So, I just moved here from Bangkok, and I'm a bit surprised by what's not in markets so far.

Right now my pressing need is for some Equal sweetener. Any suggestions would be helpful. I did find a jar of mustard at the GBH(?) market, but it was like $5 USD for a pretty small jar, which makes it about 40% more expensive than Bkk and 2X what I'd expect to pay in The States.

I've also been to the Walmart, but they seem pretty adapted to the local food preferences, so no help there.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Try the Times store (see the entry on this site), or go to one of the big Metro supermarkets.
Welcome to NJ.

As well as Metro, there are Auchan, Walmart and Carrefour supermarkets. Equal is surprisingly hard to find here.
There is also a supermarket that delivers from Shanghai. On Shanghai lu just down from Pisa Pizza there will be an import deli and food market opening in August.

For certain things going on Taobao may be worth the investment. There are many ways to pay on taobao, but the safest and most convenient I found was opening a Merchant's Bank Shangye ying hang internet accessible debit card. Put enough money in for what you want to buy and use that to pay for it. When you make payments it confirms it with text messages to your mobile phone. Most shipping in china is 10-20 yuan for 1-3 day delivery. Also the prices are cheaper than retail stores with ability to find western Brand name stuff that is just not common in China. Sweeteners is just something not common here.

Here is a link to the Taobao equal search-
search8.taobao.com/search?q=equal&commen...7416_2297358_8935934

Good luck.
Simon Laing

You can get sweeteners at Times Groceries, but I think it is Splenda.

You can get Equal at the Metro Supermarkets.

I'd suggest, if it is essential for you, and I presume it is, get a Chinese friend to get on Taobao, you can get a box of 1000 sachets for a bit more than 100 kuai, or you can pay like 25 kuai for 50 packets in a market in town.

Thanks All. I tried Metro with no luck, but did find some Equal online and a Chinese friend will order it for me...

if you don't mind paying more, there are a few selection of thai curry paste at Golden Eagle supermarket at Xinjiekou amd BHG at Deji or Aqua City as well.. There is also SG supermarket inside the small plaza at Shanghai Lu Metro where there is Croissant De France and Costa..They do have imported products, even Indonesian Mee Sedap, Korean paste, Taiwanese products, organic food, etc.. you can give it a try..