Food prices

[Trackman]

I've noticed certain things jumping up by a few pence every couple of weeks but this one caught my eye today in Morrisons.

2 Birds Eye Sticky BBQ Chargrills - From £1.80 to £2.79. Quite the jump!

£1.25 at Asda at the mo, sometimes they would be £1 if on offer, but that's pre-covid.
£2.79 .. no thank you.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

£2.79 .. no thank you.

Was this another "temporary" price hike at Morrison's to make their currently asked for £1.50 (for a 2 pack) seem like a good deal?!

 

[Bald Rick]

English Mustard at M&S. Last year £1. Now 85p.

 

[ABB125]

I've recently discovered that Tunnock's Caramel Wafers are 10p cheaper in Tesco Express (no Clubcard) than in an enormous Sainsbury's. Perhaps not the way one would expect...

 

[Ladder23]

Big bite for me are the ”squares bars” which used to be £1 for 4, now risen to £2 or £1.50 when on offer, that’s in Asda.

When/ if energy prices etc go down, will the price mark up on food ever drop? surely not. It’s disgusting how it’s all gone, worrying

 

[DannyMich2018]

Big bite for me are the ”squares bars” which used to be £1 for 4, now risen to £2 or £1.50 when on offer, that’s in Asda.

When/ if energy prices etc go down, will the price mark up on food ever drop? surely not. It’s disgusting how it’s all gone, worrying

Fuel prices have actually come down a little recently so will be interesting. Please everyone avoid Morrison's, I went in on Saturday and more expensive than other supermarkets for lots of items:- Hovis bread 800g 5p more than other supermarkets, Cravendale Milk 4 pink, at least 15p cheaper in Tesco, the cheapest tissue cube I could find was 1.65, £1 in Asda so got them there.

 

[DelayRepay]

Some pretty bleak news this morning from the Guardian (and presumably others):

Bulb Energy takeover by Octopus cleared; anger over HSBC branch closures; food inflation at record – as it happened

The UK’s sale of collapsed Bulb Energy to Octopus Energy will go ahead after it was approved by a London judge this afternoon

www.theguardian.com

UK faces bleak winter ahead as food prices rocket​

UK households face a ‘bleak winter’ as prices in the shops continue to accelerate, driven by food.

Food inflation has surged to a new record, with prices jumping by 12.4% over the last 12 months.

Items such as eggs, meat, dairy products and coffee shot up, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This lifted fresh food inflation to 14.3%, up from 13.3% last month.

These soaring prices are a heavy blow to shoppers in the run-up to Christmas, particularly poorer households, on top of higher energy bills and falling real wages.

And

Earlier this week, a survey commissioned by the Salvation Army found that older people are particularly worried about paying for Christmas dinner.

Some 16% of households are planning to use a food bank to get items for their festive meal, while 38% are likely to skip meals if they have an unexpected expense such as a broken boiler.

Fuel prices have actually come down a little recently so will be interesting. Please everyone avoid Morrison's, I went in on Saturday and more expensive than other supermarkets for lots of items:- Hovis bread 800g 5p more than other supermarkets, Cravendale Milk 4 pink, at least 15p cheaper in Tesco, the cheapest tissue cube I could find was 1.65, £1 in Asda so got them there.

Yes, I went to Morrisons at the weekend for the first time in a while. It seemed very expensive compared to Tesco and Sainsburys where I normally shop. I was surprised as Morrisons used to have a reputation for value - I guess it's their new owners' influence.

With Tesco/Sainsburys you can normally save a few pounds if you're flexible about what you buy to take advantage of special offers. At Morrisons the only special offer I noticed was 50p off a tube of Pringles!

 

[yorksrob]

Back to my favourite topic: Milk.
A single pint of semi-skimmed in Tesco now 95p. A mere 73% increase from 12 months ago.

I've had a more detailed look at the prices.
One pint = 95p.
Two pints = £1.30 so 35p for the extra pint.
Four pints = £1.65 so 35p for TWO extra pints.
Six pints = £2.35 so 70p for two / 35p each for the two extra pints.
All things being equal the prices would be 60p / 95p / £1.65 / £2.35.

Tesco seems to have a problem sourcing the small cartons of milk, which is a pain.

We don't all need a whole cow's worth.

 

[Ladder23]

Fuel prices have actually come down a little recently so will be interesting. Please everyone avoid Morrison's, I went in on Saturday and more expensive than other supermarkets for lots of items:- Hovis bread 800g 5p more than other supermarkets, Cravendale Milk 4 pink, at least 15p cheaper in Tesco, the cheapest tissue cube I could find was 1.65, £1 in Asda so got them there.

Funnily enough my partner noticed this as we went by our local garage last night! Also I agree with Morrisons, apart from there 4 for 3 on bottled ales, which is fantastic, everything tends to be above average.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Back to my favourite topic: Milk.
A single pint of semi-skimmed in Tesco now 95p. A mere 73% increase from 12 months ago.

I've had a more detailed look at the prices.
One pint = 95p.
Two pints = £1.30 so 35p for the extra pint.
Four pints = £1.65 so 35p for TWO extra pints.
Six pints = £2.35 so 70p for two / 35p each for the two extra pints.
All things being equal the prices would be 60p / 95p / £1.65 / £2.35.

While it probably is a bit too stepped compared with relative costs, don't forget that the cost of producing and selling one pint isn't half that of two pints. It would be were it sold from a big vat and self-service poured into your own containers, but packaged it isn't. For one example, the same amount of lid is present on a one and six pint bottle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2022 ==

Fuel prices have actually come down a little recently so will be interesting. Please everyone avoid Morrison's, I went in on Saturday and more expensive than other supermarkets for lots of items:- Hovis bread 800g 5p more than other supermarkets, Cravendale Milk 4 pink, at least 15p cheaper in Tesco, the cheapest tissue cube I could find was 1.65, £1 in Asda so got them there.

I don't overly like Morrisons because of the irritating "honest Northern grocer* theme park" feel they like to put across, so I'd not noticed this, but what I would say of e.g. Tesco is that they are quite clever in their use of promotions so people can save a lot of money if they have more time than money to go looking for offers and coupons and to see what is best value, but people with more money than time will pay a lot more. I'm not sure Morrisons quite have this level of "yield management" skill.

* There is one, and only one, "honest Northern grocer" in the large supermarket trade, and it's Booths.

 

[DelayRepay]

I don't overly like Morrisons because of the irritating "honest Northern grocer* theme park" feel they like to put across, so I'd not noticed this, but what I would say of e.g. Tesco is that they are quite clever in their use of promotions so people can save a lot of money if they have more time than money to go looking for offers and coupons and to see what is best value, but people with more money than time will pay a lot more. I'm not sure Morrisons quite have this level of "yield management" skill.

Reminds me of when I moved from 'up North' to St Albans. I mentioned I had been shopping in Morrisons to a colleague, who was a Waitrose shopper. Her response: I don't like Morrisons. It's too Northern. The Deli counter is full of pies.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2022 ==

And in my opinion, the difference with Tesco is not so much whether you are prepared to spend time looking for offers, but whether you're prepared to adapt your meal plans based on what offers are available (e.g. having a different type or cut of meat to take advantage of an offer). In Tesco there's usually something that is priced reasonably, even if it's not exactly what you planned to buy. In Morrisons there didn't seem to be anything at a reasonable price.

 

[Bald Rick]

When/ if energy prices etc go down, will the price mark up on food ever drop? surely not. It’s disgusting how it’s all gone, worrying

yes, it always does, albeit inconsistently depending on how much each product’s cost base is energy, and what type of energy.

There’s also the impact of recent weather (and war) on crop yields. The effect of the war in Ukraine on wheat prices is known by many people, but the effect of the weather is having a dramatic affect in the price of decent red Burgundy

 

[Gloster]

I mentioned in #599 that tinned spuds had gone up a lot. I have been stocking up as I understand that the dry summer had a serious effect on the crop. Onions, carrots, lettuces and barley are also likely to have been affected.

 

[1D54]

If you have a Heron or B&M store local then use it for tinned goods. Heinz products if purchased in multipacks can be excellent value for money. Even one tin of beans in the latter costs just 89p. ×4 is £3.25 and ×6 is £4.50

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you have a Heron or B&M store local then use it for tinned goods.

Home Bargains (formerly "Home & Bargain" when it started in Merseyside, hence why many people in the North West call it that still) has similar offers.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Reminds me of when I moved from 'up North' to St Albans. I mentioned I had been shopping in Morrisons to a colleague, who was a Waitrose shopper. Her response: I don't like Morrisons. It's too Northern. The Deli counter is full of pies.

Which is one of the USP's (unique selling point) that Morrisons has. Decent pies from the in-store bakery (actually delivered white/unfinished and baked in-store I understand). The second USP being that they retain a cooked meat counter rather than the packets that Tesco and others now regard as acceptable. Thirdly they still have fresh bread rolls. Plus butchers, fishmongers etc according to the size of store.

 

[Bald Rick]

I mentioned in #599 that tinned spuds had gone up a lot.

Tinned potatoes? Is that a thing?

 

[Darandio]

Tinned potatoes? Is that a thing?

For as long as I can remember!

I've noticed them starting to appear a lot in budget recipes, obviously a reaction to the current climate. Crumbled instead of mashed over a cottage pie for example.

 

[Gloster]

Tinned potatoes? Is that a thing?

Indeed, a useful standby. Very useful for bulking up soups or for a heavy snack in baked beans and sausages.

 

[Bald Rick]

For as long as I can remember!

I've noticed them starting to appear a lot in budget recipes, obviously a reaction to the current climate. Crumbled instead of mashed over a cottage pie for example.

every day is a school day.

I buy a 2.5kg bag of potatoes from the supermarket for about a quid, lasts over a month. I can’t see how tinned potatoes can be any cheaper.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

every day is a school day.

I buy a 2.5kg bag of potatoes from the supermarket for about a quid, lasts over a month. I can’t see how tinned potatoes can be any cheaper.

Convenient to keep in the bunker*, in case there is some kind of virus or something which locks everyone down. Along with corned beef, minced beef, stewed steak, oh the list is extensive if not endless.

*cupboard under the stairs

 

[Bletchleyite]

Which is one of the USP's (unique selling point) that Morrisons has.

I personally find it grossly annoying, because they aren't an honest Northern grocer, they're a moneygrabbing, shareholder-owned supermarket like the rest of them, and should just start behaving like one. It just comes across as insincere.

At least Tesco has no pretences as to what it is. Put stuff on shelves and in fridges and freezers and flog it without trying to be something you're not.

 

[Bald Rick]

Convenient to keep in the bunker*, in case there is some kind of virus or something which locks everyone down. Along with corned beef, minced beef, stewed steak, oh the list is extensive if not endless.

*cupboard under the stairs

funnily enough, during the last virus or something which locked everyone down, I found that supermarkets still stocked a ready supply of fresh potatoes, and other vegetables and fruit too!

 

[Bletchleyite]

funnily enough, during the last virus or something which locked everyone down, I found that supermarkets still stocked a ready supply of fresh potatoes, and other vegetables and fruit too!

I dunno, at the start round here some fresh stuff was a bit random in its availability. Nothing as hard to get as bog roll, though, which was interesting for a virus that didn't give you the trots!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I personally find it grossly annoying, because they aren't an honest Northern grocer, they're a moneygrabbing, shareholder-owned supermarket like the rest of them, and should just start behaving like one. It just comes across as insincere.

At least Tesco has no pretences as to what it is. Put stuff on shelves and in fridges and freezers and flog it without trying to be something you're not.

I didn't mention the honest northern bit. I don't go for that type of loyalty anyway. None have any loyalty to me so I have none to them. One day Booths may go the same way if the shareholding is diluted sufficiently. But I think the phrase 'desperate having overpaid vulture capital owned supermarket' would be closer to the truth, along with Asda but I don't like Asda anyway.

 

[Bald Rick]

I dunno, at the start round here some fresh stuff was a bit random in its availability. Nothing as hard to get as bog roll, though, which was interesting for a virus that didn't give you the trots!

fair enough.

I don’t get the principle of tinned veg. It’s invariably more expensive, and less tasty, than fresh stuff. I don’t know anyone who buys it, and until today had never heard of tinned potatoes. And I‘m well into my second half century, and used to stock shelves in a supermarket!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I didn't mention the honest northern bit. I don't go for that type of loyalty anyway. None have any loyalty to me so I have none to them. One day Booths may go the same way if the shareholding is diluted sufficiently. But I think the phrase 'desperate having overpaid vulture capital owned supermarket' would be closer to the truth

Probably so.

Booths is an interesting one. I could see it being sold to the John Lewis Partnership if they were interested in buying it, and TBH it's pretty close to Waitrose in what it offers (but a little bit better in some ways). But any other sale would probably destroy it.

along with Asda but I don't like Asda anyway.

I don't like Asda since the Issa Brothers took it over. Its range isn't as good, and it is starting to feel like an oversized motorway service station e.g. in terms of the way they've redone the cafes. (I tend to avoid their services anyway, not because I have any beef with them per-se, but because they have Starbucks machines rather than Costa ones, and the "coffee" they produce is like weak dishwater even if you specify an extra shot).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2022 ==

fair enough.

I don’t get the principle of tinned veg. It’s invariably more expensive, and less tasty, than fresh stuff. I don’t know anyone who buys it, and until today had never heard of tinned potatoes. And I‘m well into my second half century, and used to stock shelves in a supermarket!

I think it's more a thing from the past when it was the only way to have veg out of season. Though as potatoes store well provided they're left with the soil on, that was never necessary for those, we just used to have a big sack in the corner of the kitchen.

Exception: tinned tomatoes are good for making pasta sauces etc.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think it's more a thing from the past

A long, long time past! As a child of the 70s, we never had tinned veg, but everything veg wise was available via the freezer.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

fair enough.

I don’t get the principle of tinned veg. It’s invariably more expensive, and less tasty, than fresh stuff. I don’t know anyone who buys it, and until today had never heard of tinned potatoes. And I‘m well into my second half century, and used to stock shelves in a supermarket!

Convenience. It sits in the cupboard, potentially for years, until you use it.

Same applies to frozen over fresh, depending on how good and how large your freezer is for long term storage. Frozen is generally better than tinned (or dried for mash) but none as good as the real thing. But I can cook some mash from the freezer in three minutes.

Tinned was popular in the days before most people had fridges and decent freezers, popularity declined as chilled/frozen grew in popularity but has picked up again according to an article I read.

 

[Ediswan]

I don’t get the principle of tinned veg. It’s invariably more expensive, and less tasty, than fresh stuff

Good tinned veg:
Sweetcorn, does anybody cook whole cobs and strip off the kernels ?
Tomatoes (OK, they are fruit)

I did have a longer list, but it was all beans, pulses etc. which are otherwise only available dried, rather than fresh. Mixed (tinned) bean chilli can be rather good. But not French tinned beans, they are far too soft compared to UK, only made that mistake once.