• I’m an American living in France who shops at Auchan, which reminds me of Costco.
• The hypermarket features an enormous selection of wines, meats, yogurt, and other French fare. 
• Similar to Costco, Auchan also features a wide variety of home goods.

When I moved from the US to France, I had envisioned buying local leafy greens at charming farmers markets and tucking baguettes into the crook of my arm. But more often than not, I find myself buying groceries at Auchan, a hypermarket I liken to France’s version of Costco.

Auchan is one of the biggest grocery stores in France with over 4,000 locations across 17 countries. Founded in 1961, the chain is known for carrying a rotating stock of groceries, clothes, home goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.

It reminds me of American wholesale retailer Costco because of its massive size and broad range of products, including aisles dedicated entirely to yogurt. And although there are two Costco locations in France, Auchan is only 20 minutes from my home. 

Here’s a look at what it’s like shopping at Auchan.