Food prices

[Trackman]

Broadly comparable in quality and in pricing to Waitrose.

Thanks I thought so, I remember their bacon was spot on, like bacon used to be so to speak and not full of water etc..
Just looked them up.
For a price comparison on bacon: Asda £1.65 for 300g, Booth's £2.95 for 250g

 

[DarloRich]

There is a lot of talk in this thread of processed or packaged food. May i suggest turning more to fresh and home cooked as a way to offset price rises?

The food is nicer and i dare say healthier.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Today I noticed that Flora has surreptitiously reduced from a 500g tub to 450g, but in the same size tub. I assume without price reduction!

The pack size reduction was in July 2022, apparently.

Typically, the retail price per pack wasn't reduced.

More here...

Flora, Bertolli and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter packs shrunk as costs surge

Owner Upfield said it was facing "significant commodity cost increases"

www.thegrocer.co.uk

Extract of article...

Spreads giant Upfield has shrunk pack sizes across three of its biggest brands – but retail prices have stayed the same or in some cases risen, The Grocer can reveal.

Essentially yet another example of 'Shrinkflation' as was previously discussed here...

Shrinkflation - examples?

"Shrinkflation" is the business practice where pack sizes of items (often food items) shrink in size or quantity, yet the selling price remains the same, or even increases! An example: Packs of McVities (Jaffa Cakes) Cake Bars came, until recently, in packs of eight and were being sold for £1...

railforums.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

The pack size reduction was in July 2022, apparently.

I only get through a tub every 3-4 months, so that explains why I only just noticed!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

ionly get through a tub every 3-4 months, so that explains why I only just noticed!

As you hinted at, the change was, IMHO, sneaked through.

Not many food manufacturers/retailers ever seem to have the gall to try to spin product size reductions (with no commensurate price drop) as being a positive thing, with the possible exception of confectionery and snack companies attempting to get their pack sizes down below the 'magic' 100 calories figure.

 

[DelayRepay]

There is a lot of talk in this thread of processed or packaged food. May i suggest turning more to fresh and home cooked as a way to offset price rises?

The food is nicer and i dare say healthier.

Good advice. I have a freezer full of home made ready meals which can go in the microwave. Much cheaper than a shop-bought one and they contain less sugar and salt (probably still too much salt though )

I've changed my ratio of meat to veg too. Less meat but use some mushrooms or something to bulk it out. That was more for health reasons, but it also makes cooking a bit cheaper.

 

[DarloRich]

Good advice. I have a freezer full of home made ready meals which can go in the microwave. Much cheaper than a shop-bought one and they contain less sugar and salt (probably still too much salt though )

I've changed my ratio of meat to veg too. Less meat but use some mushrooms or something to bulk it out. That was more for health reasons, but it also makes cooking a bit cheaper.

Snap! Get a slow cooker. Cheap to run and easy to use.

 

[jon0844]

Noticed online that Ikea is reducing the size of many of its candles. They are selling both online, with the larger ones showing as end of line and unavailable at many locations.

I bet a lot of candles are being sold right now, by people who have read that you can heat your home with them (you need so many that, frankly, it won't save any money at all - but will look cosy!).

 

[Silver Cobra]

I imagine it's not deliberate (although that's no defence!). I expect it's down to a combination of frequently changing prices, and a shortage of staff to update the tickets.

That is pretty much what is happening. In the store I work in, we only have 1 colleague assigned to manage price changes, so if they're not in on a particular day none of the labels get updated. Seeing as we don't have a set day of the week for price changes to come into effect (some of the supermarkets have a specific day for this, such as a Sunday or Monday), this often leads to the situation mentioned by @malc-c . I was hoping that the introduction of the electronic labels at Stevenage would help to make this less of a problem by possibly allowing automatic price changes via wi-fi, but even that doesn't seem to be the case as I've spotted incorrect prices on those in the past.

Asda used to refund the price paid and leave you with the goods if that happened, not sure if this is still the case. I know someone who got a free £20 mirror.

That is still the case, I can confirm.

 

[jon0844]

I am not sure if the e-ink price tags are updated automatically, or need a terminal to touch it and download the new data to it. Perhaps some do, but I guess there's an impact on battery life (even with Bluetooth LE or the like). The benefit of e-Ink is of course that there's no power consumption showing the 'screen' so the battery probably lasts for years.

 

[Gloster]

Morrison’s own brand 1 kg Bran Flakes now £1.79, see #312 for the previous (of several) rises. That is something fairly basic, so you can see how little the various ‘actually, no, really, it is definitely not a budget’ changes will help those at the bottom.

 

[DelayRepay]

Noticed online that Ikea is reducing the size of many of its candles. They are selling both online, with the larger ones showing as end of line and unavailable at many locations.

I bet a lot of candles are being sold right now, by people who have read that you can heat your home with them (you need so many that, frankly, it won't save any money at all - but will look cosy!).

When I was in the Scouts, we used to heat tins of soup over candles when we were camping. It's an option if we have power outages, or if times get really, really tough!

A bit off topic but I don't understand why people use candles in power cuts. A battery operated light is much safer.

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Snap! Get a slow cooker. Cheap to run and easy to use.

Got one. Great way of cooking on my work from home days.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2022 ==

That is pretty much what is happening. In the store I work in, we only have 1 colleague assigned to manage price changes, so if they're not in on a particular day none of the labels get updated. Seeing as we don't have a set day of the week for price changes to come into effect (some of the supermarkets have a specific day for this, such as a Sunday or Monday), this often leads to the situation mentioned by @malc-c .

When I worked in a supermarket, many years ago, our price changes were always on a Sunday. The logic was that we had time to do them before the store opened at 11am. Then it changed to Monday so they weren't paying Sunday wages to people updating the tickets.

We had a few savvy regulars who did their shopping on price change day, then carefully checked their receipts. They knew we would have missed something and would be given a full refund and allowed to keep the item. It was common for secondary displays to be missed - e.g. if the price of soft drinks had changed, the labels on the soft drink aisle would be changed but the ones in the fridge near the entrance might get missed.

 

[DarloRich]

Got one. Great way of cooking on my work from home days.

Snap! Doing a lot of soups for work

 

[kristiang85]

Broadly comparable in quality and in pricing to Waitrose.

Isn't Booths the same company as Waitrose, or am I imagining that?

 

[Herefordian]

Isn't Booths the same company as Waitrose, or am I imagining that?

Booths and Waitrose are separate companies.

 

[Darandio]

Isn't Booths the same company as Waitrose, or am I imagining that?

Waitrose did go after buying them some years ago. Since then they formed a buying partnership but they remain different companies.

 

[GusB]

I imagine it's not deliberate (although that's no defence!). I expect it's down to a combination of frequently changing prices, and a shortage of staff to update the tickets.

I imagine that this is the case.

Many moons ago, I used to be asked to help with the "admin" night shift when the promotions changed on a 4-weekly basis. The priority was to have the shelf-edge tickets changed and checked first, then everyone would work on getting the point of sale promotional material out afterwards; inevitably a few of the old POS tickets would be found over the next few days, but we would always honour a previous promotion.

It's no great surprise that there are fewer staff to do the job these days.

 

[malc-c]

Wow, this has moved on since lunchtime.. When I highlighted the difference between the ticket on the doors and the scanned price they simply corrected the error at the till. I also noticed a lot of the printed price tickets were being replaced with electronic ones, looking like the page white kindle screens, just smaller. I gather that it's to reduce the cost of printing pricing labels that now change almost on a weekly basis. Now these can be programmed to display whatever the current amount is.

With regards to processed vs fresh food. Since me and the misses separated I've been doing the cooking and tend to buy chicken breasts, pork loin chops, and beef, along with fresh carrots, runner beans and suede etc. We tend to eat processed (chicken nuggets for example) once a week. The other meals use fresh ingredients. Heck I even make chips once a week form real potatoes rather than by oven chips ! But whilst doing so may be healthier, it's not cheaper... I made a beef and onion pie the other day. By the time you factor in the ingredients for pastry, and the cost of the beef it was more expensive than buying a ready made one (but probably tasted better). I've also noticed the price for the chicken breast and pork chops Are now 10 or 20p more expensive than last week, and four chicken breast are still more expensive than a whole chicken. Problem there is my daughter won't eat legs or wings of a chicken so there would be a lot more waste (and giving it to the dog just gives him wind !)

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Wow, this has moved on since lunchtime.. When I highlighted the difference between the ticket on the doors and the scanned price they simply corrected the error at the till. I also noticed a lot of the printed price tickets were being replaced with electronic ones, looking like the page white kindle screens, just smaller. I gather that it's to reduce the cost of printing pricing labels that now change almost on a weekly basis. Now these can be programmed to display whatever the current amount is.

With regards to processed vs fresh food. Since me and the misses separated I've been doing the cooking and tend to buy chicken breasts, pork loin chops, and beef, along with fresh carrots, runner beans and suede etc. We tend to eat processed (chicken nuggets for example) once a week. The other meals use fresh ingredients. Heck I even make chips once a week form real potatoes rather than by oven chips ! But whilst doing so may be healthier, it's not cheaper... I made a beef and onion pie the other day. By the time you factor in the ingredients for pastry, and the cost of the beef it was more expensive than buying a ready made one (but probably tasted better). I've also noticed the price for the chicken breast and pork chops Are now 10 or 20p more expensive than last week, and four chicken breast are still more expensive than a whole chicken. Problem there is my daughter won't eat legs or wings of a chicken so there would be a lot more waste (and giving it to the dog just gives him wind !)

Suede? It needs a long time in the pot to soften that. I assume Swede, although they can be quite difficult to get in the pot if they won't stand still.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2022 ==

A bit off topic but I don't understand why people use candles in power cuts. A battery operated light is much safer.

Old timers have old habits which are difficult to change! Back in the 1970's it was all we had you know. Young people today......

Anticipating cuts (now that the government have said they won't happen) I have bought 'some' rechargeable portable work lamps from Amazon. Used one to do some DIY in a dark hole yesterday, much easier than balancing a torch and it rolling away!

 

[malc-c]

Suede? It needs a long time in the pot to soften that. I assume Swede, although they can be quite difficult to get in the pot if they won't stand still.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2022 ==

Bloody dyslexic keyboard.... yea Swede !!

 

[kristiang85]

Waitrose did go after buying them some years ago. Since then they formed a buying partnership but they remain different companies.

Ah ok that must be what confused me. Thanks!

I do love the Booths beer section whenever I'm up North. A great selection usually!

 

[Butts]

Crisps and similar derivatives seem to have escalated in price rapidly.

Tesco own brand 6 pack was 76p now £1.07 = that's a 40% hike.

 

[Gloster]

I believe that the dry summer has meant a very poor crop of potatoes.

 

[ChrisC]

Ah ok that must be what confused me. Thanks!

I do love the Booths beer section whenever I'm up North. A great selection usually!

Booths does have a very good selection of beer. There’s so much that Booths sell that I love especially the great selection of local cheese. When my sister lived in the West of Scotland I used to call in Booths at Penrith on my way home. I love Booths but unfortunately from where I live in Nottinghamshire it’s around 2 hours drive to the nearest branch and so it’s about 5 years since I last shopped there.

 

[Busaholic]

Booths does have a very good selection of beer. There’s so much that Booths sell that I love especially the great selection of local cheese. When my sister lived in the West of Scotland I used to call in Booths at Penrith on my way home. I love Booths but unfortunately from where I live in Nottinghamshire it’s around 2 hours drive to the nearest branch and so it’s about 5 years since I last shopped there.

They have an online shop. My late wife was a Lancastrian and the Christmas before last we had our almost complete Christmas order from them, but was almost derailed by the final (Cornish) courier who fouled up dramatically and it was purely incredible luck that we got our bird at all very late on Christmas Eve.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Prices in Sainsbury's crazy! Smallest packet of cooked meats up to £1 from 50 or 60p within the last year. Muller Corner yogurts 6 packs now up to £3.50, single ones are on promotion at 40p each so we got six of these instead for £2.40!!

 

[Red Onion]

Crisps and similar derivatives seem to have escalated in price rapidly.

Tesco own brand 6 pack was 76p now £1.07 = that's a 40% hike.

65p in Aldi. It’s bizarre that the six pack of own brand crisps is a measure I use for watching price hikes! I’ve gone back to more Aldi shopping.

 

[Class 33]

Prices in Sainsbury's crazy! Smallest packet of cooked meats up to £1 from 50 or 60p within the last year. Muller Corner yogurts 6 packs now up to £3.50, single ones are on promotion at 40p each so we got six of these instead for £2.40!!

I don't generally go shopping in Sainsbury's much. But when I do go there intending to buy a few things, I look at their prices and often don't bother buying them due to their stupid prices. They're craftily frequently nudging their prices up in recent months.

A 6 pack of their own brand toasting muffins used to be 85p at the start of the year. Which was reasonable value. Then a few months or so ago they raised the price up to £1.10. The last time I looked the price has gone up to £1.35! At those prices I don't buy them any more! A 4 pack of muffins in Farm Foods is just 39p, and 49p in Aldi!

Medium size(about 90g to 100g) chocolate bars such as Dairy Milk are £1.50 in Sainsbury's. In other stores such as Home Bargains they're 50% cheaper at £1 each!

2 litre bottles of fizzy drinks such as Tango, Pepsi, etc are about £2.30(or more) in Sainsbury's. In other stores they're priced more reasonably at between £1 to £1.50!

Multi 6 packs of crisps in Sainsbury's seem to be mostly priced from about £1.80 to about £2.30. In other stores they're priced more reasonably at between £1 to £1.50!

Cans of Monster are £1.75 in Sainsbury's. Which is above the RRP of £1.49, which most convenience stores sell them at. In Home Bargains they're priced at £1.25, or even as low as 79p at times. Even in the Co-op, they sell at £1.49 and they currently have a deal for 2 for £2.60.

Nope, not much a fan of Sainsbury's now. They don't get much custom from me nowadays!

 

[Busaholic]

I don't generally go shopping in Sainsbury's much. But when I do go there intending to buy a few things, I look at their prices and often don't bother buying them due to their stupid prices. They're craftily frequently nudging their prices up in recent months.



Medium size(about 90g to 100g) chocolate bars such as Dairy Milk are £1.50 in Sainsbury's. In other stores such as Home Bargains they're 50% cheaper at £1 each!

I don't disagree about Sainsbury's prices, but humbly point out that's one third, rather than one half, cheaper.

 

[david1212]

I don't disagree about Sainsbury's prices, but humbly point out that's one third, rather than one half, cheaper.

(1.50 / 1.00) * 100 = 150% i.e. 50% higher ......