Supermarkets in Turkey: The 2026 Smart Shopping Guide

Walking into a Turkish supermarket today isn’t just about grabbing dinnerit’s witnessing the economy in real-time. It’s no longer about simply filling the fridge; it’s a strategic game against inflation where the choice between the yellow and-blue “A101” sign and the orange “Migros” M can mean a serious difference in your monthly budget. In an era where a liter of milk fluctuates wildly between 35 TL and 50 TL depending on the week, knowledge isn’t just powerit’s savings.

This guide isn’t a dry business report. We are cutting through the marketing noise to show you what is actually happening in the aisles and at the checkout counters in December 2025. From the dominating discounters to the reality of digital payments, here is your practitioner’s guide to survival.

The Market Leaders: The Battle of the Discounters

Turkish retail is ruled by three giants. Walk through the streets of Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir, and you will realize: there is hardly a corner without one of these three.

BİM: The Undisputed King

With 14,075 stores (as of June 2025), BİM is the benchmark. They are everywherenot just in Turkey, but now with hundreds of branches in Morocco and Egypt. The concept is radically simple: “Hard Discount.” Do not expect ambiance. Cardboard boxes are often stacked directly on the floor, but that is exactly what keeps prices down. BİM carries “Dost” dairy products and other private labels that often match big brands in quality but cost a fraction of the price. If you need to save, you go to BİM.

A101: The Everything Store

A101 is the country’s largest employer with over 70,000 staff and more than 13,000 branches by late 2025. The difference from BİM? A101 often sells major brand names alongside private labels and has a surprising focus on technology. You might suddenly find televisions or even boats in their weekly “Aktüel” (Current Deals) catalog. Fun Fact: If you are looking for iPhone 16 prices in Turkey, older models sometimes pop up surprisingly cheap in their online shop.

Şok: The Golden Middle

With 11,018 stores (Q1 2025), Şok positions itself slightly more neatly. Their campaign for the 2026 transition, “Yıl Biter Ucuzluk Bitmez” (The Year Ends, The Cheapness Doesn’t), targets the inflation weary middle class perfectly. Şok is known for its “Mintax” cleaning products and a slightly more pleasant store atmosphere than its hardest competitors.

The Premium League: Quality Over Price

If you are looking for specific imported goods, a massive cheese selection, or simply wider aisles, you need to leave the discounters behind.

Migros: The Modern Classic

For many expats, Migros is the anchor of normality. With a 16.8% share of the modern FMCG market (2025), Migros isn’t cheap, but it is smart. The key here is the Money Kart (or the app). Without this card, you often pay 20-30% more. Over 24 million users already rely on this loyalty program. Migros categorizes its stores by size: M (small local markets) up to 5M (massive hypermarkets). If you are exploring the best Turkish cheese varieties, the deli counter at a 3M or 5M Migros is your best friend.

CarrefourSA: The French Influence

Despite constant sales rumors which Sabancı officially denied again in December 2025—CarrefourSA remains strong with 1,203 branches. Their “Gourmet” branches are particularly excellent for fresh fish and meat. If you are looking for European standards in the cold chain, this is the place.

Macrocenter: Pure Luxury

With only 244 branches, Macrocenter is the exclusive sister of Migros. The motto “Kutlamaya Değer” (Worth Celebrating) is the program here. You will find avocados that are actually ripe, imported sauces, and a deli counter that reminds you more of Munich or London than a typical local market. Prices are high, but for special occasions, there is no alternative.

Practical Tips: How to Pay and Save in 2026

Forget the outdated advice. Here is how shopping actually works right now.

1. The Truth About Apple Pay

It is late 2025, and Apple Pay is still not officially supported for Turkish bank cards. Do not try to tap your iPhone at the terminal if you are using a local Turkish cardit won’t work. However, if you are a tourist or expat using a foreign card, the contactless terminals will usually accept it. For locals, the dominant tech is QR Codes. Almost everyone pays via banking apps or systems like Migros MoneyPay (46.2 million transactions last year) by scanning a QR code.

2. Use the State Price Comparison Tool

New this year: Use the platform marketfiyati.org.tr. This tool, initiated by the Ministry of Industry, compares over 50,000 products from BİM, A101, Şok, and Migros in real-time. Before you buy bulk packs, a quick glance at your phone is worth the effort.

3. Online Orders: Who Delivers What?

If you want to avoid the chaos of the store, online shopping in Turkey is extremely efficient:

• A101 Kapıda: Delivers everything, including fresh goods. Cost: approx. 39.90 TL, but often free for orders over 1,000 TL.
• Cepte ŞOK: Offers same day delivery or “Click & Collect.” You can even pay cash at the door.
• BİM Online: Focuses almost exclusively on non food (electronics, household appliances) with free delivery. Do not expect fresh tomatoes by post here.

Essential Shopping Vocabulary

English often won’t help you at the checkout line. These are the terms you need to know:

Shopping in Turkey is an experience balanced between traditional hospitality and modern efficiency pressure. If you are looking for specialty items like tea or spices, the local bazaar is still worth the trip. For everything else, the supermarkets are well equippedprovided you have the right app installed.