DIG

When it opened its doors on that most auspicious of dates, 8th August, they were queuing out the door. No, this not a nightclub; it’s a supermarket. The attraction? It’s duty free. Or, to be more accurate, duty less. This store in Nanjing is part of the nationwide expansion of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Direct Imported Goods, and while it offers most of the usual fare churned out by the major French and German retailers, herein are also gems unavailable elsewhere. Think muesli, Worcester and HP sauce, plus a large range of beers, instant noodles, olive oil and bathroom products, such as nappies by brands such as Nepia, Merries and Libero. Claims that prices are 30 percent less than elsewhere might account for the queues, but are difficult to substantiate.