So I’ve been in Toulouse this week and although I love nothing more than spending time with my family and exploring the wealth of culture this fantastic city has to offer, I also can’t help going round a few local convenience stores. Je suis triste.
First up was a brilliant little BIOCOOP near our apartment. Full of amazing fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a vast range of organic and free from produce you’d expect to see in most Wholefoods stores in the UK. Bio wines and protein rich health bars tapping into relevant trends. The biggest win for me though was there focus on ‘package and waste free’ shopping with most dried produce (rice, pasta, pulses and cereals) available in pick and mix style to ensure you only buy what you want as well as cutting down on packaging waste. They even had reusable egg containers. The small things can make a big difference.
Elsewhere in the more traditional convenience stores such as Carrefour Express and Casino I saw strong ranges of beer+spirit mixers (think Desperados), clearly a bigger trend in France than in England but something to look out for as we constantly see shoppers looking for new twists on the traditional.
Although going on a city break with a 15 month old isn’t like it used to be. Say goodbye to late evening drinks alfresco watching the buzz of the city, and say hello to in bed by 9pm, but we wouldn’t change it for the world.
Go explore this weekend!
Blake
