Madina Superstore

There are plenty of arguments for and against the social impact of segregated communities in Manchester. One of the overwhelming advantages of such communities however, which I’m sure will gain universal approval is their complete immunity from being threatened by giant retail food chains. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that’ve been driving out small independents outta business across across the country.
I LOVE the fact that the communities remain militantly loyal to local foodstores like Madina. Upon close inspection, turns out the reason is a little more complex than just cultural affiliation.
One of the main one reasons? This place is AWESOME! There’s literally a library of spices to buy (at BARGAIN prices) and experiment at home with. Any foodie/​charlie out there who’s sick of the monotonous nature of the shopping experience, will find this to be their culinary/​chocolate factory. True, London probably bigger volume of such establishments, but they probably cant beat us for sheer quality.
So next time you’re stuck in traffic driving to town on Stockport road (through Levenshulme) have a break, and instead of having a kitkat, park up and have a cheeky gander.

Despite having a deceptively small storefront, once inside Madina Superstore turns out to be another Desi supermarket easily on a par with branches of Worldwide Foods or Manchester Superstore. With the UK ‘hungry gap’ upon us, I bagged a box of lychees plus sundry Desi vegetable and fresh herbs. Freshness of the produce was very good, although a bit of banter with a Desi customer revealed that he was passing up on the tinda as being too big — although this is no doubt an out-​of-​season issue.
For the mobile cosmopolitan foodie such as myself, the aim is to know where all the ethnic food stores are so that ethnic food shopping can be done with a minimum of detour from other city business and pleasure.
Although there is nothing really oustanding about Madina Superstore to make you travel beyond your nearest Desi superstore, it is nice to have a proper Desi supermarket in Levenshulme to save Levy locals a trip up Stockport Road to Longsight. And visitors such as myself can combine a visit to Madina Superstore with a trip to the monthly Levy Market, or else the permanent Trove café bakery or POD deli.