxes. You learn if the economy is doing well by how much cheese costs. (Real economists will hate this.)
You also start imagining your life there, like a simulation.
“Ok if I lived in Amsterdam I'd probably buy this yogurt every day.”; “Lisbon Martina would absolutely be a girl-who-eats-pre-packed-salads-for-lunch.”; “Paris me drinks 3 different kombuchas.”
It’s like trying on lifestyles without committing to rent.
And it’s the closest thing to rediscovering the 3 P’s of marketing in real life. Product. Price. Place. I turn into a professional shopper.
I realised supermarkets are basically the Museum of Branding but with fluorescent lighting.
Every aisle is a story about how the country sees food, money, convenience, and pleasure.
The packaging. The prices. The new flavours. The portion sizes.
It tells you more about the local culture than half the tours in the city.
You learn what people eat after work. You learn what kids put in their lunchboxes. You learn if the economy is doing well by how much cheese costs. (Real economists will hate this.)
You also start imagining your life there, like a simulation.
“Ok if I lived in Amsterdam I'd probably buy this yogurt every day.”; “Lisbon Martina would absolutely be a girl-who-eats-pre-packed-salads-for-lunch.”; “Paris me drinks 3 different kombuchas.”
It’s like trying on lifestyles without committing to rent.
And it’s the closest thing to rediscovering the 3 P’s of marketing in real life. Product. Price. Place. I turn into a professional shopper.
Don't get me started on snacks...
Finding a new comfort snack abroad should be considered a valid spiritual awakening. You’re suddenly 7 years old again.
Seeing colours and shapes you don’t recognise. Trying things you don’t know how to pronounce. Letting your curiosity choose your sugar content for the day.
And beverages…
That’s my soft spot.
Every country has 17 Red Bull flavours you’ve never seen. I am a loyal researcher. For science.
Then the meal deals. The packed salads. The sandwiches. The “buy 3 for £5 because we know you’re tired” economics.
Don't get me started on snacks...
Finding a new comfort snack abroad should be considered a valid spiritual awakening. You’re suddenly 7 years old again.
Seeing colours and shapes you don’t recognise. Trying things you don’t know how to pronounce. Letting your curiosity choose your sugar content for the day.
And beverages…
That’s my soft spot.
Every country has 17 Red Bull flavours you’ve never seen. I am a loyal researcher. For science.
Then the meal deals. The packed salads. The sandwiches. The “buy 3 for £5 because we know you’re tired” economics.
Don't get me started on snacks...
Finding a new comfort snack abroad should be considered a valid spiritual awakening. You’re suddenly 7 years old again.
Seeing colours and shapes you don’t recognise. Trying things you don’t know how to pronounce. Letting your curiosity choose your sugar content for the day.
And beverages…
That’s my soft spot.
Every country has 17 Red Bull flavours you’ve never seen. I am a loyal researcher. For science.
Then the meal deals. The packed salads. The sandwiches. The “buy 3 for £5 because we know you’re tired” economics.
Don't get me started on snacks...
Finding a new comfort snack abroad should be considered a valid spiritual awakening. You’re suddenly 7 years old again.
Seeing colours and shapes you don’t recognise. Trying things you don’t know how to pronounce. Letting your curiosity choose your sugar content for the day.
And beverages…
That’s my soft spot.
Every country has 17 Red Bull flavours you’ve never seen. I am a loyal researcher. For science.
Then the meal deals. The packed salads. The sandwiches. The “buy 3 for £5 because we know you’re tired” economics.
Grocery stores are like little mirrors
And honestly grocery shopping is adorable when you think about it.
You walk into a place full of food. You pick what looks good. And then you get to eat it. Hunter-gatherer core. But with air conditioning and oat milk.
For me supermarkets abroad are the most low-effort high-reward cultural immersion activity that exists.
Cheap. Fun. Data-rich.
And you walk out with snacks.
Tell me what other museum lets you do that.
Grocery stores are like little mirrors
And honestly grocery shopping is adorable when you think about it.
You walk into a place full of food. You pick what looks good. And then you get to eat it. Hunter-gatherer core. But with air conditioning and oat milk.
For me supermarkets abroad are the most low-effort high-reward cultural immersion activity that exists.
Cheap. Fun. Data-rich.
And you walk out with snacks.
Tell me what other museum lets you do that.
Grocery stores are like little mirrors
And honestly grocery shopping is adorable when you think about it.
You walk into a place full of food. You pick what looks good. And then you get to eat it. Hunter-gatherer core. But with air conditioning and oat milk.
For me supermarkets abroad are the most low-effort high-reward cultural immersion activity that exists.
Cheap. Fun. Data-rich.
And you walk out with snacks.
Tell me what other museum lets you do that.
Grocery stores are like little mirrors
And honestly grocery shopping is adorable when you think about it.
You walk into a place full of food. You pick what looks good. And then you get to eat it. Hunter-gatherer core. But with air conditioning and oat milk.
For me supermarkets abroad are the most low-effort high-reward cultural immersion activity that exists.
Cheap. Fun. Data-rich.
And you walk out with snacks.
Tell me what other museum lets you do that.
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We are more than an agency. We are a global collective focused on bringing creativity and innovation to consumer brands. We leverage our deep experience to partner with industry leaders and inspired brands, bringing big ideas to life and moving business forward.
©2026 Brandissimo.us
Let's Chat
hello@brandissimo.us
Careers & Applications
hiring@brandissimo.us
We are more than an agency. We are a global collective focused on bringing creativity and innovation to consumer brands. We leverage our deep experience to partner with industry leaders and inspired brands, bringing big ideas to life and moving business forward.
©2026 Brandissimo.us
Let's Chat
hello@brandissimo.us
Careers & Applications
hiring@brandissimo.us
We are more than an agency. We are a global collective focused on bringing creativity and innovation to consumer brands. We leverage our deep experience to partner with industry leaders and inspired brands, bringing big ideas to life and moving business forward.
Let's Chat
hello@brandissimo.us
Careers & Applications
hiring@brandissimo.us
©2026 Brandissimo.us
We are more than an agency. We are a global collective focused on bringing creativity and innovation to consumer brands. We leverage our deep experience to partner with industry leaders and inspired brands, bringing big ideas to life and moving business forward.
©2026 Brandissimo.us
Let's Chat
hello@brandissimo.us
Careers & Applications
hiring@brandissimo.us