Supermarket Sojourns: The Surprising 2024 Travel Craze Among Gen Z!

In what can only be described as the gastronomic escapade of the century, travel enthusiasts are now booking trips not to the Eiffel Tower, but to the local grocery store. Yes, you heard it right—**supermarket tourism** is poised to be the next big travel trend, predicted to explode by 2025. Courting adventure as well as taste, savvy holidaymakers are ditching traditional souvenirs for the thrill of grocery shopping in foreign lands, and it’s as revolutionary as it sounds.

Enter Jessica Jayne, an early adopter of this delectable phenomenon, who took her TikTok followers on a wild ride through a supermarket in Santorini. As she triumphantly waved boxes of uniquely flavored Oreos, Lays that taste like pizza hut, and Lacta chocolate with the audacity to be banoffee-flavored, she made it abundantly clear: “Shopping in a supermarket in a foreign country is part of the experience. You have to do it!” Who knew a mere grocery store could hold so much charm and charisma?

Marissainchina, another TikTok virtuoso, introduced her audience to the wonders of Malaysian supermarkets, even suggesting that shopping can indeed double as sightseeing. “Not only is it a cultural experience,” she mused, “but you can find lots of stuff to bring back as souvenirs.” Imagine returning home with a bag of snacks that could start conversations, all because you ventured into the whimsical aisle of a local market.

And let’s not forget Daniela Araujo, a TikToker based in the US, who illuminated why so many international visitors feel a magnetic pull toward Walmart or Trader Joe's. To her, it’s as if those gleaming aisles were calling out, “You haven’t truly traveled until you’ve gazed upon our vast cereal selection!” She captures the essence of the trend perfectly. Who wouldn’t be intrigued by the sheer variety of snacks that America has to offer?

Expedia is not just sitting on the sidelines; they are predicting that TikTok will be abuzz with videos of travelers vacuum-sealing gourmet French butter, hoarding sardines from Portugal, and booking flights for the sole purpose of scoring a viral chocolate bar. Forget the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the trendiest spots in 2025 will be the aisles of Erewhon. It’s a new **souven-era**, where the goods are the destinations.

These colorful grocery stores and quirky corner shops are transforming into tourist hotspots, allowing us to dive deep into the local culture—one shopping cart at a time. Who knew that perusing the aisles of a Trader Joe's around Thanksgiving would be a masterclass in American culinary traditions, featuring everything from pumpkin-spiced delights to Halloween-themed goodies? When did grocery shopping become a cultural pilgrimage?

Of course, social media has turbocharged the impact of this trend. Specific products become viral sensations, motivating travelers to seek out these exotic items like treasure hunters in a supermarket sea. But let's take it further; why not visit Omega Mart in Las Vegas, where the grocery store experience is elevated to an art exhibit? Imagine a landscape filled with eccentric products like 'bog water' and 'gender fluid sparkling water,' all while navigating mysterious doors leading to who knows where. It’s equal parts grocery shopping and a surreal adventure.

In contrast, the glitzy Erewhon Supermarket in Los Angeles embodies a different vibe—a glamorous grocery excursion. It’s practically a red carpet for nutrition enthusiasts, promising radiant lifestyles with a price tag to match. A simple jar of pasta sauce will set you back an eye-watering $10, and don’t even get me started on Hailey Bieber's famous $20 smoothie! It appears that the Simpsons had it right when they said “You can’t put a price on joy” – because, apparently, at Erewhon, you can!

With this supermarket tourism trend predicted to skyrocket in 2025, one can’t help but feel that the next vacation is not truly complete without a detour through the aisles of a local grocery store. Whether you're stocking up on must-try snacks or simply indulging in the pure joy of shopping, one thing is clear: the world is embracing its inner shopper, and it’s about time!