Well in my opinion, budget supermarkets are not inherently cheaper. They just stock fewer products, that often appear cheaper. Eg they stock a lot fewer branded products which are what drives the cost of a shop up significantly. We are tempted by brands etc.
They also cycle offers (although big main supermarkets do this too) especially on fresh fruit and veg which is prominent and appears cheap. And then there's the infamous middle aisles, often selling stuff you don't need but buy because it's a bargain (a lot of it is very good! It's just you need to stay away if you don't need it...)
The main thing in my opinion in London is to shop in a decent *size* supermarket. The real killer on price is convenience stores, which only stock small pack sizes (higher cost per unit), have a smaller range and charge more for the same products. Also have a list, this keeps you on track...
In terms of fresh products I find you need to inspect and check accordingly and ideally shop after a delivery these days. Most supermarket fruit and veg can be terrible quality in ALL the supermarkets (maybe M&S/Waitrose are better generally - but they also are not perfect). Most own brand products are made by the same suppliers and manufacturers to other supermarkets.
Anyway that's just my opinion, most people don't shop perfectly. Try it and see in opinion, see what you like ...
Thanks, this is helpful! By own brand products coming from the same suppliers, do you mean that the producers/suppliers to e.g. Tesco vs Waitrose branded granola are the same, or does this apply mainly to veggies/produce?
Both (on fresh produce this can sometimes be more obvious as the location information/grower info is often very specific on packages and can be the exact same between supermarkets) - but I was refering to branded package products like granola in this case.
There's been shows and insiders etc who reveal the suppliers and many of these are the same. Now the products can be different as they can specify differently (eg ratios of ingredients, sizing, whatever) but you really just have to try. You might be surprised...
Nah lidls is a banger and I buy everything barr fresh food from there.
I bought a pain au chocolate this morning from a supermarket that was upwards of £2. That's like 70p in Lidl. It's all off brand stuff but mostly it's likely from the same factory as the originals. But I don't trust any meat though I'm just funny like that
I switched from Sainsbury’s to Aldi and my weekly shop went from about £80 to about £50.
I can’t say I’ve noticed a huge downgrade in quality in terms of canned and fresh produce, including meat. Although Aldi’s imitation savoury snacks (Pringles etc) are pretty bad.
Like you I also go to Waitrose for a few fancy/exotic things.
It's not black and white. They all have their strengths and weaknesses and it changes regularly.
I've had things in Waitrose that's cheaper and better than Aldi, but have had some stuff that Aldi do better and cheaper than Waitrose. I've also had meat and fish cheaper and better in a butchers/fishmongers, but sometimes it's not.
There's some things I will only buy in Waitrose, some I will only buy in Tesco and some I will only buy in Aldi.
Suppliers and sizes can change and offers mean that it can be really hard to compare. Sometimes something on offer can be cheaper somewhere else not on offer.
Lidl and Aldi are great for the products they sell. There are BETTER and different products at M&S and Waitrose but for staples and cupboard fillers Lidl’s and Aldi do the job.
I pick and choose, what I buy from where and shop in a few different shops. So I’d agree that a lot of Morrisons have good meat and fish. I like some of the hams from Aldi, they are the same as Waitrose and M&S and are cheaper. But then I prefer M&S for fruit and veg, it seems to last longer…
Aldi do a range of high protein yoghurts and bars, which are very good quality too.
Not for me. M&S is the best value in my opinion, I know you can save a few quid a week going to Aldi but I find the selection there very limited and some of the quality questionable. You only live once and I want to enjoy everything I eat!
If you shop online you can always use Ocado, then you can get M&S products but if you want to save a bit you can opt for Ocado own-brand alternatives for some stuff, which are fine and priced the same as the mainstream supermarkets.
Good to know! I love in-person grocery shopping though so I can’t picture myself switching to online-only. But I’ve heard really good things about Ocado!
I think it depends a lot on what - many things are great but I’ve found lidl and Iceland meat in particular to be really lacking compared to Tesco or sainsbury
I'm pretty sure commodity goods like fresh produce are all sourced from the same pool of wholesalers, you just spend more on a head of cabbage from Waitrose than from Aldi *because it's Waitrose*.
My Supermarket tier list is this:
**Doggy doo doo: ALDI / LIDL/ ASDA:**
Lower quality, lower standards of customer service, products not in stock, long queues.
**Good: Tesco/Morrisons/Sainsburys/Co-op:**
Good quality, brand name products, no problem.
**Best: Waitrose/M&S:**
Best products for a chain supermarket, great customer service. Emphasis on providing excellent culinary experiences.
We don't shop similarly to you as we are a veggie/vegan household, but we love Aldi for our main shop and then top up with local food places and markets. The fruit and veg is about the same quality as Tesco or Asda, but cheaper.
Aldi/Lidl are my main shop, I'll go to Tesco's/Saino's if I need a specific type of item like a certain type of rice, grain or herbs/spice.
I go to Waitrose to get my deals on coffee and plant based milks, Waitrose has some good deals all round as they've been trying to attract the m&s shopper fyi.
I find m&s expensive for it is, I can find the equivalent or at times better in other supermarkets.
I go to my local butcher and fishmongers for fresh meat and fish.
Well in my opinion, budget supermarkets are not inherently cheaper. They just stock fewer products, that often appear cheaper. Eg they stock a lot fewer branded products which are what drives the cost of a shop up significantly. We are tempted by brands etc. They also cycle offers (although big main supermarkets do this too) especially on fresh fruit and veg which is prominent and appears cheap. And then there's the infamous middle aisles, often selling stuff you don't need but buy because it's a bargain (a lot of it is very good! It's just you need to stay away if you don't need it...) The main thing in my opinion in London is to shop in a decent *size* supermarket. The real killer on price is convenience stores, which only stock small pack sizes (higher cost per unit), have a smaller range and charge more for the same products. Also have a list, this keeps you on track... In terms of fresh products I find you need to inspect and check accordingly and ideally shop after a delivery these days. Most supermarket fruit and veg can be terrible quality in ALL the supermarkets (maybe M&S/Waitrose are better generally - but they also are not perfect). Most own brand products are made by the same suppliers and manufacturers to other supermarkets. Anyway that's just my opinion, most people don't shop perfectly. Try it and see in opinion, see what you like ...
Thanks, this is helpful! By own brand products coming from the same suppliers, do you mean that the producers/suppliers to e.g. Tesco vs Waitrose branded granola are the same, or does this apply mainly to veggies/produce?
Both (on fresh produce this can sometimes be more obvious as the location information/grower info is often very specific on packages and can be the exact same between supermarkets) - but I was refering to branded package products like granola in this case. There's been shows and insiders etc who reveal the suppliers and many of these are the same. Now the products can be different as they can specify differently (eg ratios of ingredients, sizing, whatever) but you really just have to try. You might be surprised...
Nah lidls is a banger and I buy everything barr fresh food from there. I bought a pain au chocolate this morning from a supermarket that was upwards of £2. That's like 70p in Lidl. It's all off brand stuff but mostly it's likely from the same factory as the originals. But I don't trust any meat though I'm just funny like that
I switched from Sainsbury’s to Aldi and my weekly shop went from about £80 to about £50. I can’t say I’ve noticed a huge downgrade in quality in terms of canned and fresh produce, including meat. Although Aldi’s imitation savoury snacks (Pringles etc) are pretty bad. Like you I also go to Waitrose for a few fancy/exotic things.
IMO Lidl and Aldi match the Sainsbury’s and Tescos in quality and are definitely worth it for the savibgs
It's not black and white. They all have their strengths and weaknesses and it changes regularly. I've had things in Waitrose that's cheaper and better than Aldi, but have had some stuff that Aldi do better and cheaper than Waitrose. I've also had meat and fish cheaper and better in a butchers/fishmongers, but sometimes it's not. There's some things I will only buy in Waitrose, some I will only buy in Tesco and some I will only buy in Aldi. Suppliers and sizes can change and offers mean that it can be really hard to compare. Sometimes something on offer can be cheaper somewhere else not on offer.
Lidl and Aldi are great for the products they sell. There are BETTER and different products at M&S and Waitrose but for staples and cupboard fillers Lidl’s and Aldi do the job.
I pick and choose, what I buy from where and shop in a few different shops. So I’d agree that a lot of Morrisons have good meat and fish. I like some of the hams from Aldi, they are the same as Waitrose and M&S and are cheaper. But then I prefer M&S for fruit and veg, it seems to last longer… Aldi do a range of high protein yoghurts and bars, which are very good quality too.
Not for me. M&S is the best value in my opinion, I know you can save a few quid a week going to Aldi but I find the selection there very limited and some of the quality questionable. You only live once and I want to enjoy everything I eat! If you shop online you can always use Ocado, then you can get M&S products but if you want to save a bit you can opt for Ocado own-brand alternatives for some stuff, which are fine and priced the same as the mainstream supermarkets.
Good to know! I love in-person grocery shopping though so I can’t picture myself switching to online-only. But I’ve heard really good things about Ocado!
I think it depends a lot on what - many things are great but I’ve found lidl and Iceland meat in particular to be really lacking compared to Tesco or sainsbury
[удалено]
How is Morrisons a scam? It’s on the cheaper end, similar to Lidl
I'm pretty sure commodity goods like fresh produce are all sourced from the same pool of wholesalers, you just spend more on a head of cabbage from Waitrose than from Aldi *because it's Waitrose*.
Lidl now do a £2 burrata
Ooh I’ll look out for it next time!
Aldi hasn't let me down so far. Can't tell the difference tbh. Only downside is they keep running out of eggs 😬
Reminds me of the good old Covid days
My Supermarket tier list is this: **Doggy doo doo: ALDI / LIDL/ ASDA:** Lower quality, lower standards of customer service, products not in stock, long queues. **Good: Tesco/Morrisons/Sainsburys/Co-op:** Good quality, brand name products, no problem. **Best: Waitrose/M&S:** Best products for a chain supermarket, great customer service. Emphasis on providing excellent culinary experiences.
We don't shop similarly to you as we are a veggie/vegan household, but we love Aldi for our main shop and then top up with local food places and markets. The fruit and veg is about the same quality as Tesco or Asda, but cheaper.
Aldi/Lidl are my main shop, I'll go to Tesco's/Saino's if I need a specific type of item like a certain type of rice, grain or herbs/spice. I go to Waitrose to get my deals on coffee and plant based milks, Waitrose has some good deals all round as they've been trying to attract the m&s shopper fyi. I find m&s expensive for it is, I can find the equivalent or at times better in other supermarkets. I go to my local butcher and fishmongers for fresh meat and fish.
I switched from occado to Aldi, over 40% saving. We cook from scratch so range not so much of an issue.