Supermarkets discussion

[py_megapixel]

I find you can mix and match single items to get a selection of flavours, rather than one flavour multipacks.

I don't understand why supermarkets seem to like multi packs so much in this country rather than just having multi buy discounts.
It increases the number of lines they have to stock, creates additional packaging waste and increases what I believe the trade calls "shrink" (if you have, say, a pack of 6 tins of beans and one tin is damaged or someone takes out a single tin, you now have 5 perfectly good tins of beans that cannot be sold). All of this while reducing customer choice. Surely the opposite of what any supermarket would want.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Lidl is similar with more single items for sale

However the single most frustrating thing I find with Lidl is that quite a lot of the fresh stuff is presented in cases with mixed products (eg lemon cheesecake and strawberry cheesecake; spaghetti bolognese and spaghetti meatballs) and invariably one of them seems to sell a lot faster than the other meaning a gap for one flavour that is slow to be filled and the risk of markdown for the other

OK, equally single most frustrating. Obviously the other is the ridiculous speed they scan at and my utter inability to keep up

 

[GusB]

I don't understand why supermarkets seem to like multi packs so much in this country rather than just having multi buy discounts.
It increases the number of lines they have to stock, creates additional packaging waste and increases what I believe the trade calls "shrink" (if you have, say, a pack of 6 tins of beans and one tin is damaged or someone takes out a single tin, you now have 5 perfectly good tins of beans that cannot be sold). All of this while reducing customer choice. Surely the opposite of what any supermarket would want.

The multi-pack can still be sold, though. A bit of parcel tape and a reduced to clear sticker at 5/6 of the price sorts that out, maybe with a small extra discount because the product isn't perfect. As long as someone thinks they're getting a bargain, it'll sell!

 

[route101]

I don't understand why supermarkets seem to like multi packs so much in this country rather than just having multi buy discounts.
It increases the number of lines they have to stock, creates additional packaging waste and increases what I believe the trade calls "shrink" (if you have, say, a pack of 6 tins of beans and one tin is damaged or someone takes out a single tin, you now have 5 perfectly good tins of beans that cannot be sold). All of this while reducing customer choice. Surely the opposite of what any supermarket would want.

I think part of the reason is to make you buy more if you want to try another flavour for soft drinks for example. I understand for families it can be better value.

I notice here beer often comes in multipacks of four cans, you cant just pick out one!

 

[The exile]

You either compete on price, the elusion of price or quality. UK supermarkets compete on price as the average brit appears to pit price before quality.

Although that is at least partly a result of decades of brainwashing, not all of it by supermarkets. (It’s also a product of our much earlier urbanisation)

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The multi-pack can still be sold, though. A bit of parcel tape and a reduced to clear sticker at 5/6 of the price sorts that out, maybe with a small extra discount because the product isn't perfect. As long as someone thinks they're getting a bargain, it'll sell!

Indeed - quite frequently the price per unit in a discounted multi pack with units missing is often worse than the non-discounted one. Cheaper - yes; better value for money - no.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==

I notice here beer often comes in multipacks of four cans, you cant just pick out one!

Well - in Germany the standard is a 6-pack (or a crate) - though single bottles are also available.

 

[jon0844]

I think people expect a multi pack to be better value but we all know the importance of checking prices for smaller packs or even individual packs when there might be a promotion on.

I agree that it could make more sense to just allow people to get a discount buying individual items like yogurts, but I guess the bulk packs do sell and manufacturers must like people buying more - especially if some items might get thrown away because they don't all get consumed before going out of date.

 

[dgl]

Weren't Tesco going to phase out multi-packs and just have multi-buy discounts to cut out the extra packaging a multi-pack needs?

 

[Bald Rick]

Whereas I shop in Aldi; no fancy tech, no silly offers in an app, but about 30% cheaper with IMO equivalent or superior quality to the Big Four. Can’t understand why anyone would willingly pay more for what is usually their third-largest expense after house and (usually) car.

In my experience, for what is in my typical family shopping basket, Aldi are the same price as Sainsburys, on average. And Sainsbury’s has a much better range, and is a MUCH nicer experience all round.

 

[Uncle Buck]

In my experience, for what is in my typical family shopping basket, Aldi are the same price as Sainsburys, on average. And Sainsbury’s has a much better range, and is a MUCH nicer experience all round.

Can’t say that’s been my experience on price although I rarely go near a Sainsbury’s. As for experience I can’t say I really care or notice that much.

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M&S do scan-and-go in my local store, it’s tied to the Sparks card.

M&S ready meals are, IME, not much more expensive than Tesco or Aldi but they’re definitely nicer.

I wish we had an Aldi here.

I rarely have a takeaway sandwich these days but yes, the Marks stuff is and always had been head and shoulders above their competitors. Easily my favourite shop.

 

[Bald Rick]

As for experience I can’t say I really care or notice that much.

I do care, perhaps that’s why I notice.

 

[Tetchytyke]

In my experience, for what is in my typical family shopping basket, Aldi are the same price as Sainsburys, on average. And Sainsbury’s has a much better range, and is a MUCH nicer experience all round.

My experience is somewhere between the two. I can’t compare Sainsbury’s so much as I’m an infrequent shopper there now, as we don’t have one here.

Aldi’s own brands are, by and large,
better quality than the equivalent home brands at the bigger supermarkets. Certainly with Tesco, which we do have here, the price match promise has just resulted in the own brand reducing in quality, so I do buy the more expensive products. Comparing Aldi and Tesco, my experience is I can pay the same or get the same quality, but not both.

Aldi doesn’t quite have the range though. It’ll have one of everything rather than three or four of everything. That’s why it’s cheaper. I always found I could get everything I needed at Aldi but not everything I wanted. I still wish we had an Aldi here.

 

[jon81uk]

Weren't Tesco going to phase out multi-packs and just have multi-buy discounts to cut out the extra packaging a multi-pack needs?

Yes for most own-brand products they did, but seem to have reversed it and they now have cardboard wrapped multipacks of cans again. For example I liked it that you could mix and match fizzy drink cans and get six for £1.50 (or similar price, its been a while since i went to Tesco). But now they only have six packs of own brand fizzy drinks for £2, so you have to get all six the same variety.
Have to assume there was at least some customer feedback about this, maybe people found multipacks easier to transport home rather than loose items.

 

[Galactic142]

Seems Morrisons and NR are doing a rail ticket promotion at the moment - I just got a voucher at the checkout which told me I could claim a £10 rail voucher via the More Card app. Think it's a brilliant idea - is this the first time supermarkets have done something like this or have they done this before?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Seems Morrisons and NR are doing a rail ticket promotion at the moment - I just got a voucher at the checkout which told me I could claim a £10 rail voucher via the More Card app. Think it's a brilliant idea - is this the first time supermarkets have done something like this or have they done this before?

The promotion is apparently only available to 'Morrisons More Card' members who have been active on the More Card app between 10th April 2026 and 5th June 2026, so likely too late to sign up. Each member can claim one access code, which allows them to claim one discount code, and is subject to availability.

A total of 479,000 '£10 off' rail discount codes are reportedly available. No railcard discounts allowed.

Been a long time since the 'Persil' free train tickets / rail voucher offer of the mid 1980s, which whilst not a supermarket promotion as such, was likely something you did buy from a supermarket.

 

[Galactic142]

Yeah, just tried to use it. It seemed a bit odd that you had to select your start/finish stations on the save10ontrains micro-site before they issued you the voucher code, so it wasn't £10 off any ticket but specifically £10 off a ticket 'between X and Y'. You've also got to book before Sunday so it's a really short promotion window.

 

[Steddenm]

Yeah, just tried to use it. It seemed a bit odd that you had to select your start/finish stations on the save10ontrains micro-site before they issued you the voucher code, so it wasn't £10 off any ticket but specifically £10 off a ticket 'between X and Y'. You've also got to book before Sunday so it's a really short promotion window.

When you get your code and the retailers website you don't have to specify the same journey you did on the microsite. You can change it. I think the microsite is just asking for this for their own data.

 

[route101]

Yes for most own-brand products they did, but seem to have reversed it and they now have cardboard wrapped multipacks of cans again. For example I liked it that you could mix and match fizzy drink cans and get six for £1.50 (or similar price, its been a while since i went to Tesco). But now they only have six packs of own brand fizzy drinks for £2, so you have to get all six the same variety.
Have to assume there was at least some customer feedback about this, maybe people found multipacks easier to transport home rather than loose items.

Home bargains is good for single cans at low prices. I think multipacks in the same flavour is to get you to spend more buying another flavour multipack.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jun 2026 ==

I noticed on my last trip to Europe, some places had the price of you bought X2 of the product and the price in smaller text of just buying one. Caught me out. This was Zabka which is basically 7 11 like stores in Poland.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Went to B & M earlier today. Long queue as just 1 till open. No effort to open another one. No self service tills.
Prices for some stuff gone up a lot. Asda and Tesco aren't much more for some stuff. Not a store I'd rush to go.
Poundland can be similar though they do have self service which helps (most stores been to have them)

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Went to B & M earlier today. Long queue as just 1 till open. No effort to open another one. No self service tills.
Prices for some stuff gone up a lot. Asda and Tesco aren't much more for some stuff. Not a store I'd rush to go.
Poundland can be similar though they do have self service which helps (most stores been to have them)

According to press reports, B & M are struggling.

The model of deep discounters is just that, you accept longer queues (ie fewer tills, lower costs) in return for lower prices. Or, put the other way round, if you don't want to queue you have to pay a bit more to enable staff on stand-by which results in slightly higher prices. Self service solves that as the till can just sit there until someone uses it.

Whether the difference in price between a deep discounter, a mainstream supermarket, and a top end supermarket are justified / reflect the extra cost incurred I don't know. The mainstream supermarkets seem able to match deep discounters when it suits but also price gouge when it suits them.

 

[route101]

Went to B & M earlier today. Long queue as just 1 till open. No effort to open another one. No self service tills.
Prices for some stuff gone up a lot. Asda and Tesco aren't much more for some stuff. Not a store I'd rush to go.
Poundland can be similar though they do have self service which helps (most stores been to have them)

Yes, I notice the tills in B&M are like that. I prefer Home Bargains, brighter stores but no self scan tills.

 

[TravelDream]

Queues are always an issue at B&M. They love having one till open whilst four staff rearrange the chocolate aisle for the fourth time that month.

TBH I prefer Home Bargains. My old local was bright, airy and I found it to be better value/ less filled with tat than B&M. No HB near me now though.

According to press reports, B & M are struggling.

B&M were still profitable in 25/26 as they were the year before, but sales figures have been poor and profits were down quite a bit. They currently have a turnaround plan in motion, though I haven't seen any noticeable changes as a shopper.
Their debt load isn't crazy high and fell last year compared to the year before.
Basically, I don't expect them to go bankrupt anytime soon.

Conversely, Home Bargains saw like for like sales and profit increase in the last tax year compared to before. Clearly HB are doing something B&M aren't.

 

[jon0844]

We've just had a Home Bargains open (in a former Homebase with a garden centre attached) and it's really quite nice. Lots of staffed tills and no self checkouts, but they're pretty quick (almost on Lidl/Aldi levels) so it's easy to pay and go.

 

[route101]

Home Bargains has a sign up saying when there is a queue of so many people, they will open up a till.

 

[jon0844]

Home Bargains has a sign up saying when there is a queue of so many people, they will open up a till.

Anyone remember when Tesco said the same?

They don't do it now. They push everyone they can to self checkout, although - to be fair - they will open a manual checkout at night if someone wants it. There was a time they'd refuse (saying nobody was available) and you basically self scanned or dumped your shopping and left.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Anyone remember when Tesco said the same?

They don't do it now. They push everyone they can to self checkout, although - to be fair - they will open a manual checkout at night if someone wants it. There was a time they'd refuse (saying nobody was available) and you basically self scanned or dumped your shopping and left.

Aldi also used to do similar - they had a "If the queue is past this point we'll open all tills until every till is open" sign, but don't do this anymore.

 

[jon0844]

Aldi also used to do similar - they had a "If the queue is past this point we'll open all tills until every till is open" sign, but don't do this anymore.

However, they do still open tills frequently and announce so (you then see a rush of people go and sometimes find it takes a while for the member of staff to arrive and open up!).

Perhaps Tesco still does also, but they don't announce it.

 

[BuhSnarf]

However, they do still open tills frequently and announce so (you then see a rush of people go and sometimes find it takes a while for the member of staff to arrive and open up!).

Perhaps Tesco still does also, but they don't announce it.

Back in my days of working in ASDA we used to get a "Colleague announcement, can all trained queue busters report to check outs please" when it got busy.

Tesco *used* to use a bunch of sensors overhead of the checkouts that would monitor the number of bodies at each till and the checkout manager would get a notification to open new tills, but I'm not sure if they still do this.

I also enjoyed "Colleague announcement, code 500" which meant someone was trying to push a trolley of goods out the front door without paying and essentially meant all the strong lads rush to the front to jump on them. Don't think they'd allow that now

 

[Harpo]

I also enjoyed "Colleague announcement, code 500" which meant someone was trying to push a trolley of goods out the front door without paying and essentially meant all the strong lads rush to the front to jump on them. Don't think they'd allow that now

My favourite ‘colleague announcement’ happened in Sainsburys - ‘Can the clean….(pause)…can the hygeine controller go to…….’

 

[BuhSnarf]

I believe the cleaners at ASDA used to be called "ASDA Aces" or something similar.

ASDA also used to play Ant & Dec's "Let's get ready to rumble" over the PA at various times in the day and that was the hint that we all had to do a 'rumble' which was going down each aisle we were responsible for and removing any cardboard trays that customers had left, face up all the product and generally make sure everything looked good.

Judging by my visits to ASDA over the past ten years I don't think has happened for a long time...

 

[jon0844]

I also enjoyed "Colleague announcement, code 500" which meant someone was trying to push a trolley of goods out the front door without paying and essentially meant all the strong lads rush to the front to jump on them. Don't think they'd allow that now

Shouldn't Inspector Sands be called for something like that?