/ Reviews
Laowai's Basket
Xintiandi is probably not the place you'd think of to do your grocery shopping, but it's exactly the location chosen by the two partners who recently opened Laowai's Basket. The venue‘s aim is to provide an alternative solution to a dilemma commonly faced by foreigners; offering imported goods at a reasonable price. Presently, there is but one store, located near Xintiandi. The store is clean and newly decorated, while perhaps a little stuffy, due in part to the venue's rather small available space. The goods offered are also presently quite limited, but there's an array of different products ranging from spices, muesli and cheese, various beverages to personal hygiene products. Most of them are imported from the US or Europe. If the product you're looking for isn't available, there's an option of suggesting it to the store, who will then try their best to get it for you.
Co-founder and interior designer Mimi Lin claims that they're able to provide affordable prices because money is not the store's main target in its early stage. Perspectively, the store is slightly cheaper than the bigger and more exlusive supermarkets, be it for famous brands or for less renowned products. If you live around Xintiandi, you can even get free delivery to your home. You might experience problems with your more complicated orders, however, as the staff only seems to speak basic English.
The idea of a little store within walking distance is appealing to every expat who's used to trecking over to the larger, expensive supermarkets for their daily products. It remains to be seen if the concept of Laowai's Basket will work out. There are plans for more stores to open in the future, but nothing has been set yet. There's also a website, but as of now, it hasn't been properly updated, so you're better off have a look for yourself - depending on your lifestyle and taste, you might find nothing, something or everything you need.