The frozen pre-made dinners are quite good. I've recently eaten the mushroom risotto, chicken…read moremasala, macaroni & cheese, green vegetable medley. After a quick microwave warming the flavors and textures of all were surprisingly satisfactory. Last year while staying in Paris I did sample the frozen dinners at the Picard stores. I bought 5 different dishes. All were awful, all were trash. How the Picard franchise remains open is a complete mystery to me, so the French must also eat really crappy food when they don't want to prepare a proper fresh meal. ... Back to Budgen's. Market size is 75% smaller than a Tesco. Selection variety therefore is less numerous. Upside is that what is on display is usually pretty good quality and the prices are competitive especially with discounts on sale items. All fresh produce and bread I've purchased here made me quite happy. The store is sparkling clean, well lighted. My only gripe: the wine selection is mediocre. Lots of low priced generic, factory produced wines from Australia, South Africa, Argentina, etc. As France is just across the channel why are there not more French good quality wines in stock? Still, I'm a happy Budgen's customer.

I don't know Budgens very well but this was a pleasant place to stop and grab a few groceries. The…read morestore is at one end of the high street with lots of parking. It was a bright store with very friendly service.

There are two branches of Taste of the Country, one in Shipston and the other in Long Compton. The…read moreShipston shop is close to a cheap pay and display car park, and is sited just off the main square. The first part of the shop has fresh bread and a counter with all kinds of savoury items from which to help yourself: proper authentic Cornish pasties, pizzas, sausage rolls and savoury pastries. There are also biscuits and cakes. The chilled counter has cooked meals to take home, including lasagne and fish pie. It also contains the best cheesecake in the Midlands (or at least as far as we are concerned!): strawberry, mandarin and lime all come highly recommended. Taste of the Country offers lunchtime sandwiches with proper ingredients - a world away from those sad packaged sandwiches. There is also soup available in the winter. The second half of the shop has a chiller with bacon, sausages and other meats, plus cheese. There is also a range of fruit and vegetables, and a selection of packaged items including jams and condiments.

Our local. Steve and his lovely family have transformed the style of this village shop and Post…read moreOffice. Now nothing is too much trouble and service is with a smile.