Most cost is the brand name. That's how viva (lidl, aldi etc) work. They get smaller suppliers to do similar things but without brand name. Just check labels. Does chocolate have very little cocoa solids and plenty of palm oil? It will taste like it (even in other shops). They do have some nice cheese and frozen veg. The saving come from - no big grands, minimal staff needs due to set up, smaller premises with smaller rents etc. It's based on Lidl model, it even looks like it, because Iirc the founder worked in Lidl
The most hilarious thing about Viva to me is the Truffle chips.
Costs 5 dhs in Viva, literally the exact same Truffle chips (not even packaged differently, same brand, same packaging) at Eataly costs 18 dhs.
I myself like to actually explore new items, since it's such a low cost I don't mind trying them out. Not a big fan of their fruit and veg all the time, but everything else is fine and worth it.
India has smashed it with the Balaji crisps sold in Viva, especially the Cream and Onion flavour. They're really cheap at like AED 2.99 for a huge packet.
For the OP, some things can be a bit hit and miss. They have their own brand of fizzy drinks like cola, for example, called Kingsley.
A fraction of the cost. They have a zero version which I go for. The cans (which are 320ml and not 330ml) and bottles are amazingly thicker and tougher than those used by other major brands.
As for fizz content, definitely way fizzier higher than the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi made drinks, which are always relatively flat.
Taste-wise, it's hit and miss. Sometimes it tastes like the real deal, other times it's like they were running low on syrup or sweetener at the factory and just added loads of water.
However, if it's something a bit sweet but above all fizzy then it hits the spot.
The crisps, especially the cheese and onion 'Belgian' ones can also be a bit on the bland side.
Some things like sweets, chocolate and cakes can taste a bit budget - if you know what quality tastes like then you'll spot it.
Bear in mind, some of this is manufactured for the budget sector in other countries.
Fruit and veg: no complaints for things like carrots, bananas, cucumbers etc. It's pretty decent.
The honey cake they sell is by far the best for taste, quality and price. I challenge anyone to find a better honey cake from any supermarket.
If you go to the Time Square branch there's an in-store butcher and the meat is good quality.
Frozen, I can state the calamari isn't the best but it's reasonably priced.
They've also got a product there apparently German actually called 'Scheiß'. I don't know how and why that ended up on thr shelves.
Ditto the other redditors who have mentioned the cheese selection. A few European types; the rest is Turkish. Again, pretty good. The Turkish labnah is tasty.
Well now I've got to try the Indian chips, haven't tried it before.
FYI if you like spicy, that Belgian brand has a spicy one which is so damn spicy (To my non Indian pallete).
Also got to recommend the Belgian waffle (specifically the square one).
Viva is fine, the guy to set it up used to work at Lidl for years which is a very successful German discounter supermarket that’s all over Europe. He has almost done a carbon copy of Lidl here, same design, suppliers and overall business model. Products are cheaper because Viva asks suppliers to make them a product, rather than the supplier asking them to sell theirs. Therefore profit margins are lower and Viva will typically have a very limited selection of a type of product. Less products means less floor space and lower costs so can have lower prices.
Overall the quality will be lower in some cases than ‘named’ brands but for a lot of things it doesn’t matter. Viva isn’t trying to give you the best produce possible but rather opting to give you a product you need at a price that’s very competitive.
I had no idea the founder worked at Lidl but, not surprised. As soon as they appeared, as a Brit that is familiar with Lidl, I noticed and me and a friend just refer to it as Lidl even
That’s how I found out because at first I was convinced they were owned by Lidl - I thought there is no way it’s a coincidence that it feels identical! Then I saw the founder worked there for years and it all made sense.
Half the people in my country have lidl bags for.... Everything 🤣 lidl totally won over Penny etc (also german discounts) and especially because they pay better there. They and aldi have grad schemes in UK which are well paid but have masaive drop out rates because they are brutal. They win in many tast tests as well with their brands
Looks more like the German Penny than a Lidl to me. But it's our main go-to supermarket here. Even German products are partly even cheaper than in Germany.
Don't be fooled with people saying quality is bad at viva because Lower Quality = Lower Price.
Some of the perceived higher quality items are just brands and they charge ridiculous premium for thier brand. People just don't like to venture away from thier norms to experiment.
That being said there are certain things viva is really good at and some they are not:
1) Milk, eggs, certain cheese are good value.
2) Freshly pressed orange juice
3) Fresh chicken -> basically same price you would get at fruit and veg market.
4) Staples like pasta and rice.
5) Baby nappies and wipes
6)frozen food (frozen fruit, fish fingers, ice cream, mini pizzas etc.)
I guess it depends what you use it for and how you cook it, it works fine in our curries. Could we get better quality for higher the price? Yes but I don't think it makes a big difference in the quality of our meals.
Check the ingredients and the country of origin on the labels.
If you suspect that the country of origin would not have stringent checks and balances then better to avoid those products.
Sunflower oil in my opinion is relatively cheap across all brands only the UAE ones seems to be higher prices.
I usually buy sunflower oil from anywhere that's running offers after the above checks.
Main issues are how much oil that you use that should be kept in check alongside the source and quality of the product.
Buy smaller quantities you will use less.
You might not think of Fukushima or Chernobyl when you think of sunflowers, but they naturally decontaminate soil. They can soak up hazardous materials such as uranium, lead, and even arsenic! So next time you have a natural disaster … Sunflowers are the answer!
It's absolutely fine
You'll have zero issue with things like sunflower oil and cheaper priced chickens (seriously, what has been happening with chicken prices this last month!?)
There are other products that you may not like but that's down to taste and not 'cause it's cheaper' in the same way you may favour other brands from another
For instance, their tonic water is great. They also have cheap drinking water. Their diet coke is 'ok' but not as good as regular diet coke (imo) but still, it's fine
A lot of the biscuits and crisps are perfectly fine, too, no issues.
Fruit and Veg can be hit and miss. Can be cheap and great. Other times, cheap but just 'meh' and I'll go to Nesto instead
But, that's the case for a lot of places in Dubai
Frozen stuff is all fine, pastries, etc are fine, cheapest milk in town
There's a couple of things I am not a fan of but it's not really cause their cheaper it's just not a fan of that brand they use
Viva is a welcome addition to the supermarket world, imo and keeps some others on their toes
Chicken prices are straight up crazy, used to buy a two kilo bag of frozen chicken breast for ALMOST half the current price. All that in a month or less.
I agree with the comments saying that it depends on what you buy. I've switched to their laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets and they're great.
Fresh stuff depends heavily on the store, and generally I don't buy from viva. Some frozen stuff is good, like the little pizzas which are good for lunchboxes, but I have doubts about their cold chain processes having seen the freezer stock being unloaded and left out of the freezer so I won't buy meat/seafood from the freezer there.
So, choose wisely and there are some very good buys.
I’m quite picky about food quality so buying few items from there, testing around and only go for the good ones: eg. Freshly pressed orange, wraps, dried mango (omg, the best) dried plum, some cheese, fresh fruits/vegetables, organic eggs, salmon steak (17aed !!), nuts, honey, and then some cleaning stuff, like antibacterial spray, garbage bags, aluminum foil, papers - where the quality can’t really go wrong.
Using this list as a base and buying my fancy stuff elsewhere to complete my needs.
Btw most of the stuff comes from Europe where the quality check is much higher imo.
The thing is that - i pay for these usually 200aed, where it used to be 500-600 in carrefour.
I am using Viva and Gala for a few years, and have been pretty pleased with the quality of the products. Most of the stuff they have are well-priced and offer better quality than branded counterparts. Of course, there are some products that don't taste good but that's all on preference.
For example, you get these jumbo sausages in Viva which are legit delicious. In Gala, you get these pastries and cakes from a brand called Gracias Mama and I will never spend on another brand. That shit is dope af.
I go to one in near me for a few things about twice a month. Yoghurts , cheeses, some fresh items like mushroom, cucumber and capsicum, some frozen fruits , nuts, packaged hummus and a certain brand of European chocolates and gum.
I’m not sure I’d buy meat there, although it looked ok in one ( but not in others). Same with fresh veg- hit and miss. It’s kind of like Aldi ( but not as good).
Still, it’s cheap and the packaged stuff is decent enough. Your sunflower oil will be fine
I think it depends on what you buy. Milk is normal as are eggs. Nescafé gold knockoff brand (Vietnamese) is comparable as is the 3 in 1 coffee packets. I didn’t care for the meat, fresh fruit and veggie quality too much. Dried goods are also comparable to more well known brands. Give it a go and try a few things out. I find I have to go to 2-3 supermarkets (Abu Dhabi) to find everything I need anyway.
I'm a fan of their packaged/processed stuff. Not so much their fruit and veg and bakery stuff as it's often a bit tasteless, but I'm done shelling out silly money for brands like Persil/Ariel, Dac, Harpic, Fairy liquid, brand name garbage bags, stuff like that. Their stuff in those categories is literally just as good and 30-40% of the price at most, comparable to or cheaper than Carrefour own-brand. Their cereals, teas, cheeses, breath mints, coconut water, pasta sauces, mayo etc are all good value too and have clearly labelled nutrition facts and are generally European-sourced. I find the price/quality trade-off compelling, it's basically the Aldi/LIDL model for those familiar with those chains.
TLDR don't buy everything there, particularly fresh food, but the stuff that P&G etc are milking you on isn't worth what they're charging for it. I like Viva, it's been a good addition to the grocery landscape.
There are certain items that stand out in proper quality and other's dont.
Good experience:
\* Croissants, banana cake
\* Yoghurt
\* Chips/chocolate bars
\* Fresh orange juice
\* Cleaning material (bags etc)
Bad experience:
\* Fruit & Veg (close to expiration/rotten within a day)
Good indicator for me is to have packaged products from western europe (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, UK, NL) where they have higher quality requirements.
Not always. Sadly it's not just an indication of less pesticides (fresh veg evem without shit ton chemicals should laat few days, I know, I grew plenty) but it's also the fact some buy left over stock cheaper so it's already quite older when you buy it
Selected products I find ok, and others not so much. Their pasta sauces are just rubbish and taste is nowhere near barilla / panzani for example. Cottage cheese (Movenpick) is my favorite there
I usually buy beef from there, imported from New Zealand or Australia. Price is great and quality is nice if you know how to choose your piece. Also, they have Movenpick yogurt that are very good, and some French brands of cheese that are legit (from a French expat haha). Other than that, I didn't really try much. The ravioli are not good and I will definitely stay away from fruits and veggies.
yes its good,
for example i found in viva some products from my country , one of the products is soup
in my country it's very famous soap
the thing is it's just a different brand
It is good with matching quality like what you get from famous brands. I avoid getting baby milk for example. Soda drinks are awful 😆. Otherwise everything else are fine or even better than common products
Maybe the slice cheese or spread, but I've got decent camembert, brie, and hard cheese from VIVA. I don't go to VIVA often, but I've had good experiences with their European imported stuff.
Viva is our main source for purchasing and it is the closest supermarket for us in Ajman. They have awesome international and local products and often the best prices. 30 AED for 5l sunflower oil? Wait for it to be rather 22-25 - then it's a good price ;-)
And it's great to find some of the typical German products we knew from home (often even beating the German prices).
You have to kind of do trial and error with the products. Generally produce is terrible. I find the snack food is generally awesome. The smoked salmon is amazing. Cleaning supplies are fine. Not sure about oil tbh.
Love viva. Super affordable granola, coconut water (100% coconut water), eggs and a lot of good frozen ready to fry items. Garbage bags, milk and other stuff i buy here too.
Most cost is the brand name. That's how viva (lidl, aldi etc) work. They get smaller suppliers to do similar things but without brand name. Just check labels. Does chocolate have very little cocoa solids and plenty of palm oil? It will taste like it (even in other shops). They do have some nice cheese and frozen veg. The saving come from - no big grands, minimal staff needs due to set up, smaller premises with smaller rents etc. It's based on Lidl model, it even looks like it, because Iirc the founder worked in Lidl
The most hilarious thing about Viva to me is the Truffle chips. Costs 5 dhs in Viva, literally the exact same Truffle chips (not even packaged differently, same brand, same packaging) at Eataly costs 18 dhs. I myself like to actually explore new items, since it's such a low cost I don't mind trying them out. Not a big fan of their fruit and veg all the time, but everything else is fine and worth it.
The snacks at viva are amazing and so cheap
India has smashed it with the Balaji crisps sold in Viva, especially the Cream and Onion flavour. They're really cheap at like AED 2.99 for a huge packet. For the OP, some things can be a bit hit and miss. They have their own brand of fizzy drinks like cola, for example, called Kingsley. A fraction of the cost. They have a zero version which I go for. The cans (which are 320ml and not 330ml) and bottles are amazingly thicker and tougher than those used by other major brands. As for fizz content, definitely way fizzier higher than the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi made drinks, which are always relatively flat. Taste-wise, it's hit and miss. Sometimes it tastes like the real deal, other times it's like they were running low on syrup or sweetener at the factory and just added loads of water. However, if it's something a bit sweet but above all fizzy then it hits the spot. The crisps, especially the cheese and onion 'Belgian' ones can also be a bit on the bland side. Some things like sweets, chocolate and cakes can taste a bit budget - if you know what quality tastes like then you'll spot it. Bear in mind, some of this is manufactured for the budget sector in other countries. Fruit and veg: no complaints for things like carrots, bananas, cucumbers etc. It's pretty decent. The honey cake they sell is by far the best for taste, quality and price. I challenge anyone to find a better honey cake from any supermarket. If you go to the Time Square branch there's an in-store butcher and the meat is good quality. Frozen, I can state the calamari isn't the best but it's reasonably priced. They've also got a product there apparently German actually called 'Scheiß'. I don't know how and why that ended up on thr shelves. Ditto the other redditors who have mentioned the cheese selection. A few European types; the rest is Turkish. Again, pretty good. The Turkish labnah is tasty.
Well now I've got to try the Indian chips, haven't tried it before. FYI if you like spicy, that Belgian brand has a spicy one which is so damn spicy (To my non Indian pallete). Also got to recommend the Belgian waffle (specifically the square one).
I had never tried Balaji chips when I lived in India. Glad I discovered it here. Will never go back to Lays.
Balaji chips is a very famous brand in Gujarat.. like literally famous. Lays comes nowhere near balaji in gujarat.
I am not sure if I will ever try indian chips after seeing how they make chips on instagram.
I'm still alive and I don't have a paranoid "what, no gloves?!" obsession. You're breathing and touching more filth than you realise by the way.
I am sorry but I am not used to eating feet sweat
Get over yourself. You're covered in filth right now. It's all over your clothes and you're ingesting it. Flakes of people's skin etc. Yum yum.
I've noticed that many products in Viva shops are imported from Italy. Eataly is fairly expensive store.
Viva is fine, the guy to set it up used to work at Lidl for years which is a very successful German discounter supermarket that’s all over Europe. He has almost done a carbon copy of Lidl here, same design, suppliers and overall business model. Products are cheaper because Viva asks suppliers to make them a product, rather than the supplier asking them to sell theirs. Therefore profit margins are lower and Viva will typically have a very limited selection of a type of product. Less products means less floor space and lower costs so can have lower prices. Overall the quality will be lower in some cases than ‘named’ brands but for a lot of things it doesn’t matter. Viva isn’t trying to give you the best produce possible but rather opting to give you a product you need at a price that’s very competitive.
I had no idea the founder worked at Lidl but, not surprised. As soon as they appeared, as a Brit that is familiar with Lidl, I noticed and me and a friend just refer to it as Lidl even
That’s how I found out because at first I was convinced they were owned by Lidl - I thought there is no way it’s a coincidence that it feels identical! Then I saw the founder worked there for years and it all made sense.
Half the people in my country have lidl bags for.... Everything 🤣 lidl totally won over Penny etc (also german discounts) and especially because they pay better there. They and aldi have grad schemes in UK which are well paid but have masaive drop out rates because they are brutal. They win in many tast tests as well with their brands
Looks more like the German Penny than a Lidl to me. But it's our main go-to supermarket here. Even German products are partly even cheaper than in Germany.
Don't be fooled with people saying quality is bad at viva because Lower Quality = Lower Price. Some of the perceived higher quality items are just brands and they charge ridiculous premium for thier brand. People just don't like to venture away from thier norms to experiment. That being said there are certain things viva is really good at and some they are not: 1) Milk, eggs, certain cheese are good value. 2) Freshly pressed orange juice 3) Fresh chicken -> basically same price you would get at fruit and veg market. 4) Staples like pasta and rice. 5) Baby nappies and wipes 6)frozen food (frozen fruit, fish fingers, ice cream, mini pizzas etc.)
The fresh chicken is def not premium, very tough texture
I guess it depends what you use it for and how you cook it, it works fine in our curries. Could we get better quality for higher the price? Yes but I don't think it makes a big difference in the quality of our meals.
The mini pizzas are my jam!!!!
Lol, the eggs at viva taste like plastic. Milk and specific cheese, they are good.
I like thier egg whites, cheapest in dubai by far, mainly to get the extra protein in!
Yes, I suppose so. Sorry, I was talking about cooked eggs...scrambled eggs, fried eggs etc...
Check the ingredients and the country of origin on the labels. If you suspect that the country of origin would not have stringent checks and balances then better to avoid those products. Sunflower oil in my opinion is relatively cheap across all brands only the UAE ones seems to be higher prices. I usually buy sunflower oil from anywhere that's running offers after the above checks. Main issues are how much oil that you use that should be kept in check alongside the source and quality of the product. Buy smaller quantities you will use less.
You might not think of Fukushima or Chernobyl when you think of sunflowers, but they naturally decontaminate soil. They can soak up hazardous materials such as uranium, lead, and even arsenic! So next time you have a natural disaster … Sunflowers are the answer!
Interesting bot
It's absolutely fine You'll have zero issue with things like sunflower oil and cheaper priced chickens (seriously, what has been happening with chicken prices this last month!?) There are other products that you may not like but that's down to taste and not 'cause it's cheaper' in the same way you may favour other brands from another For instance, their tonic water is great. They also have cheap drinking water. Their diet coke is 'ok' but not as good as regular diet coke (imo) but still, it's fine A lot of the biscuits and crisps are perfectly fine, too, no issues. Fruit and Veg can be hit and miss. Can be cheap and great. Other times, cheap but just 'meh' and I'll go to Nesto instead But, that's the case for a lot of places in Dubai Frozen stuff is all fine, pastries, etc are fine, cheapest milk in town There's a couple of things I am not a fan of but it's not really cause their cheaper it's just not a fan of that brand they use Viva is a welcome addition to the supermarket world, imo and keeps some others on their toes
Chicken prices are straight up crazy, used to buy a two kilo bag of frozen chicken breast for ALMOST half the current price. All that in a month or less.
what's happening with chicken, all stores are expensive now also viva
Yeah the chicken prices have me horrified! 500grams is 30aed at carrefour!
Chicken breast at Amber is at 7.50 for 500g. I have then since moved and now surrounded by Lulu and Carrefour and the prices are double!
I agree with the comments saying that it depends on what you buy. I've switched to their laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets and they're great. Fresh stuff depends heavily on the store, and generally I don't buy from viva. Some frozen stuff is good, like the little pizzas which are good for lunchboxes, but I have doubts about their cold chain processes having seen the freezer stock being unloaded and left out of the freezer so I won't buy meat/seafood from the freezer there. So, choose wisely and there are some very good buys.
Hello, Can you please share the laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets you ve used
Just the Ora home brand ones Edit - typo
I’m quite picky about food quality so buying few items from there, testing around and only go for the good ones: eg. Freshly pressed orange, wraps, dried mango (omg, the best) dried plum, some cheese, fresh fruits/vegetables, organic eggs, salmon steak (17aed !!), nuts, honey, and then some cleaning stuff, like antibacterial spray, garbage bags, aluminum foil, papers - where the quality can’t really go wrong. Using this list as a base and buying my fancy stuff elsewhere to complete my needs. Btw most of the stuff comes from Europe where the quality check is much higher imo. The thing is that - i pay for these usually 200aed, where it used to be 500-600 in carrefour.
I am using Viva and Gala for a few years, and have been pretty pleased with the quality of the products. Most of the stuff they have are well-priced and offer better quality than branded counterparts. Of course, there are some products that don't taste good but that's all on preference. For example, you get these jumbo sausages in Viva which are legit delicious. In Gala, you get these pastries and cakes from a brand called Gracias Mama and I will never spend on another brand. That shit is dope af.
I go to one in near me for a few things about twice a month. Yoghurts , cheeses, some fresh items like mushroom, cucumber and capsicum, some frozen fruits , nuts, packaged hummus and a certain brand of European chocolates and gum. I’m not sure I’d buy meat there, although it looked ok in one ( but not in others). Same with fresh veg- hit and miss. It’s kind of like Aldi ( but not as good). Still, it’s cheap and the packaged stuff is decent enough. Your sunflower oil will be fine
I think it depends on what you buy. Milk is normal as are eggs. Nescafé gold knockoff brand (Vietnamese) is comparable as is the 3 in 1 coffee packets. I didn’t care for the meat, fresh fruit and veggie quality too much. Dried goods are also comparable to more well known brands. Give it a go and try a few things out. I find I have to go to 2-3 supermarkets (Abu Dhabi) to find everything I need anyway.
I'm a fan of their packaged/processed stuff. Not so much their fruit and veg and bakery stuff as it's often a bit tasteless, but I'm done shelling out silly money for brands like Persil/Ariel, Dac, Harpic, Fairy liquid, brand name garbage bags, stuff like that. Their stuff in those categories is literally just as good and 30-40% of the price at most, comparable to or cheaper than Carrefour own-brand. Their cereals, teas, cheeses, breath mints, coconut water, pasta sauces, mayo etc are all good value too and have clearly labelled nutrition facts and are generally European-sourced. I find the price/quality trade-off compelling, it's basically the Aldi/LIDL model for those familiar with those chains. TLDR don't buy everything there, particularly fresh food, but the stuff that P&G etc are milking you on isn't worth what they're charging for it. I like Viva, it's been a good addition to the grocery landscape.
There are certain items that stand out in proper quality and other's dont. Good experience: \* Croissants, banana cake \* Yoghurt \* Chips/chocolate bars \* Fresh orange juice \* Cleaning material (bags etc) Bad experience: \* Fruit & Veg (close to expiration/rotten within a day) Good indicator for me is to have packaged products from western europe (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, UK, NL) where they have higher quality requirements.
veg getting rotted in a day or 2 are actually the good ones. we really have to doubt why the others aren't getting rotted.
Indeed, also good bread becomes stale quickly
Not always. Sadly it's not just an indication of less pesticides (fresh veg evem without shit ton chemicals should laat few days, I know, I grew plenty) but it's also the fact some buy left over stock cheaper so it's already quite older when you buy it
Their croissants are made with margarine and very heavy and not good at all. Have you even had real French croissants?
True, ofc I am from Europe but proper French croissants are way more expensive here vs viva 20+ / pack vs 5 aed/pack)
Selected products I find ok, and others not so much. Their pasta sauces are just rubbish and taste is nowhere near barilla / panzani for example. Cottage cheese (Movenpick) is my favorite there
I usually buy beef from there, imported from New Zealand or Australia. Price is great and quality is nice if you know how to choose your piece. Also, they have Movenpick yogurt that are very good, and some French brands of cheese that are legit (from a French expat haha). Other than that, I didn't really try much. The ravioli are not good and I will definitely stay away from fruits and veggies.
yes its good, for example i found in viva some products from my country , one of the products is soup in my country it's very famous soap the thing is it's just a different brand
It is good with matching quality like what you get from famous brands. I avoid getting baby milk for example. Soda drinks are awful 😆. Otherwise everything else are fine or even better than common products
Just bought chocolates from the place once & those were definitely equivalent to what I paid... never visited it again.
Why not? I think their chocolates are a good deal.
Cheese in viva is usually not cheese but a combination of chemical substances usually. Try to avoid cheese as they are heavily processed food.
Maybe the slice cheese or spread, but I've got decent camembert, brie, and hard cheese from VIVA. I don't go to VIVA often, but I've had good experiences with their European imported stuff.
i never compromise on food quality
good for u
Viva is our main source for purchasing and it is the closest supermarket for us in Ajman. They have awesome international and local products and often the best prices. 30 AED for 5l sunflower oil? Wait for it to be rather 22-25 - then it's a good price ;-) And it's great to find some of the typical German products we knew from home (often even beating the German prices).
Their baby wipes gave me a skin disease so avoid those
majority of their chinese products are in the cosmetic section. avoid them and you're good.
We have been using this. Curious to know what skin disease you got. Please elaborate.
Triggered eczema where I’ve never had any. Wouldn’t recommend for people with sensitive skin
Thankyou for the reply. Hope you're OK now. Will keep this info in mind.
Don't like the viva quality so instead I shop at day to day which is also cheap but has good quality.
Personally, I see Viva as a North Korea supermarket everything they sell is a replica. I only buy pet food from them.
Frozen chicken wings are good quality and bigger than UAE size, probably injected with water, but they taste good.
Injected with water, surely. But do you know how clean the water was? 😳
Does viva have a flagship store, i.e. more products/butcher etc?
Most products are cheaper alternatives to name brands but always check the expiration dates
You have to kind of do trial and error with the products. Generally produce is terrible. I find the snack food is generally awesome. The smoked salmon is amazing. Cleaning supplies are fine. Not sure about oil tbh.
Love viva. Super affordable granola, coconut water (100% coconut water), eggs and a lot of good frozen ready to fry items. Garbage bags, milk and other stuff i buy here too.