Supermarket switch

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Posted at 11:14AM, 09 July 2008 by Jenni Muir - food writer

Would you switch supermarkets to try and cut rising food bills? The financial press is reporting that more and more people are visiting discount supermarkets. They have even declared that thereÃ¢ÂÂs no longer any social stigma attached to shopping at them.

I've always shopped at whichever supermarket was closest to home and sold things I wanted to buy, so I find the idea that there was any social stigma attached to certain chains pretty silly. (Well, most of them.) Besides, if the food press is anything to go by, shopping at the likes of Aldi, Lidl and cash and carries has been considered cool for a few years now.

But late last night, before getting a bus home from the West End, I happened to pop into a supermarket I don't normally use. I bought the usual midweek mix of things, got to the checkout and, yes, was surprised by how little it cost.

Perhaps I will use that place more often when I just want to grab a few things. But don't you have to be careful of these small, central branches of the big chains, because their products can be more expensive than the same items in the same company's larger stores? That's no good for the budget.

It's easy to get so bogged down in bargain-hunting

Still, it seems a day doesn't go by when I don't get an email from the chain I normally use telling me that they're matching their rivals on price, and providing a list of specific examples (usually of stuff I don't want to buy). I like a good deal as much as the next person, but don't you think it's easy to get so bogged down in bargain-hunting that you wind up wasting both money and time? And, as they say in business, time is money.

Comments

igglepiggle

9 July, 10:17PM
igglepiggle

Yes its easy to get bogged down in it, however we need to give the major supermarkets a kick, if we don`t make choices and shop elsewhere because actually its cheaper then one day we`ll wake up in Tesco land and we will have no choice and they will charge what they like as there will be no competion. Ask most people and they shop at the nearest because its too much effort to go elsewhere it`s time we voted with our feet and support local food shops and smaller supermarkets. When I was younger I remember my Mum doing her weekly shop all over the place so that she would get the cheapest price.

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Foodie

10 July, 9:10AM
Foodie

I love when I find a bargain !! But I find if you were to shop in a few different supermarkets for different products you end up spending more than intended, which defeats the purpose totally. I agree with supporting local retailers but again I find the smaller shops can be slightly more expensive and as much as I love going to farmers markets they really rip people off. More competition I say :)

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Girl Flower

10 July, 2:02PM
Girl Flower

I agree with Foodie. I love the idea of shopping in markets and smaller shops but quit frankly they are more expensive, especially the farmers markets. I work full time and so my shopping (midweek at least) needs to be after 6pm, usually 7pm - by this time my options are limited to a few corner shops and the big chains with late opening hours. If I had more time I might be more inclined to shop around but while I work I dont want to spend my weekends traipsing round half a dozen stores or more when I can do it in one store and enjoy the rest of my free time as I please.

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James

10 July, 9:43PM
James

Closeness does it for me. The large chains have o b careful they don't lose people. Supermarket shoppers are terribly brand loyal - so once they've lost you you're gone. I'm staying loyal to my local farmers though...... I'd rather shift my budget to quality food rather than white goods or luxuries I don't need. That's the choice we make.

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teabag

10 July, 11:09PM
teabag

I prefere to shop at the famers markets, and I'll shop at farm shops or deli's they are more expensive than supper markets but you do by less, and by doing so you have better quality and as well as supporting local produces.

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jules

11 July, 5:11PM
jules

I agree with tea bag I try to shop at local farm shops the quality of food id better and i spend less than if I go to the local supermarket when i load in things I dont really need

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the Ships Cook

13 July, 9:06AM
the Ships Cook

ALDI isn't as cheap as I thought. Recently I went there and the savings weren't there really. The best thing I have used recently is mysupermarket.com. Even if you are not shopping online it gives a really good idea of what you are spending and where the savings can be made. It even shows what items to swap - albeit only at certain chains.

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Annie

14 July, 11:02AM
Annie

Aldi baked beans (about 15p) and tinned tomatoes (about 23p) are the best, in my opinion. Everyone else I have told has tried them and agreed with me!

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Mom of 2

14 July, 7:06PM
Mom of 2

this happened to me today .... my bills at asda have steadily been rising so I though I would give Aldi a go, 2 items stood out a mile before i even got to the till....5kg maris piper spuds Â£1.99 - in adsa this would be the price for 2.5kg and bourbon biscuits 35p against asdas price of 92p! The biscuit thing has really surprised me, the price has leaped in a matter of weeks....these supermarkets need to know that customers are prepared to vote with their feet...I am for sure....my loyalty to one supermarket has gone: time to menu plan, use up the contents of my freezer and shop more sensibly and within budget.

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Mineke

15 July, 11:57AM
Mineke

I live next to an Aldi. How lucky am I? :-)

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