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If you’re at a loss for what to make for dinner, a trip to an international supermarket could be just what you need to spark some culinary inspiration — while potentially saving a little money on your grocery bill.
Whether you’ll actually save, however, depends on what’s in your cart.
“Savvy shoppers can compare and see whether or not they’re getting good deals,” Barbara E. Kahn, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, told Fox News Digital.
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“If the supermarket caters to a specialized segment, they may sell enough to reduce their costs of stocking those specialized items,” she said.
“On the other hand, it’s possible that some of these specialized international markets are stocking premium products that you can’t get anywhere else, so there’s an exclusivity aspect to it, and some of those prices might be higher.”
Research shows that savings at international supermarkets tend to be category-specific.
International supermarkets can introduce shoppers to unfamiliar ingredients while offering competitive prices on certain grocery staples. (iStock)
International grocery stores, particularly Asian chains, have been growing their revenue in recent years.
The Associated Press reported in August 2025 on IBISWorld data showing that international supermarkets and small grocery stores took in $55.8 billion in 2024 and had grown roughly 3% a year since 2019, with revenue forecast to top $64 billion by 2029.
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Analysts have attributed rising demand to demographic shifts, such as growth in Asian and Hispanic populations, and consumers — especially younger shoppers — seeking new and different flavors.
“Everywhere you go in America, you’re going to find immigrants, and those immigrants are still cooking their foods from their countries and cultures.”
In addition to being a place to shop for a deal, international supermarkets can get the creative juices flowing in the kitchen.
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Adding just one or two unfamiliar ingredients to your cooking can make a big difference, Palina Louangketh, director of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, told the AP.
“Coming here to an international market, you get both a dose of cultural experience but also healthy, fresh exotic ingredients,” she said.
International supermarkets can offer shoppers savings on certain foods, though experts say prices vary by product and store. (iStock)
“It doesn’t have to be so scary or unique. If you pair your protein with vegetables and with a starch and add savoriness to it — soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce — you’re covered.”
You also don’t need to whip up an elaborate meal full of exotic ingredients right from the get-go.
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“Look at something you really like and see the iterations of it around the world,” Beryl Shereshewsky, a New York-based video producer whose YouTube channel focuses on food and cultures from around the world, told the AP. “That way you add a couple of new ingredients and you’re trying something new from something that’s familiar.”
International supermarkets can be confusing and intimidating. They may also be difficult to find.
Soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce and hoisin sauce are among the ingredients that can add new flavors to familiar meals. (iStock)
Shereshewsky recommended venturing outside your usual neighborhood to find new shops.
“I think you would be surprised by how many international markets exist, even in small towns and cities,” she said. “Everywhere you go in America, you’re going to find immigrants, and those immigrants are still cooking their foods from their countries and cultures.”
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Experts also suggest researching recipes and coming up with a shopping list before heading to the store.
