Supermarkets discussion

[D6130]

Just a minor irritation, McCoys 6 pack cheese & onion are consistently unavailable in Morrisons & Asda, at least the one I use. Lots of other flavours, but almost never cheese & onion!

Maybe that's because they are easily the best flavour and frequently out of stock. Come to think of it, you hardly ever see them in the Selecta vending machines on station platforms.....whereas the other flavours are often there

 

[styles]

Our latest Tesco refurbishment took around 4 months. The one before some years back when they extended the shop took over a year. Yes, as long as a piece of string.

My favourite "renovation" work was all the supermarkets in Scotland taking out part of their car parks so build shelters for bottle return machines; only for the scheme to be delayed for 7 years. So now if you go to a Scottish supermarket you'll see these empty glass units dotted around the car parks.

 

[Buzby]

No different then from losing 12 parking spaces for a covered ‘Customer Collection’ point!

 

[londonbridge]

The weekly Sky coupons for a free Taste The Difference product at Sainsburys are usually released on Wednesdays. Went to check what this weeks offer is yesterday, which turned out to be ice lollies. However it said “it looks like the coupons are on their way but they’re not quite ready yet, please check again later”. Gone to have another look to try and get my coupon today and it says “this offer is now closed. Try again on Wednesday”. It sometimes says “looks like we’ve run out of coupons for today but don’t worry, we’ll be adding more tomorrow” and you can usually get one next day, but I’ve never seen it show a specific “offer closed/no more coupons” message before. None of this is Sainsburys fault of course, it’s just an observation.

 

[JamesT]

The weekly Sky coupons for a free Taste The Difference product at Sainsburys are usually released on Wednesdays. Went to check what this weeks offer is yesterday, which turned out to be ice lollies. However it said “it looks like the coupons are on their way but they’re not quite ready yet, please check again later”. Gone to have another look to try and get my coupon today and it says “this offer is now closed. Try again on Wednesday”. It sometimes says “looks like we’ve run out of coupons for today but don’t worry, we’ll be adding more tomorrow” and you can usually get one next day, but I’ve never seen it show a specific “offer closed/no more coupons” message before. None of this is Sainsburys fault of course, it’s just an observation.

Are Sky issuing coupons for specific items? The Vodafone ones I've used have all mentioned a theme (e.g. It's Easter, buy a chocolate egg!), but the actual coupon is merely an £X gift card that can be used for anything.

 

[londonbridge]

Yes, you claim the coupon through the My Sky app, the offer changes weekly and is for a specific product each week. It’s usually, but not always, a Taste The Difference product, the products on offer have included pizzas, ice cream, ice lollies and cookies.

 

[Kite159]

There seems to be a shortage of the 500ml bottles of pepsi max (regular) in Tesco (the ones included in the meal deal).

 

[londonbridge]

Having run out of bread due to an oversight on my part I went to the nearby Co-Op. There was hardly any bread or morning goods on the shelves. A lad was replenishing other grocery stock, so I said “you’re a bit light on bread aren’t you”? He replied “ We’ve had the delivery but there’s no one to put it out, they don’t give us enough staff, what can one man do”? He then added that the two delivery stacks were over in the corner of the shop and that I was welcome to have a look. Went over and found them, found the loaf I wanted in one of the trays, went to the counter and paid…..Several hours later I got the “tell us about your experience” email, obviously because I’d swiped my members card…I don’t usually shop there and mainly use it for emergencies or if, as in this case, I’ve forgotten to get something…wondering what feedback I should give…….

 

[jon0844]

Having run out of bread due to an oversight on my part I went to the nearby Co-Op. There was hardly any bread or morning goods on the shelves. A lad was replenishing other grocery stock, so I said “you’re a bit light on bread aren’t you”? He replied “ We’ve had the delivery but there’s no one to put it out, they don’t give us enough staff, what can one man do”? He then added that the two delivery stacks were over in the corner of the shop and that I was welcome to have a look. Went over and found them, found the loaf I wanted in one of the trays, went to the counter and paid…..Several hours later I got the “tell us about your experience” email, obviously because I’d swiped my members card…I don’t usually shop there and mainly use it for emergencies or if, as in this case, I’ve forgotten to get something…wondering what feedback I should give…….

I'd be tempted to complain about supermarkets employing less and less staff and expecting them to do more, but given how society is going - they'd likely sack the person for telling you they didn't have enough staff and not finding a way to do it while doing everything else.

 

[Trackman]

He then added that the two delivery stacks were over in the corner of the shop and that I was welcome to have a look. Went over and found them, found the loaf I wanted in one of the trays, went to the counter and paid…..

I do this in my local corner shop, they stash the crates in a corner not near the bread - this is not laziness, they wait until they have a clear shelf as people rummage through them looking at the dates, so they get rid of the old stock first.

 

[route101]

Having run out of bread due to an oversight on my part I went to the nearby Co-Op. There was hardly any bread or morning goods on the shelves. A lad was replenishing other grocery stock, so I said “you’re a bit light on bread aren’t you”? He replied “ We’ve had the delivery but there’s no one to put it out, they don’t give us enough staff, what can one man do”? He then added that the two delivery stacks were over in the corner of the shop and that I was welcome to have a look. Went over and found them, found the loaf I wanted in one of the trays, went to the counter and paid…..Several hours later I got the “tell us about your experience” email, obviously because I’d swiped my members card…I don’t usually shop there and mainly use it for emergencies or if, as in this case, I’ve forgotten to get something…wondering what feedback I should give…….

Find that strange, no staff to out items out. I worked at Sainsburys for a bit and we had the opposite problem on some shifts, everything had been worked and there was nothing to do except tidy the shelves.

 

[GusB]

Morrisons is to close 100 Daily stores.

Morrisons planning to close 100 stores in next few months

It said difficulties had been exacerbated by "significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices".

www.bbc.co.uk

Morrisons is planning to close 100 stores over the coming months, as it blamed government policy choices for rising costs.
The supermarket chain said the affected convenience stores had been loss-making for some time and were acquired through its McColls acquisition in 2022.
It said the difficulties had been exacerbated in more recent years by "significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices", including increases to the national living wage and National Insurance.
The planned closures come after Morrisons said last year it was closing 52 cafes and 17 convenience stores, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
It also comes after it revealed last month that about 200 jobs were at risk at its Bradford headquarters.
The supermarket chain said its proposal to take the "tough but necessary decision" to close more Morrisons Daily stores meant more staff would be at risk of redundancy and a consultation would start shortly.
While Morrisons has not confirmed how many staff are at risk of redundancy, it is understood that hundreds of jobs will be affected.

 

[jon0844]

'Government Policy' and not Private run-things-into-the-ground Equity to blame?

 

[Djgr]

'Government Policy' and not Private run-things-into-the-ground Equity to blame?

and not that Morrisons Dailys are the pits

 

[Smethwickian]

and not that Morrisons Dailys are the pits

They were also late to the party for convenience stores, compared to Tesco and Sainsbury. The company opened its M Local stores in 2011 but disposed of them just four years later, then later still decided to invent Morrisons Daily.

 

[philthetube]

It surprises me that farm foods has never made this thread, then to be very inexpensive with their offers, currently milk 2 litre £1.50 Two bottles £2.50 or three for £3

Butter 200g packs of country life 99p admittedly supermarket packs are 250g but usually priced a £1.70, if you have a big freezer the savings can be bit, also currently sending out flyers with money off vouchers , spend £50, get £6 off.

They have 340 stores nationwide so are not that smaller an operator.

 

[Djgr]

They were also late to the party for convenience stores, compared to Tesco and Sainsbury. The company opened its M Local stores in 2011 but disposed of them just four years later, then later still decided to invent Morrisons Daily.

Yes M Local was another complete bodge with many obviously useless locations.

 

[Benters]

It surprises me that farm foods has never made this thread, then to be very inexpensive with their offers, currently milk 2 litre £1.50 Two bottles £2.50 or three for £3

Butter 200g packs of country life 99p admittedly supermarket packs are 250g but usually priced a £1.70, if you have a big freezer the savings can be bit, also currently sending out flyers with money off vouchers , spend £50, get £6 off.

They have 340 stores nationwide so are not that smaller an operator.

I'm also surprised Farmfoods isn't mentioned in this thread more often. There are some real bargains to be had i.e Flora Original 1kg tub for £3.47 compared to £4.26 for the same in the likes of Sainsbury's and Asda. Also Persil Non-Bio Liquid XXXL size for £11.99. AFAIK the XXXL size is not seen in the 'Big Four' supermarkets. One of these packs is great value for money as it lasts me a few months (up to 6 months if I'm lucky).
What's even sweeter is my local branch is only five minutes' walk away.

 

[eyebrook1961]

I'm also surprised Farmfoods isn't mentioned in this thread more often. There are some real bargains to be had i.e Flora Original 1kg tub for £3.47 compared to £4.26 for the same in the likes of Sainsbury's and Asda. Also Persil Non-Bio Liquid XXXL size for £11.99. AFAIK the XXXL size is not seen in the 'Big Four' supermarkets. One of these packs is great value for money as it lasts me a few months (up to 6 months if I'm lucky).
What's even sweeter is my local branch is only five minutes' walk away.

I really, really wish we still had a Farmfoods in our town (Loughborough). Now there isn't one local we have to rely on university visits to use them in either York or Middlesbrough - our car boot would be rammed after visiting both Farmfoods and Heron Foods (another one we don't have locally). My better half picks up the "Giga Packs" of washing machine pods - last lot was 2x 86 pod boxes for £30. In a household where 4+ washes per day is the norm, we have to look for deals like this (and it was ideal in York for a daughter bulk buying frozen mince, pasta etc!)

 

[styles]

The one that always got me was Heron Foods. They have only half a dozen stores in Wales and I believe not a single one in Scotland.

 

[Darandio]

The one that always got me was Heron Foods. They have only half a dozen stores in Wales and I believe not a single one in Scotland.

There's loads of Heron Foods here in the North East.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The one that always got me was Heron Foods. They have only half a dozen stores in Wales and I believe not a single one in Scotland.

East Yorkshire based. Heron have ~340 stores. Northern-most store might just be up in Amble. Definitely more than 6 in Wales.

 

[styles]

East Yorkshire based. Heron have ~340 stores. Northern-most store might just be up in Amble. Definitely more than 6 in Wales.

I've used their store locator and can count 7 in Wales.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I've used their store locator and can count 7 in Wales.

Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, Colwyn Bay, Wrexham, Rhyl, Cwmbran, Maes Glas (Newport), Llanrumney (Cardiff), Caerau (Cardiff) and Barry. Think that's 11 Heron Stores in Wales in total.

 

[styles]

Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, Colwyn Bay, Wrexham, Rhyl, Cwmbran, Maes Glas (Newport), Llanrumney (Cardiff), Caerau (Cardiff) and Barry. Think that's 11 Heron Stores in Wales in total.

Oh that's strange - on their map it doesn't show me a blue pin for (for example Merthyr Tydfil), but the store shows up on the list on the left:



Whereas for (for example) Rhyl, it does:



Still, they've got like 340 stores in the UK, only 11 in Wales and none in Scotland.

 

[eyebrook1961]

There's loads of Heron Foods here in the North East.

And we've used quite a few of them round York and Boro!

 

[Fokx]

The one that always got me was Heron Foods. They have only half a dozen stores in Wales and I believe not a single one in Scotland.

Some are badged as B&M Express since the takeover. Albeit not many!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Some are badged as B&M Express since the takeover. Albeit not many!

Same ownership? Be right in saying that B&M own Heron Foods?

 

[eyebrook1961]

Same ownership? Be right in saying that B&M own Heron Foods?

Yes - one of the Middlebrough Herons (North Ormesby) has a section of goods (kids toys etc) all with B&M orange and blue price stickers on - but that is the only branch we go to where we've seen these

 

[Darandio]

I'm also surprised Farmfoods isn't mentioned in this thread more often. There are some real bargains to be had i.e Flora Original 1kg tub for £3.47 compared to £4.26 for the same in the likes of Sainsbury's and Asda. Also Persil Non-Bio Liquid XXXL size for £11.99. AFAIK the XXXL size is not seen in the 'Big Four' supermarkets. One of these packs is great value for money as it lasts me a few months (up to 6 months if I'm lucky).
What's even sweeter is my local branch is only five minutes' walk away.

Farmfoods is outstanding, particularly if you need to bulk buy. Their bacon is one we get, 3 packs for £6 which is something like 54 rashers. The quality is fine too although with so many rashers in one pack you are committed once you defrost one.

Another one is the Birds Eye deal. I'm pretty certain their chicken chargrills were in this or another thread a while back because the price for one pack had gone through the roof. Farmfoods have a Birds Eye mix and match with them included, 10 for £10. Amazing value.