Thursday, October 11, 2007

More Reasons to Love S&R

We went to S&R yesterday for groceries as well as looking to price vitamins because they 1. sell the huge Costco size bottles and 2) have better prices than Mercury Drugs (the local drugstore here). There were no vitamins to be seen yesterday which was completely random as their selection is usually really good. I asked a girl stocking the shelves and she told me there were no more vitamins in any branches. At checkout we asked one of the supervisors who informed us that the vitamins were only temporarily not being sold and they expected to have them back on the shelves soon (it was over some random paperwork with the Food & Drug Bureau). Not only was she helpful, she even offered to take our number so she could call us when they are back on the shelves! How nice is that!!!

Another side reason I love S&R is the uniforms their checkers wear. An odd thing to me about the Philippines is all the check-out girls (always women--never men) at grocery stores are in a uniform that includes a skirt, stockings, and heels. I think for a job that requires you to stand on your feet all day, it is insane to wear heels! Even low ones are insane! My feet used to ache at the end of the work day and I spent 8-9 hours of it at a desk! I cannot imagine working retail in heels! I love that the checkers at S&R are in: jeans, polos, and sneakers. That to me is an appropriate and comfortable uniform for standing on your feet all day. I love it.

Only reasons for me not to love S&R are the cruddy bakery (I wouldn't want to buy anything from it--soft baguettes and dried up pies are the better of the offerings) and the way I can get excited about an item to then find it slightly off the mark. For example, yesterday they had Triscuits which I love and hadn't been able to find for months and months (I blame Mom for my love of Triscuits. Growing up, this was our junk food). Unfortunately they were cheddar flavor. I did not even know Triscuit made a cheddar flavor. Blech. Once I find plain triscuits again and parmesan flavored goldfish crackers, I will be set for junk food.

On a random aside, while I cannot find tricuits here, I have found some great olive tapenade and tahini paste (two items I used to bring back from the states) as well as a very decent Indian restaurant. Life is looking up.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi! my mom and i want to shop at S&R but got to know that you can only shop if you're a member.. what are the reqts we need to have before becoming a member? thanks in advance! enjoy your shopping ;)

kikas_head said...

Thank you for visiting my blog! Membership at S&R is P700 for one year and they always have some random promo (when we signed up it was a free bucket of candy). If you plan to only shop their once in a while, you can get a day pass and they will add 5% to all of your purchases. The P700 is worth it for us....we shop there a lot.

Anonymous said...

oh i see.. thanks for that info =) do i/we need to bring any documents needed for the membership? i think my mom will enjoy shopping there since my mom loves to buy in bulk and is also very fond of imported goods.. thanks again for your immediate response =)

kikas_head said...

No, we did not have anything. They might have asked for an ID but even then it may have been because I used a credit card.

Honestly most of the items that we were requested to bring back from the states for family members can be found here. Their produce and meats (at least at the QC branch) are not as good as we can find at other grocery stores or wet markets (but they do have a lot of imported meats which look fine).

Unknown said...

Hi I'm interested in applying for a membership at S&R but the only branch I know of is the one in Fort, and I live in QC. I was wondering if you knew where their other branches are.

Unknown said...

Frances, the one that's closest to you is the one on Congressional. The others are in Alabang, Makati, and there is one at the FORT.


The Filipinoys Forum
http://s1.zetaboards.com/The_Filipinoys_Forum

Anonymous said...

I found a really great website which gives you tips on where you can find imported food items and hard-to-find ingredients. Take a look here (I love this site):

Market Manila
http://www.marketmanila.com/
They even have recipes for Filipino dishes.

This thread has a long list of places where you can find hard-to-find food items (some includes phone #, website addresses and locations):
http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/where-can-i-findbuy

jaeden said...

Are you still able to find Triscuits in S&R? I haven't seen them in the year that I've moved here and I'm desperately craving them. I just returned from Canada and the box I brought lasted me a little over a week.

kikas_head said...

Jaeden--I am not sure where you live but if you can get to Greenhills easily, Unimart (the large grocery there) usually has them. Not always, but I know they did last week. It is one of their regularly stocked items I believe as I have found them there a bunch of times.

jaeden said...

I live in the Alabang area but I'll ask a friend to check out Unimart. Thanks so much! It's nice to find someone who's also moved here from North America. Seems you are very well adjusted. I'm a bit jealous haha

Lone Ranger said...

Hey! I've been in the Philippines for about 2 months now and my Cap'n Crunch cravings are starting to kick in. You think they have a box in S&R? Don't want to waste my membership money in case I go there and not find a box. Thanks!

jaeden said...

I've never seen Captain Crunch there. I'd probably try somewhere like Metro (Market Market, Fort Bonifacio) or South Super in Alabang. They always seem to have some American cereals.

kikas_head said...

I have never seen Captain Crunch there either. Check out the stores Jaeden suggested--those are really your best bets. If you are up north in my neck of the woods, check out Unimart (again, I cannot think if they have Captain Crunch there). Also some of the larger Rustan's may have it. Often you can call a grocery store and they will tell you if an item is in stock.

Either way you will have to go to S&R to get the good milk for your cereal. If you really cannot find it anywhere, buy it online and ship it here via Johnny Air. I am going to S&R this afternoon and if I see Captain Crunch there I will be sure to let you know.

kikas_head said...

I was there today and they do have Captain Crunch. It is sold in those massive Costco size boxes and is a combo of plain and berry.

Anonymous said...

hello...my husband is interested in S&R but i don't know where are the branches...where can i find it in alabang???

jaeden said...

S&R is located along Alabang-Zapote Road? If you're coming from Ayala Alabang or that area, you'd drive past Alabang Town Centre and it'd be on your right. It's near Westgate.

S&R actually has a website www.snrshopping.com. You can find more information on their site.

Anonymous said...

thanks for that info...it really helps

Anonymous said...

hello... i just want to ask if S&R sells imported toiletries as well.. i'm having a hard time looking for my shampoo and deodorant here.. thanks.. :D

kikas_head said...

They do....what brands specifically are you looking for? Imported toiletries are fairly easy to find and as far as drugstore brands go, I have never noticed any difference between say Dove soap made regionally versus the soap I buy when in the US. If you can tell me the brand, I can tell you if/where I have seen it. The only items that are harder to find are some of the salon brands and even those are here; they can just be very pricey.

Anonymous said...

garnier fructis shampoo and lady speed stick... thank you so much for your help.. :D

kikas_head said...

I was at S&R yesterday and they had the fructis shampoo & conditioner BUT there were not very many at the branch I was at. Give them a call--they will actually check stock for you. Sorry, I did not note the price which in hindsight probably would have been nice...

Anonymous said...

thank you very much.. :D

Anonymous said...

Hi. I am wondering if portable washing machines are available in S&R in Fort Bonifacio Branch. I am interested to buy one. - Dwight

Anonymous said...

hi! do they have tons of gerber product? like cookies, puffs and tetra packed juices? thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi, do you know where I can buy Teen spirit deodorant here? Thanks

Anonymous said...

i just want to ask if S&R sell branded clothes & shoes! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi Thank you so much for all the information.
Just want to ask if the prices here in S&R is more cheaper than the other supermarkets here in the Phils. (like SM, Landmark, Puregold)

Would be happy if you could help me with some information.

Thank you so much :)

Unknown said...

are the clothes they sell there overruns or fakes?

Anonymous said...

There is one in Shaw

Anonymous said...

Hi! Can I use my mom's S&R membership car even if she's not with me when I shop?

Anonymous said...

Do they sell normal philippine size cereals in S&R? Or just those big boxes?