First Choice Foods Antigua: The Complete Supermarket Guide
First Choice Foods on Anchorage Road is Antigua's second-largest supermarket. Complete guide to hours, deli, provisioning tips, and how it compares to Epicurean and XPZ.
First Choice Foods Antigua: The Complete Supermarket Guide
TL;DR: First Choice Foods on Anchorage Road is Antigua's second-largest supermarket, backed by over 80 years of food business experience. It opens at 7am daily, stocks fresh produce, meats, seafood, a popular deli counter, and halal products, and offers some of the best everyday value on the island. It's a top pick for locals, villa guests, and sailors needing serious provisioning at competitive prices.
If you've been searching for a supermarket in Antigua that combines genuine value, a broad range, and easy parking, First Choice Foods belongs at the top of your list. Located on Anchorage Road in St. John's, First Choice is the second-largest supermarket in Antigua. The company behind it has over 80 years of experience in the food business, and that institutional knowledge shows in every aisle.
This isn't a store that just showed up. First Choice has been part of Antigua's food landscape for generations. Locals trust it. Sailors provision from it. Villa guests who learn about it often end up choosing it over the more obvious alternatives.
Whether you're stocking a vacation rental for a week, picking up fresh produce before a day on the water, or planning a serious provisioning run ahead of an Atlantic crossing season, this guide covers everything you need to know. Opening hours, the deli, what to buy, what to skip, when to avoid the crowds, and how First Choice compares to Epicurean and XPZ. Let's get into it.
What Is First Choice Foods Antigua?
First Choice Foods is a full-service supermarket on Anchorage Road in St. John's, Antigua. It's the island's second-largest grocery store, backed by a wholesale company with more than 80 years of food industry experience. It carries fresh produce, meats, seafood, deli items, halal products, beer, wine, and household essentials, with competitive pricing on everyday staples.
The store has over 1,300 reviews on various platforms and consistently earns praise for its range, value, and convenient parking. The wholesale background of the parent company means supply chains are well-established. Stock arrives reliably. You'll rarely walk in and find an empty store.
First Choice isn't glossy or boutique. It's a real working supermarket that locals actually depend on, which is exactly why it's one of the most visited grocery stores on the island. That authentic, unpretentious energy is part of the appeal. You shop alongside Antiguans doing their weekly run, which is a very different experience from the tourist-adjacent atmosphere of some marina stores.
The store caters to a diverse clientele. Halal products are stocked, which is relatively uncommon for Caribbean supermarkets and reflects the multicultural makeup of St. John's. Baby items, household essentials, and personal care products are all represented alongside the food aisles.
Where Is First Choice Foods and How Do I Get There?
First Choice Foods is on Anchorage Road in northern St. John's, near Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay. The location sits away from the congested city centre, making parking noticeably easier than at more central stores. From most north-coast accommodations it's a short drive; sailors from English Harbour typically take a taxi.
The Anchorage Road address puts First Choice in a sweet spot: close enough to the main tourist corridor near Dickenson Bay and Sandals Resort to be convenient, but far enough from the city core to avoid the frustrating traffic of downtown St. John's. Parking is consistently praised in reviews. You can drive in, park without stress, and get out quickly. That alone sets it apart from the crowded city-centre shopping experience.
For guests staying at north-coast villas or hotels, First Choice is often the logical first supermarket stop after check-in. It's reachable by taxi from English Harbour or Falmouth Harbour for around US$20-25 each way, and sailors frequently make that journey because the savings on a large provisioning run more than offset the fare.
If you're on foot, the walk from Halcyon Heights or the Sandals area is approximately 25-30 minutes along Anchorage Road. It's manageable in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid midday in high season as there's limited shade on the route. The taxi stand at Sandals is a reliable pickup point for the return journey when you're loaded with bags.
Getting there by bus is possible from St. John's city centre. Ask locals for the bus route serving the Runaway Bay area. It's inexpensive but check the schedule, as frequency is lower than you might expect.
What Does First Choice Foods Stock?
First Choice carries a comprehensive range for everyday shopping and provisioning. Expect fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, fresh fish and seafood, dairy, dried goods, canned products, baby items, household essentials, beverages, beer and wine, and a deli counter. Local Caribbean products sit alongside international brands throughout the store.
Here's a practical breakdown of what you'll find in each section:
Produce: Fresh fruit and vegetables are well-stocked with a mix of locally grown and imported items. Local produce tends to be seasonally available: tropical fruits like mangoes and sugar apples appear when in season. US-imported vegetables are the norm for most of the year. Prices on local produce are noticeably lower than on imported varieties.
Meats: The meat department is one of First Choice's strengths. Chicken is consistently well-priced and reviewers specifically call it out as a best buy. The deli counter can slice meats to order, which is useful for provisioning boats. Beef is available but, as with most Caribbean islands, imported beef commands a premium price. Halal chicken and halal products are stocked, a notable point for Muslim visitors and residents.
Fish and Seafood: Fresh fish and seafood are part of the range. For the freshest local catches, check early in the week as stock turns over. Frozen seafood options are also available.
Dairy: Standard dairy products including milk, butter, eggs, and a range of cheeses. New Zealand cheddar is specifically called out by long-term shoppers as a good-value buy. Specialty cheeses and imported varieties exist but carry a premium.
Beverages and Alcohol: A solid beer, wine, and spirits section. Local rum is excellent value, as it is throughout Antigua. Beer prices are competitive. Wine selection is decent with a mix of New World and European labels. Reviewers note that bottles stored upright for long periods can develop dry corks, so it's worth inspecting your wine purchase before leaving.
Packaged and Dry Goods: Comprehensive range of rice, pasta, flour, canned goods, condiments, and snacks. Caribbean staples like dried beans, local spices, and regional sauces sit alongside well-known international brands. Imported cereals, olive oil, and specialty items from North America or Europe tend to be significantly more expensive than back home.
Household and Baby: Cleaning products, personal care basics, and a solid selection of baby items including formula. If you're traveling with infants, First Choice usually covers your essentials without requiring a specialist pharmacy visit.
For a full picture of all food and grocery options across the island, browse the food and groceries directory on AntiguaSearch, which lists every supermarket, deli, and specialty food store across all six parishes.
The Deli Counter at First Choice: What to Expect
The deli counter at First Choice is one of the store's most talked-about features, and it's also one of its most honest sources of feedback in reviews.
The upside: it slices meats and deli items to order, which is ideal for visitors building provisioning packs for a boat or villa week. The jerk chicken from the deli counter gets particular praise, described by multiple visitors as genuinely excellent. Fresh pastries and rotisserie products are also available, making First Choice one of the few stores on the island where you can pick up a quality early-morning breakfast option.
The honest caveat: deli service speed is a recurring theme in reviews. During peak times, particularly around lunchtime and on busy shopping days, the wait at the deli counter can stretch to 20-30 minutes. If you're in a rush, visit the deli early in the morning or mid-afternoon when the lunch crowd has cleared. Weekday mornings tend to be the smoothest experience.
The hot food section offers prepared meals and cooked items for takeout. For a quick lunch, it's a genuine option, though the variety and consistency have been described as variable depending on the day. Best approach: arrive around 11am-12pm when the selection is freshest, and go straight to the counter rather than waiting until mid-afternoon.
If your timing is flexible, the deli is absolutely worth exploring. Sliced-to-order meats, prepared chicken, fresh pastries, and a selection of hot dishes make it one of the more practical lunch stops in the north of St. John's parish.
First Choice vs. Epicurean vs. XPZ: Which Should You Choose?
It depends entirely on what you need. Epicurean leads on range and range alone, with over 28,000 items and two locations. XPZ offers the best community atmosphere and strong everyday pricing. First Choice sits confidently between the two: broader than XPZ, more competitively priced than Epicurean on many staples, and far easier to park at than either.
Here's how they break down in practice:
| Store | Best For | Location | Hours | |---|---|---|---| | First Choice Foods | Value provisioning, meats, local produce, parking | Anchorage Rd, St. John's | 7am-9pm Mon-Sat; 7am-7pm Sun | | Epicurean (Friars Hill) | Full weekly shop, gourmet items, pharmacy | Friars Hill Road, St. John's | 8am-10pm daily | | Epicurean (Jolly Harbour) | Sailors, marina provisioning, west coast visitors | Jolly Harbour Marina, St. Mary | 8am-9pm daily | | XPZ Supermarket | Caribbean staples, local products, community vibe | Piggotts/Paynters, St. John's | 7am-9pm daily |
One experienced Antigua visitor summed it up well: use First Choice as your primary shop for meats, local produce, beer, and staples, then head to Epicurean for anything specialty you couldn't find. That two-store approach covers virtually everything you need at the best combined price point.
Epicurean's 28,000-item range does pull ahead for specific international brands, specialty dietary products (gluten-free, organic), and its pharmacy. The Jolly Harbour Epicurean is purpose-built for marina provisioning with full access from the dock. But if you're based in the north or central part of the island and price matters, First Choice is the smarter primary stop.
XPZ is the budget champion for Caribbean-specific products and an unbeatable local atmosphere. Its Piggotts location is a short drive from St. John's and offers late closing hours daily. For the full comparison of all supermarkets on the island, our grocery shopping guide for Antigua covers every store in detail.
Are you a grocery or food business owner in Antigua? List your business on AntiguaSearch for free and get found by the thousands of residents and visitors searching for local stores every month.
Sailor and Yacht Crew Provisioning at First Choice
For sailors arriving in Antigua ahead of an Atlantic crossing or during the winter charter season, provisioning is a critical task. First Choice Foods is one of the most cost-effective options on the island for a full provisioning run, particularly for crews who are price-sensitive on bulk purchases.
The mathematics work in your favour. Meat, especially chicken, is competitively priced. Local rum for the passage is excellent value. Dried goods, canned items, rice, pasta, and essential Caribbean staples all sit at reasonable price points compared to the marina-adjacent stores that charge a convenience premium. A taxi from English Harbour to First Choice and back, even with a full load of provisions, typically costs less than the markup you'd absorb shopping exclusively at stores within walking distance of the dock.
The deli counter's ability to slice meats to order is particularly useful for provisioning. You can build a custom cold-cut selection for the first days of a passage when refrigerator management matters. The fish and seafood section covers fresh options for pre-departure cooking.
Timing matters. Atlantic crossing season runs November through January, with the peak of arrivals in Antigua coming in late November and December after the ARC and similar rallies land. Summer charter season runs June through August. During those periods, First Choice can get busy. Provisioning mid-week, mid-month, and mid-morning gives you the best experience.
One practical note for sailing crews: First Choice opens at 7am Monday to Saturday, which is earlier than most marina stores and one of the earliest openings on the island. If you need to load provisions before a morning departure, the early opening is a genuine advantage. A taxi from Falmouth Harbour to First Choice and back typically takes 45-60 minutes with shopping time included. Allow 30 minutes in-store for a focused provisioning run.
For a full guide to marine services and provisioning resources around Antigua's marinas, browse the boating and marine directory on AntiguaSearch covering chandleries, fuel docks, and marina services across the island.
Practical Tips: When to Go and What to Know Before You Shop
The best time to shop at First Choice Foods is mid-week, mid-morning, mid-month. The store gets notably busier at the start and end of each month when paydays cluster, and weekends see higher footfall throughout the day. For the smoothest experience, arrive between 9am and 11am on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
A few more things worth knowing before your visit:
Currency: All prices are in Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$). The EC dollar has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of EC$2.70 per US$1.00 since 1976. Divide any EC price by 2.7 to get the US dollar equivalent. US dollars are accepted at First Choice, but change will be given in EC dollars. Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
Bring a bag: Antigua has implemented a national ban on single-use plastic shopping bags. Bring a reusable tote, or pick one up at the checkout for a few EC dollars. Cardboard boxes near the checkout are also available for large shops.
What's good value: Chicken, local vegetables, Caribbean spices, NZ cheddar, local rum, beer, wine, eggs, and canned Caribbean staples. These consistently get called out by reviewers as well-priced relative to other stores on the island.
What's expensive: Imported cereals, specialty oils (olive, coconut), toiletries, sun cream, imported European or North American snack foods, and anything that's been air-freighted. Pack these in your luggage from home if cost is a concern.
Early start for fresh produce: Reviewers suggest arriving early in the morning for the best selection in the produce and fresh sections. Stock turns over throughout the day and peak afternoon shopping depletes the freshest items.
Check dates on pre-packaged items: A few reviews flag that shelf-facing isn't always perfect. Quickly check best-before dates on pre-packaged goods, particularly bread, prepared foods, and dairy, before adding them to your basket.
Phone ahead for large orders: If you're doing a major provisioning run for a yacht or large villa group, calling ahead on (268) 463-3663 can help confirm availability of specific items before making the trip.
Staying in St. John's and looking for more options? Browse businesses across St. John's parish on AntiguaSearch for restaurants, specialty food shops, pharmacies, and everything else the capital parish has to offer.
Conclusion
First Choice Foods earns its loyal following for three simple reasons: it opens early, it prices competitively on the things that matter, and the parking doesn't require a strategy. For over 80 years, the business behind First Choice has been part of Antigua's food supply chain. That heritage means reliable stock, a solid range of local produce, and a shopping experience that reflects how Antiguans actually eat.
Three takeaways to remember: First Choice is your best bet for meats, local produce, and good-value staples in the north of St. John's. The 7am opening makes it ideal for early provisioning before a beach day or departure. And if you want to avoid the crowds, aim for mid-week, mid-morning, mid-month.
Ready to explore everything St. John's parish has to offer beyond the supermarket run? Browse the full St. John's business directory on AntiguaSearch and find restaurants, services, accommodations, and local gems across Antigua's capital parish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening hours for First Choice Foods Antigua? First Choice Foods is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm. On Sundays, hours are 7am to 7pm. The early 7am opening makes it one of the first supermarkets in St. John's to open each day, which is useful for provisioning before an early departure or a long beach day.
Where exactly is First Choice Foods in Antigua? First Choice Foods is on Anchorage Road in St. John's, located in the northern part of the parish near Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay. The location is close to the Sandals Resort area and sits away from the congested city centre, making parking significantly easier than at more centrally located stores. Contact the store directly on (268) 463-3663.
Is First Choice Foods good for yacht provisioning in Antigua? Yes. First Choice is a popular choice for sailing crews provisioning in Antigua because the prices on key items such as chicken, canned goods, dried goods, local rum, beer, and Caribbean staples are competitive. The deli counter slices meats to order, which is useful for building provisioning packs. Sailors from English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour typically take a taxi there and back, with the cost savings on a large shop usually making the fare worthwhile.
Does First Choice Foods accept credit cards and US dollars? Yes to both. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at First Choice Foods. US dollars are also accepted, though change will typically be given in Eastern Caribbean dollars. The EC dollar is pegged at a fixed rate of EC$2.70 per US$1.00, which has been stable since 1976 and makes conversion straightforward.
How does First Choice Foods compare to Epicurean in Antigua? First Choice is Antigua's second-largest supermarket; Epicurean is the largest with over 28,000 items across two locations. Epicurean offers a broader range, a pharmacy, and a purpose-built location at Jolly Harbour Marina. First Choice offers better parking, more competitive pricing on everyday staples like chicken, local produce, and dairy, and a 7am opening time versus Epicurean's 8am start. Many experienced shoppers use both: First Choice for staples and value, Epicurean for specialty items and anything not found elsewhere.