Supermarkets in Filadelfia: how to choose for weekly shopping

In Filadelfia the weekly shop revolves around the town centre: that's where the large Cooperativa Fernheim supermarket is, with parking and a food court, and it is the last place to stock up properly before heading deeper into the Chaco. The city's supermarkets are listed above; here is how to choose where to shop and how to plan around the heat and the distances.

How grocery shopping works in Filadelfia

Filadelfia grew out of Colonia Fernheim, a Mennonite settlement, and the cooperative is still the town's economic engine: it runs a dairy, a peanut and sesame plant and a meat-packing business (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). In 2018 the cooperative built a new supermarket in the centre with a 3,500 m² main hall, a food court and expanded parking (ABC Color, 2018⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). In 2023 ABC described it as a modern supermarket that also sells artisan foods made by local residents (ABC Color, 2023⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

Besides the central supermarket there are corner shops and small self-service stores in the neighbourhoods. Rule of thumb: big shop in the centre, small top-ups near home.

Big supermarket or corner shop?

• Central supermarket: wider range, full chilled section and local products (dairy, cured meats, baked goods). Best for the weekly shop and for loading up before a trip into the Chaco.
• Neighbourhood corner shop: bread, milk, soft drinks and whatever ran out mid-week. Closer and faster, but less choice.

If you are new in town, find Avenida Hindenburg, the main avenue (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), and head to the centre from there.

Shopping in the Chaco heat

Summers in Filadelfia go above 40 °C (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), and ABC reported 40 degrees even in August (ABC Color, 2023⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). That changes how you shop:

1. Keep a cool box or insulated bag in the car for dairy, meat and frozen food.
2. Pick up chilled items last and drive straight home.
3. Shop early in the morning, when produce is freshest and the car is not an oven.
4. Don't leave groceries in a car parked in the sun while you run other errands.

What to buy before heading into the Chaco

Filadelfia is the last place to get groceries before going further out into the Chaco (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you are going to a ranch, working on the road or touring the area:

• Plenty of bottled water. The town's drinking water comes from rain-fed cisterns, and the groundwater is too salty to drink (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Food that survives the heat: tins, crackers, dried fruit, packaged bread.
• Ice for the cool box.
• Fuel and cash, in case there is nowhere to fill up or withdraw later.

Shop the day before you leave, not at the last minute.

What to check before you go

• Weekend and holiday hours: confirm on the day, especially on Sundays.
• Payment: whether they take card, QR or transfer, or whether cash is safer.
• Weekly offers: many supermarkets post them on social media; use them only if the item was on your list.
• Cooperative products: if you want fresh dairy or local products, ask which days they come in.

If you live in Loma Plata or Neuland

Loma Plata is 25 km from Filadelfia (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you live there or in Neuland, combine the big shop with errands in Filadelfia in one trip and bring the cool box. Write the list the night before by section (chilled, produce, pantry, cleaning) so nothing gets missed: going back for one item is a 50 km round trip.