That's what fresh is for

To the supermarket we shall go. And for a truly refreshing experience, head to the newly opened SM Supermarket at SM Megamall A, which has the freshest stuff for picky shoppers like you.

All five senses come into play once you enter the 4,900-sq.m. SM Supermarket, which dons a fresh look in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

See it: The supermarket’s medium-height shelves give you an uncluttered view of the whole store, no matter where you stand. The bright colored departmental and aisle signs direct you where to go. Ample lighting and spacing between shelves provide for a truly comfortable shopping experience.

Smell it: The aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafts from the bakeshop and into your nostrils. One can almost imagine how passionately the baker kneads the dough to come up with such delectable treats.

Hear it: One almost hears the sizzle of roasted chicken from a nearby rotisserie, or the soft sound of freshly squeezed orange, wheat grass and sugarcane that’s bottled and ready to drink.

Cold Storage’s sushi chef prepares the salmon sashimi platter.

Touch it: Take pleasure in choosing fresh greens and veggies with your bare hands at the Fresh Section of the supermarket. There, we discovered this root crop from Dizon Farms called cirialac, which according, to food writer Lydia Castillo, is perfect for salads.

And taste it: There are product samples that you can try. We surrendered to all the sweet temptations laid out — chocolates, cheeses, and pastries from around — during the formal opening last Thursday, which was attended by SM Foundation president Felicidad Sy, SM Retail VP for marketing communications group Millie Dizon, Mandaluyong Councilors Alex Sta. Maria, Francisco Esteban, and Edward Bartolome, Fr. David Concepcion, and model/actress Isabelle Daza.

Freshness guaranteed: Norwegian salmon, lapu-lapu, black cod gindara, and yellow fin tuna are just some of the fish varieties you’ll find at the Fresh Section of SM Supermarket.

Well, to make sense of all this, grab the cart and go on a shopping frenzy only at SM Supermarket.

They’ve Got It All For You

The layout of the new SM Megamall reminds one of City Super in Hong Kong where shoppers and people-on-the-go can grab RTW (ready-to-warm) stuff right by the entrance. The color scheme, the lighting fixtures, and the neat arrangement of goodies on shelves lend sophistication to the whole place.

“In celebration of SM Supermarket’s 25th anniversary, we decided to come up with the new and improved SM Supermarket, which is our premier store. Here, we carry a lot of gourmet products you’ll normally find in deli shops and high-end supermarkets. We want our regular shoppers to experience the best in grocery shopping. Expect this kind of supermarket concept in select stores in the near future,” enthuses Dizon.

It’s really hard to practice shelf-control once you’ve reached the Fresh Section of the supermarket. There’s a bounty of special stuff you won’t find in ordinary supermarkets to stock up on the ref: black cod gindara premium choice cut, Japan capelin fish, choice-cut Norwegian salmon, among others.

There’s a sushi and deli counter right in the middle of the Fresh Section. Windmill Gourmet has a hefty assortment of deli meat treats (Hungarian, Frankfurter, and bacon sausages) and (gouda, edam, camembert, and brie) cheeses from Denmark and France. Here, you can learn the fine art of mixing and matching meats and cheeses.

Cold Storage, on the other hand, tempts your palate with its sashimi and sushi-to-go you can buy per piece. They also have mixed tuna and salmon sashimi platter to share.

If you care enough about your health, organic is the way to go. SM Supermarket has a wide range of organic products — from fruits to veggies, even eggs.

SM Retail VP for marketing communications group Millie Dizon and SM Food Group VP for marketing Louie Roque love the refreshing taste of freshly squeezed wheatgrass juice.

For your salad fix, Dizon Farms has a salad counter, which teems with different kinds of lettuce, veggies, and bottled salad dressings. They also offer garden fresh, potato, and macaroni salad by the weight. Choose from six kinds of dressings — Italian herb, strawberry vinaigrette, Thousand Islands, honey-mustard, Caesar, and mango vinaigrette. Don’t forget to add a dash of Parmesan cheese, sprinkle bacon bits, and dried noodles before weighing.

Deli-cious treats: Windmill Gourmet has a hefty assortment of deli meat treats and cheeses.

And to spice things up, SM Supermarket boasts an impressive line of imported spices, sauces, and condiments that can turn ordinary dishes into gourmet delights.

Next time you go grocery shopping, brace yourself as SM Supermarket is sure to take away your shelf-control.

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SM Supermarket is a member of the SM Food Retail Group, which operates SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore Market. SM Supermarket, which started in 1985 in Makati Commercial Center