Cc Continental Supermarket

Great shop on the former Fforde Grene site.
Good access and plenty of parking– even open until 10 most nights!
Specialises on pulses/​spices/​grain/​meat/​breads/​veg and sauces I would associate with West Indian/​Pakistani/​Asian and possibly even Greek cooking.
I’m a regular here to stock up on spices/​chick peas and even black peppercorns as they’re so cheap!
I also frequent the butchery for Mutton or Goat to do in a curry.
Prices are fantastic, packages have a variety of sizes to suit your needs and it’s like an Aladdin’s Cave.
Go have a snoop around, I bet they stock something you’ll want to buy at a great price!

Although this place is a bit nightmarish to get to in rush hour traffic, perched right on the corner of a complicated junction where you never know which lane you’re meant to be in, once you get inside it’s worth the hassle! Larger than its counterpart on Chapeltown Road, this CC Continental has an upper and lower car park, and the fruit and veg section is much easier to manouvre round.
Unfortunately they didn’t have what I was after (barberries — I don’t even know what they are, but my mum needs some for some recipe and she lives in the middle of nowhere), but that didn’t stop me ogling the produce in the aisles and wishing I had more confidence in middle eastern, west indian and other exciting cooking.

The store is situated in a very large building that looks like a department store towering over the street. I suspect it is most frequently visited by restaurant/​café owners or those with massive families who stock up on huge bags of rice, pulses and other products available in ‘bulk buy’. They do, however, sell single portions of things for the lone shopper who enters anyway despite the huge ‘cash and carry’ exterior, such as myself. I managed to find cans of Coconut milk for only 59p each which is almost half the price of other retailers. My whole basket came to less than a fiver, which would have been more around the £8 — £10 mark in most other shops.
They sell vegetables, breads, and meats fresh or frozen. Biscuits, sweet goods, kitchen wear such as baking trays and other handy bits and bobs, and various cosmetics such as bath/​shower gel etc.
Susan is right about the name being somewhat confusing as it is mainly foods from Asia and Africa and not the common British conception of ‘continental food’ (deli style West European).
If you are after the latter (Italian, French, Spanish etc) you are probably better off going to a deli in town or a chain supermarket.

I agree with Susan, when she says that the choice of title is perhaps a little far fetched for this supermarket. However, I stopped in on the way back from Leeds carnival, wanting to make my own rice and peas and jerk chicken that had been flaunted in my face all day. I found everything I needed including seasoning, and a few extra goods. I would give this place a higher rating, although my only drawback was the selection of vegetables. Though absolutely fantastic in the variety, some looked a little dubious, and I did see insects hovering around them, whiich is a major turn off when the vegetable section is indoors!
Other than that setback though, the Continental Supermarket reminded me of the International Supermarket in Hyde Park, but about 4 or 5 times the size. They have a vast selection of International sauces and spices and I left oozing with culinary inspiration. The girl behind the till was very friendly indeed and embarked on a long conversation with my mate and the colour of her hair. That might have sounded odd in writing, but it just showed a real sense of community. I would go back again if I lived closer, but alas, maybe I will have to settle for taking a trip once a year around carnival– But I look forward to it!

Situated in an imposing building that was once the home of a lively if troubled pub (now defunct), the unimaginatively named Continental Supermarket doesn’t look like the sort of place you’d pop in to grab some brie and Parma ham, and indeed if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll leave disappointed. The word continental, in this case, doesn’t necessarily refer to any specific continent, and in amongst Eastern European foods you’ll find Asian, West Indian, African ingredients and more, catering for just about every culinary requirement except the traditional British idea of what ‘continental’ foods are. Still, you’ll likely forget any cravings for cured meats and creamy cheeses when you take in the array of colourful, fresh fruit and veg on offer alongside a range of tinned and packaged foods, and your wallet will be a darn sight better off than after a visit to your local deli.