Supermarkets in Sunderland

Most people in Sunderland do their main shop at one of a handful of large supermarkets on the edges of the city, with smaller stores filling the gaps for a top-up shop. Which one suits you usually comes down to where you live, whether you need fuel or a pharmacy at the same time, and whether you prefer a full range or a discounter's shorter list. This guide covers twelve supermarkets in Sunderland and Washington, grouped roughly from north to south, with details checked against the retailers' own store pages and the Food Standards Agency register in November 2026. Opening hours change around bank holidays and Christmas, so check the store page before you travel.

Tesco Extra, Newcastle Road

Tesco Extra at Sunderland Retail Park on Newcastle Road is the city's Extra-format Tesco, on the north side of the river. As an Extra store it carries a wider range than the smaller Tesco shops, including non-food, and it has an in-store cafe.

Best for: Suits households north of the river doing a big weekly shop.

Sainsbury's Sunderland North, Riverside Road

Sainsbury's Sunderland North is on Riverside Road near Hylton Riverside. It has an Argos counter inside and a petrol station on site.

Best for: Suits people in Castletown, Southwick and Hylton who want groceries, fuel and Argos collection in one stop.

Morrisons, Seaburn

Morrisons Seaburn is on Whitburn Road, a short walk from the seafront. The car park has a three-hour maximum stay, which is worth knowing if you plan to walk on the beach afterwards.

Best for: Suits people in Seaburn, Fulwell and Whitburn, and visitors to the coast.

Heron Foods, Fulwell

Heron Foods has a small store at Unit 2, 110 Station Road in Fulwell. It concentrates on frozen and chilled food and everyday groceries at low prices.

Best for: Suits a quick top-up shop for people in Fulwell who do not want to drive to a big store.

Aldi, Carley Hill Road

Aldi on Carley Hill Road serves Southwick, Carley Hill and Monkwearmouth. Like other Aldi stores it has a shorter range than the big four, mostly own-label, with weekly specials in the middle aisle.

Best for: Suits shoppers on a tight budget who are happy with a shorter range.

Tesco, The Bridges

Tesco at The Bridges is the main supermarket in the city centre, inside the shopping centre at 62 The Bridges. It carries a smaller range than the Extra but is within walking distance of the station and the bus interchange.

Best for: Suits people living in or near the city centre, and anyone without a car.

Asda, Leechmere Road

Asda Sunderland is a superstore on the Leechmere Road Industrial Estate in Grangetown, on the south side of the city. It has a pharmacy, a cafe, a travel money counter and a petrol station that is open 24 hours.

Best for: Suits people in Grangetown, Hendon and Ryhope who want a pharmacy and fuel alongside the weekly shop.

Sainsbury's, Silksworth Lane

Sainsbury's Sunderland is a superstore on Silksworth Lane, on the south-west side of the city. It has a petrol station and click and collect.

Best for: Suits people on the south-west side of the city who order online and collect on the way home.

Lidl, Durham Road

Lidl is on Durham Road, the main route out of the city towards the A19 and Durham. Like Aldi it focuses on a shorter, mostly own-label range, with an in-store bakery and rotating non-food specials.

Best for: Suits shoppers on the west side of the city who want a discounter close to home.

Morrisons, Doxford Park

Morrisons Doxford Park is the anchor store in the William Doxford Centre, the shopping centre serving the southern estates of the city. It has a cafe and a petrol station.

Best for: Suits families in Doxford Park, Mill Hill and Silksworth.

Asda, Washington

Asda Washington is at The Galleries, the main shopping centre in Washington, so it is easy to combine the weekly shop with other errands.

Best for: Suits people in Washington who want groceries and town-centre shops in one trip.

Marks & Spencer, Washington

Since the High Street West store in Sunderland city centre closed in May 2024, the nearest full-line Marks & Spencer is at Galleries Retail Park in Washington. The 47,000 sq ft store opened at the end of May 2024, replacing a smaller food hall, and sells food, clothing and homeware.

Best for: Suits shoppers who want M&S food or clothing without travelling to Newcastle.

Sunderland Market Hall

For fresh produce from independent traders, the indoor Market Hall on Market Square, next to The Bridges, has stalls including a greengrocer and cafes. It is worth a look if you want to buy loose fruit and vegetables in the quantity you need. For meat from independent shops, see our guide to butchers in Sunderland, and for parking near the city-centre shops, see where to park in Sunderland.

Know a store we have missed? Get in touch.