It does not have the same ambience as shopping in a small shop or market but the problems that may arise in buying two apples rather than a kilo can be easily obviated.
But assured travellers will insist that you miss a lot, pushing your trolley down the aisles surrounded by canyons of products.
Admittedly this exercise allows you to examine the varieties of biscuits, or tinned fruit or sauces minutely but it can be an impersonal exercise especially in a country like France which prides itself on its gastronomy.
Nothing can compare to the charcuteries where customers queue out the door, the patisseries where so much care and attention is devoted to packing the cakes – almost as much as baking and intricately decorating them. Fish shops, cheese shops, they all provide a gamut of choice which is a delight to explore.
But M. Sarkozy, their controversial prime minister, is all set to change this with his 'modernising the economy' initiative which is due to be debated soon in parliament.
The aim of the new law will be to allow supermarket to open anywhere. And the small shopkeepers in towns and villages are up in arms about it.
Does this sound a little 'deja vu'? Back home we all know of the popularity of supermarket shopping, often for its sheer convenience – no parking problems, you can shop for a week or more and if you're a busy housewife this cuts shopping time to a minimum.
Over the years we have become very familiar with the arguments: from one side the shopkeepers in town centres are feeling the draught and many going out of business; from the other the sheer choice makes it seem feasible.
Now it appears France which prides itself on its independent shops, its markets and more, is going to go through the same process.
Ironically, consumers here are now coming round to farmers markets and specialist shops. It is now becoming a passion. So have we come full circle and will it eventually happen in France?
It is comforting in a way to know that in Europe they have the same kind of problems as ourselves. Will the French take it lying down?
You can bet they will be out protesting, parading the streets, blocking the traffic, getting het up and emotional. Sometimes all this seems to work. We'll have to wait and see.