I have lost count of how many times I have pulled into the car park on Nikou Kranidioti meaning to grab bread and milk, only to walk out forty minutes later with a trolley I cannot lift. If you live anywhere near Engomi you probably know the feeling. Alphamega here has that effect on people, and after enough visits I thought it was worth writing down properly what makes this particular branch so hard to leave quickly.
A bit of history most shoppers do not know
What surprised me when I looked into it is that this is where the whole chain started. Andreas Papaellinas bought the site back in 1997, when it was still trading as Charalambides Hypermarket, and the Alphamega name only arrived in 2002. From that single shop the business has grown to 21 stores covering Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and everywhere in between. Knowing that changes how the place feels somehow, since you are essentially shopping in the original.
The Ch. A. Papaellinas Group sits behind it all, which matters more than it sounds. Their position in Cypriot distribution means direct relationships with island farmers and with big international suppliers, and you notice the result on the shelves rather than in any marketing.
The produce section is the reason I keep going back
Walk in and the fruit and vegetables hit you first. Everything gets restocked in the morning, and a good proportion of it comes from Cypriot growers rather than sitting in a container for three weeks. Summer means watermelons, figs, peaches, and tomatoes that actually taste of something. Autumn brings pomegranates and grapes, winter is all citrus and leafy greens, and by spring you are looking at artichokes, broad beans, and strawberries.
I am fussy about tomatoes and I have stopped buying them anywhere else, which probably tells you everything.
Counters worth queuing at
Real butchers work the meat counter, and they will cut whatever you ask for. Lamb, chicken, and pork reared here in Cyprus, imported beef, and no awkwardness if you turn up wanting something prepared for souvla on Saturday. Ask for advice and you will get a proper answer instead of a shrug.
Fish arrives regularly and looks it. Whole fish, prawns, squid, octopus, plus marinated pieces and fillets if you cannot face the preparation on a weeknight. The dairy fridges cover local halloumi, anari, and yoghurt alongside a European cheese selection that has cost me money more than once.
The bakery, and why you should never shop hungry
They bake through the day, so village loaves, rolls, croissants, bourekia, and Cypriot pastries keep appearing warm. Going in before lunch without eating first is a mistake I have made repeatedly and will make again.
Next to it the deli slices cold cuts to order and lays out olives, dips, salads, and hot dishes that rotate through the week. On the evenings when cooking simply is not happening, this counter has rescued dinner.
Where the imported stuff lives
This is genuinely the strongest part of the store for anyone who cooks outside Cypriot and Greek recipes. A partnership signed with the French Casino Group in 2022 brought in more than 1,000 French products, and those share the aisles with Italian pasta and sauces, Spanish olive oils, British cupboard staples, ingredients for Asian cooking, and various things from the Americas.
Friends who moved here from the UK do most of their shopping in these two aisles alone. I mostly use them to attempt recipes above my skill level, with mixed results.
The cava
Cypriot wineries are properly represented, which is not always true elsewhere, and beyond them you have Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chianti, Prosecco, Rioja, and New World bottles from Chile, South Africa, and Australia. Spirits, craft beer, speciality soft drinks, juices, and mineral water fill the rest. Ask the staff for a pairing suggestion, because they know the stock and they enjoy being asked.
Lunch, if you have time
The self-service cafeteria is underrated. Hot dishes, salads, sandwiches, coffee, all at prices that made me check twice the first time. Menus change daily. Plenty of people who work nearby come purely to eat and never touch a trolley.
Ordering online instead
On weeks when the shop is not happening in person, delivery covers Nicosia and beyond. Slots run from 9:00 to 20:00 every day, minimum spend is €40, delivery is €2.95 under €100, and it becomes free above that. Vans are refrigerated, so frozen goods arrive frozen, and you get an SMS to track the driver on the day. Reordering a previous basket takes seconds, which is how most of my orders now happen.
Practical details
You will find the store at Nikou Kranidioti 3, Nicosia 2433. Parking is generous, access is easy from any direction, and people travel in from Strovolos, Aglandjia, Lakatamia, Makedonitissa, Ayios Dometios, Lykavitos, Pallouriotissa, Kaimakli, Latsia, Anthoupolis, and the Old Town. Opening hours are wide enough that awkward schedules are rarely a problem.
Worth mentioning too that the company sponsors the 11,000-seat Alphamega Stadium in Limassol, where AEL Limassol, Aris Limassol, and Apollon Limassol play, and supports various local causes through the year.
Would I recommend it?
Obviously, or this post would read very differently. What keeps me loyal is consistency more than any single department. Hygiene standards hold up, quality controls are visible rather than claimed, and staff treat a one-item visit the same as a full weekly shop. That is harder to find than it should be.
Alphamega, Nikou Kranidioti 3, Engomi, Nicosia. Online at alphamega.com.cy.
Questions people usually ask me about ordering
What is the minimum order value for delivery?
The minimum order value to order online is €40 including shipping cost.
How much is the delivery cost?
The delivery cost is €2.95 to all areas for orders under €100. For orders over €100 enjoy Free Shipping.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to many post codes. To check whether we deliver to your area, enter your post code in the box indicated on the top part of our website.
What are your delivery options?
Your order can be delivered between 9:00-20:00 Monday to Sunday. See the available slots in your cart.
How do you deliver?
We deliver in specialized vans that have sections for frozen and refrigerated products. Our delivery driver will deliver to your doorstep.
Please also be aware, we can only deliver if someone over the age of 18 is there to sign for the delivery.
Is the total cost on my order confirmation the final cost I will pay?
When you make an online order, the final cost that you will pay may vary from the cost on your order confirmation. The reasons are weighed pre-packed products that may vary in price, or any possible substitutions or out of stocks that may occur.
The total cost amount as seen on your order confirmation is reserved on your method of payment, but the final total cost will be charged after your order is picked.
Why do I see a higher amount reserved than my order total?
The amount you see is a temporary authorization of up to +15% of your order value. This is to cover possible differences due to items sold by weight, or substitutions. You will be charged only the final value of the items delivered. The final order amount may be lower, equal to, or higher than the estimated total, depending on the actual items delivered. Any difference will be automatically released.
Why haven't I received all the products I ordered?
Sometimes, one or more of your items may not be available when we pick your order, because the item has gone out of stock, for example. If you've chosen to allow substitutions, we will offer you a suitable alternative. The driver will deliver a picking list along with your delivery, clearly indicating any substitutions. If you don't want any of these substitutions, just give them back to the driver and your payment card will be refunded.
What if an item is damaged or expired?
If an item is damaged, hand it back to your delivery driver. The amount will be refunded to your method of payment. If you only notice this after the driver has left, you can return it to your local store with your receipt.
How can I keep track of my order?
On the day of your delivery, you will receive an SMS message with your selected slot. Before the driver starts heading towards your home, you will receive an SMS message to track your order in real-time, and an estimated delivery time.
Are there any product limitations?
You can only order up to 4 heavy products. This limitation is mostly set on water bottles. The website will notify you when you reach your capacity of heavy products.
Can I cancel my order?
You can cancel your order up to 48 hours prior to your delivery slot, by contacting us on 24021230 or by emailing our online order support team.
Will I earn points and stickers for my purchases?
Yes, you will automatically earn points for any purchases you make (€1 = 1 point). You will also earn stickers by inserting your Stick & Win phone number (€10 = 1 sticker) where indicated in your cart.
The stickers and points will be added to your account after the delivery of your order and will be based on the final cost amount of products delivered and accepted.
Can I redeem points on the Alphamega site?
Yes, you can redeem points in your cart. You can redeem up to 90% of your total cart cost, with a minimum of 1000 points. The redemption online varies from in-store redemption.
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