The New Shop in Town

It was like a long, long bread line–the queue to get into the newest and definitely most exciting shopping complex in town, the S&R Price Membership Shopping structure at The Fort, which opened with not much fanfare but which attracted practically the whole of Metropolitan Manila. They came in droves–families, friends, everyone. Hopefully this will resurrect life at The Fort.

Management evidently prepared very well for the expected big crowd. Parking in the covered area and beyond (where it is still very dusty), was orderly. Staff with hand-held radios made sure everything went smoothly, from clicking in cardholders and companions to putting trolleys back inside, to double staffing at the check-out counters which made paying very quick (one hardly waits). We noticed how payment is transferred through a tube shute from the cashier level to the top floor. Even the line for coffee and snacks moved very fast. If they are consistent with this kind of service, it will always be a pleasure to shop here.

Prices? To many this is the main consideration. We found prices rather competitive, if not much better than some outlets, at least for some stuff–pork kasim at only P112 a kilo, pata at P74 plus and the popular PriceSmart apple pie for only P149.50 (about a P135 less than at the original PriceSmart on Zapote Road).

Take note that the store is not only an outlet of food and other dry goods, they even sell tires and appliances. It also has a Travel counter, an Optical Center and (thankfully) a Drug Store. Plus the usual pizza outlet which now also offers calzone and the Allegro Italian Café which has blended coffee (a bit disappointing) and other snack items like cakes and cookies (most of which are sold in the Bakery section). They also have the ready-to-serve/eat roast chicken. We also welcome the fact that the aisles are wide and therefore even with so many shoppers, carts and shoppers do not bump into each other. Section signs are up high, but we would have preferred vertical signage in each section, the better to find what a shopper is looking for.

S&R Price is the house brand that includes a whole gamut of household needs. Bread being one of our weaknesses, we went straight to The Bakery and got the apple pie and a bag of rolls called Chicken Pimiento Pan de Sal at P94.95 a pack of six. They are big and the stuffing is substantial, a good breakfast for those who want to eat fast and easy. Other items on the shelves are crusty rolls at P35.95 and Danish pastries at P126.95. One might get a bit confused as to what to get and be so overwhelmed that you fill your basket with more than you can consume. So take care and be wise.

We found S&R chicken thighs we needed for a new dish we learned on a recent trip, boneless and skinless at P175 a pack of more than a kilo. A niece happily found a pack of six paper towel rolls under the same brand at a little more than P300, half the cost of those sold elsewhere. S&R Corn Oil costs only P179.95 a gallon. The vegetable oil sells for P153.95 for a three-gallon container.

Here are a few of the foreign brands (it is impossible to note everything they have in one visit). Ice cream and cake fanciers will surely have a field day, if they are not on a diet. Sara Lee’s new chocolate dipped squares at P179.95, Jon Donaire’s Mud Pie frozen ice cream at P239.95. Also sausages galore and ready-to-serve pasta, such as the Michael Angelo Calzone and Vegetable Lasagna.

For juices and crackers, you might find Carr’s Table Water Crackers (P399.95 for a big pack of five small packets) suitable for your snacks. We went for the S&R apple juice at P234.95 for a pack of two 96 oz. bottles.

If you are a gourmet cook, some of the items you might want to get are Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Bertollini brand) at P479. 95, Nancy’s canned crab meat at P429.95 for a pack of two and balsamic vinegar at P299.95. If you are nationalistic, don’t worry, PureFoods products are carried side by side with the imported ones. But again, don’t get carried away, as we noted some fathers cautioning their kids. Prioritize.