Supermarkets and Grocery Shopping in Denmark

Denmark is an expensive country. That is just true. But grocery costs are more manageable than most newcomers expect if you shop at the right supermarkets and know which categories to avoid or substitute. This guide breaks down every major chain, what belongs in your basket, and how to cut your food bill without eating badly.

The Supermarket Chains

Discount Chains (Cheapest)

Lidl — The cheapest overall for most staple items. German-owned and operating the same model as everywhere: private-label products, rotating special buys (Lidl Plus app for extra discounts), and a no-frills store environment. Quality has improved significantly over the years. For fruit, vegetables, dairy, and frozen food, Lidl is hard to beat on price. Their bakery section (fresh bread baked in-store daily) is notably good for the price.

Aldi — Similar positioning to Lidl. Slightly smaller store format in Denmark. Own-brand products are well-made and significantly cheaper than branded equivalents. Particularly good for cooking staples — flour, oil, pasta, rice.

Netto — Denmark's own discount chain, owned by Salling Group (same parent company as Føtex and Bilka). More outlets than any other chain in Denmark — you'll find one in almost every neighbourhood. Prices are a step above Lidl/Aldi but below mid-range chains. The selection is wider and includes more Danish-brand products. Strong on dairy, chilled meat, and bread.

Rema 1000 — Norwegian-owned, very popular in Denmark. Known for its "everyday low price" model with limited promotional sales. The selection is curated (fewer choices per category than Føtex, but well-chosen). Very reliable for fresh produce. Increasingly stocking organic options at competitive prices.

Mid-Range

Føtex — The mid-range workhorse of Danish grocery. Part of the Salling Group. Wider selection than discount chains, includes a good deli counter, fresh fish, and a broader range of international products. Prices are 15–25% higher than Netto on average. Worth visiting for things you can't find at the discounters.

SuperBrugsen and Dagli'Brugsen — Cooperative-owned chain (FDB Coop). Similar positioning to Føtex. Often found in smaller towns and neighbourhoods where the major chains are absent. Good quality, reliable, slightly premium to mid-range pricing.

Meny — Decent fresh produce section, well-stocked deli. Mid-range with some premium touches. Common in coastal suburbs and smaller towns.

Upmarket

Irma — Denmark's premium supermarket. Founded in 1886, it occupies the top of the market. Known for quality, strong organic and local sourcing, and a genuinely pleasant shopping experience. Prices are 30–50% above discount chains. Not for your weekly shop unless money is not a concern — but worth the occasional visit for specific quality items (their smoked salmon, organic dairy, and artisan bread are notably good).

Price Comparison: A Realistic Basket

Here's what a basic weekly basket costs across the main chains (approximate 2026 prices):

A weekly shop for one person at Lidl or Netto: DKK 350–500. At Føtex: DKK 450–650. At Irma: DKK 700–1,000.

What's Expensive in Denmark

• Meat — all meat is expensive relative to most countries. Beef especially. Expect DKK 80–150 for a decent steak.
• Alcohol — beer and wine are taxed heavily. A six-pack of Carlsberg is DKK 50–60 in supermarkets. Wine starts at DKK 50 for a bottle but anything drinkable is DKK 70–100.
• Organic everything — Denmark has among the highest organic consumption per capita in the world. Organic options are everywhere but carry a 30–50% premium even at discount chains.
• Cheese — Danish cheese is actually good (especially Havarti, Esrom, and Danbo) but not cheap.

Alcohol in Danish Supermarkets

Unlike many countries, Denmark allows the sale of all alcohol — including spirits — in regular supermarkets. There is no equivalent of Sweden's Systembolaget or Norway's Vinmonopolet. You can buy vodka, rum, whisky, and aquavit at Netto. The only restriction is age (18+ for all alcohol) and that sales stop at midnight in most places.

Danish Food Worth Trying

• Rugbrød — dense, fermented rye bread. Tastes nothing like what most non-Scandinavians expect from "rye bread." Acquired taste but deeply satisfying. Eat with butter and toppings.
• Leverpostej — Danish liver pâté, sold in tubs everywhere. Spread on rugbrød with pickled beetroot and cucumber. Very cheap, very Danish.
• Wienerbrød — what the rest of the world calls "Danish pastry." In Denmark, every bakery and supermarket sells these fresh daily. The ones from actual bakeries (Lagkagehuset, Ole & Steen) are far better than supermarket versions.
• Smørrebrød — open-faced sandwiches on rugbrød with toppings. Typically made at home for lunch.
• Skyr — Icelandic but ubiquitous in Denmark. High-protein yogurt-style dairy. Very cheap at DKK 10–15 for a large tub. Excellent.

International Food in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has a genuinely good selection of international food shops:

• Nørrebro — the most diverse neighbourhood in Denmark. Multiple Asian supermarkets (Kowloon Supermarket on Ravnsborggade is excellent), Turkish and Middle Eastern grocery shops on Nørrebrogade, African food shops.
• Vesterbro — Indian grocery shops near Istedgade and Saxogade. Spices, lentils, basmati rice, and fresh curry leaves available.
• Torvehallerne — Copenhagen's covered market at Israels Plads. Upscale but a good source for specialty ingredients, fresh fish from quality suppliers, and artisan products.
• Asian supermarkets in Aarhus — Chinatown Supermarket on Frederiksgade is the main one, with a reasonable selection of East and Southeast Asian ingredients.

Online Grocery and Delivery

• Nemlig.com — Denmark's major online-only grocery service. Wide selection, good prices, reliable next-day delivery. Minimum order applies. Very popular with families.
• Kolonial.dk — similar model, strong on fresh and organic products.
• Coop.dk — the cooperative chain's online store, with delivery or click-and-collect from SuperBrugsen and Kvickly locations.
• Wolt and Just Eat — restaurant delivery apps, but both now offer grocery delivery from local shops too (more expensive, best for forgotten items rather than weekly shops).

Too Good To Go

This is worth a specific mention. Too Good To Go is a food waste app where cafes, bakeries, and supermarkets sell end-of-day surplus as mystery bags at 30–60% of normal price. Denmark is one of the most active countries in the world for the app — nearly every Lidl, many Netto stores, independent bakeries, and cafes participate. A "magic bag" from a bakery might cost DKK 25–40 and contain bread, pastries, and rolls worth DKK 80–120. Download it in your first week.

For a full breakdown of which stores participate, tips for grabbing popular bags before they sell out, and how much you can realistically save, see the complete Too Good To Go guide for Denmark.