This foodland has had a recent upgrade, but still misses the mark for me. I consider Blackwood as…read morealmost the hills, so not having Tweedvale milk from Lobethal, Besa orange and Ashton hills apple juice, Cremaux cheeses from Lobethal; and other hills products (which are available in Stirling, and even Norwood foodland) is a bit of a shame. Even their Lenard's poultry section didn't have chicken schnitzels which was a bit of a letdown. I went there with a list and left with about 3 or so items unchecked. If this was Norwood or Stirling I would have left with every item. One of the staff members also packed away the bananas just as I was about to get some and this was a few hours before the store was due to close. The carpark here is atrocious. They must have measured a Mazda 121 or smart car to get their measurements for the spaces, so a normal car doesn't fit in the spaces and you end up squeezing into your car and trying not to scratch the one next to you. The whole experience is a bit frustrating. Shopping is bad enough, so when there are all these hassles, it can put a bad vibe on your day. I'l be sticking to Norwood and Stirling Foodlands in the future. I'd give 2 stars, but they get an extra star for even being a foodland and not a Woolworths or Coles.

My local supermarket, I default to Foodland at Blackwood over the local Coles and Woolies for two…read morereasons: 1) Although smaller size wise, greater range of brands and products in-store, 2) Brands haven't been replaced by the Supermarket's own brand, 3) Moral/ethical concerns regarding the other supermarkets' treatment of Australian producers and farmers. Moving on from my ethical leanings, Foodland also has the most amazing system when it comes to shopping trolleys. As the staffers pack and scan your item you'll be asked if you'd like a hand to take your groceries out to your car as the trolleys don't leave the store. As they overhead in the store for assistance, be amazed at the appearance of assistance in the form of a super trolley and a spare set of hands to pack your car boot, perfect when you have broken your hand and have two screechy children to load into the car. I'm always overwhelmed when I shop elsewhere at the lack of brand selection. I know its contrite but I love that I can be a bit more choosy when it comes to picking a product which satisfies all my random demands. Staff are very nice and happy to point you in the right direction at all times. A very nice local supermarket.

The biggest supermarket in Blackwood, Coles provides the stock-standard supermarket fare we've all…read morecome to expect from the huge business. The staff here are quite friendly and knowledgeable and are happy to point you in the right direction. For a large supermarket I'm surprised that the fruit and vegetables section is so small but the bakery and deli section makes up for this in variety and vastness. The store also opens bright and early on weekdays, perfect for shift workers like me who are up at 5am and like to swing by the shops at six am. The supermarket also has recently installed self checkouts, although interestingly they're only letting people with 12 items or less to use them, which I think is a good way to run it. A neat supermarket, a bit more product variety would really elevate it.

I don't really like the Coles-Woolies supermarket stranglehold, but still find myself a regular at…read moreColes Blackwood. It's partly good, old fashioned guilt - I often park there when I am going to the gym, and it seems it is the least I can do to give them my business in exchange for that convenience. But it's also the pick of Blackwood's supermarkets with its nice modern, spacious fit out and well designed checkouts, including the self scanning option which is handy at busy times. I was a checkout chick in my former life, so I don't mind a bit of scanning (there do seem to be a few bugs in the system - it seems to get cross at me and demands I seek assistance - or perhaps I am losing my touch!). The fruit and veg is good, and even when you are there close to closing time its pretty well stocked. The bakery section is all too tempting (the multigrain sourdough is addictive) and so the health food section is quite extensive (ie coconut oil, rice malt syrup, lots of organic, alternative grains and quinoa are all there). I get annoyed that I need a coin for most of the smaller trolleys - I wouldn't have picked Blackwood as a hotspot of trolley thievery, but I guess the business has the right to protect its assets as it sees fit. The checkout staff are a friendly, efficient bunch, even at five to nine on weeknights. Best of all, my fellow gym junkies shop here also and noone ever looks twice at my dishevelled, post workout self! Convenient, with lots of choice - recommended.

When you purchase a "Traditional Mr Nicks Chorizo Paella" and you receive long grain basmati rice…read moreinstead of the traditional paella rice, it speaks volumes of how over rated rip off this establishment is.

This Foodland supermarket is an oasis in a suburban shopping centre which is finally being…read morerejuvenated with a Target opening soon and a selection of speciality shops within the new complex next door and the makeover I hope will slowly creep over to the tired Foodland facade to blend in. But inside it has always been a fantastic place to shop with fresh fruit and vegetables, large deli display counters including a separate sections on either side devoted to seafood and an excellent gourmet continental deli. They have recently added an organic fruit and veg section between the standard fruit and veg area plus the nuts and bolts area. The atmosphere is quite relaxing for a supermarket as the aisles are wide, the ceiling is high with not a hint of claustrophobia, and the nice big picture windows across the front allows shoppers and staff a view. The one and only complaint I have is the prices are not cheap and there is a definite lack of specials, the forest of trees I receive stashed in my letter box everyday, is frequently devoid of Foodland Pasadena junk mail advertising. And....I wish they had a petrol saver card despite it being a contrived scenario, as I end up going elsewhere to spend $30 just to get my 4cents worth of cheaper petrol! Also, it is the only supermarket in South Australia which has a deli cafe! A novel and great concept for such a place! Well done. All in all, great supermarket and great friendly staff.

If you've read The Mistress of Spice by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, you will appreciate how…read morepowerful and sensuous some spices are. They have the ability to cure some ailments, act as a beauty tool and most importantly arouse the flavour and taste in a beautifully prepared Indian cuisine. When friends come to me for Indian recipes ( I should charge them by the hour!), I always send them to the Spice Centre to top up their spice racks or sample a new recipe. Like the orange lentils which lends a creamy texture to your dhal dish, or the green lentils which offers an healthy alternative to other carbs infused dhal. From fennel, fenugreek, cardamom, cumin to the expensive saffron, they carry a wide variety of spices fit for a Maharajah's (King) kitchen. You'll find plenty of meat curry powder packets here. My favourite Baba's is widely stocked here and is one of the finest curry powders ever. From meat, seafood and kurma curry powder, there is something for everyone. No Indian dish is good without curry leaves, and I'm happy to report that a huge bunch of curry leaves is available for purchase at a mere $1. Indian savouries, sweets and desserts are also sold here, so it might be worth checking them out for a different menu variety. Bollywood fans will appreciate the huge volume of DVD's here, showcassing some of Bollywood's finest stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol et al. When I want some Bhangra fever, I head out here and rent a couple to amuse me during the weekend. For those who like natural products, try the henna as an alternative to your normal boxed hair dye or a bottle of coconut oil for thick, soft and bouncy hair. The owner is friendly and is absolutely helpful in recommending some of the best spices to go with your curries. Drop in and say namaste!

It's got a little bit of everything...half the shop is vitamins, minerals and suppliments which…read moretakes up a smaller portion and the other is bulk goods. They have buckets and buckets of serve yourself whole food ingredients like: unbleached flour, wholemeal flour, lentils, dried beans, polenta, cereals, carob and the list goes on. All health food stores have a certain aroma, perhaps it's the honey or the tea I don't know, all the aromas mix but it does say 'I'm healthy stuff'. Garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee all pantry essentials and essential oils, ear candles and heaps more stuff. Oh...and NUTS lots of 'em! Detox Diets ie Lemon Detox (which I purchased a while ago but haven't tried yet!). Skincare products, books on various health topics, yes and more. They have a really good website and be sure to look in the recipe section for ideas and if you into Gluten Free cooking, definitely have look :-)

Uh-may-zing! There's…read morethree stores worth of intuitively laid out health foods. The staff understand what vegans can and can't eat and they even recommend recipes and cooking techniques. Example: I needed a run of black beans and they'd run out. The lady taught me that I should really buy raw/dried beans and cook my own. So I walked out with a large collection of dried beans, soaked them, cooked them and they're now in the freezer waiting to be used. The organic fruit and veg selection is great, there's a zillion different kinds of tofu and tempeh and all the bulk grains you can imagine. I seriously love shopping here, it's the highlight of my grocery shopping experience.

This is a good example of your friendly local supermarket. I'm all for supporting SA so when I can…read moreI go to Foodland. This particular Foodland always has friendly staff. Everytime I've been they always greet customers coming through the store and I always get a friendly vibe. I buy a lot of meat from here as they have great specials and I have never had bad or stale meat. My husband is quite particular about pork and lamb especially but we have never had issues with theirs. What we buy has always looked fresh and tasted good. It's not the biggest supermarket but it has what you need and they must have a good butcher in there. Plenty of easy dinner options with ready to cook chicken rolls, marinated split chickens that I have cooked on the BBQ grill time and time again and other stuff.