Comedian mocks middle-class British tourists’ obsession with French supermarkets in hilarious clip

A woman on holiday in France has tapped into Britain’s obsession with le supermarché with a tongue-in-cheek video that shows her perusing local delicacies. 

Tatty Macleod, a bilingual comedian who grew up in both Britain and France, shared a tour of French supermarket Carrefour on her Instagram page, prompting fans to comment in their droves about their own joyful experiences of food shopping overseas.

French supermarkets have a reputation for being some of the best in the world, often with charming bakeries, fresh and affordable produce and cheap bottles of champagne.

‘It’s just my happy place it really is,’ Macleod exclaims outside the entrance to Carrefour, a popular French supermarket chain that prides itself on stocking a wide range of fresh and local produce.

‘Champagne, €13,’ Macleod continued, before deliberating over whether to buy ‘langue’, or ‘cow’s tongue’, concluding: ‘I’m sure it’s delicious, the French made it.’

French supermarkets have a reputation  for offering high-quality products at affordable prices 

 ‘Just take a photo of me to send to Julie,’ the comedian, whose astute observations of British and French culture have won her legions of fans online, continued. 

She then concluded: ‘Just so civilised – honestly, they know what they’re doing. I’m not moving back to England, I love it here.’

The video has certainly resonated, amassing over 120K likes on Instagram, with Macleod’s followers in full agreement on the allure of French supermarkets.

Although Macleod’s video is satirical in tone, her followers have responded without a hint of irony over their adoration for supermarket shopping abroad.

‘I had a tantrum in a Carrefour last year because my husband insisted he and our 7 year old come along. Me hissing ‘YOU’RE SPOILING THIS FOR ME’ in the fresh fish section,’ wrote @louise.pepper.

To which another follower, with the username @familycampingeurope, replied: ‘Urgh, the worst. I want to take 4 hours of rest and relaxation in a supermarket not be rushed around by the husband and nagged at by my children.’

While another, @rook_lauren, wrote: ‘Literally the main reason I go to France – I sympathise hugely.’

French supermarkets have a loyal following online according to these Instagram users 

And another, @peakay81, quipped: ‘If Carrefour opened a supermarket in Dover it would have queues back to London.’

While @amymaskell wrote: ‘I have a cupboard of canned French goods which I know I absolutely will never eat.’

Part of the fun of going on holiday is becoming immersed in the local culture – and for many of us Britons that means a trip to the local supermarket to learn more about – and indulge in – regional food. 

France, in particular, has a reputation for high-quality local foods at inexpensive prices, as social media user @sairzg explains.

‘How is it different from an English supermarket? Just curious. I’m French,’ asked @at_lottie_s.

To which @sairzg replied: ‘It’s the variety and the quality… French food has such a high-quality standard, so much to choose from and inexpensive.

‘It’s def good fun walking the aisles of Carrefour. And Picard is the best!’

Macleod was partcularly glowing about the €13 champagne on offer and told viewers the allure of its supermarkets is enough to keep her in France for good 

While @dave.love.3990 responded: ‘I think it depends where you go, in both countries. I spend a lot of time in France and find odd differences between both.

‘I’m still amazed at how expensive meat is in France despite all the farmland you have.

‘There are less pre-prepared meals in French supermarkets but you still have huge frozen food sections like the UK.’

Macleod does have a point on champagne being more affordable across the channel due to the proximity of production.

The average price of a bottle of champagne in French supermarkets in 2023 was €23.60, according to stats from NielsenIQ, the market research group – a sizable discount in comparison with a £35 bottle of Moët & Chandon.