Age of the 50p discount deal: Supermarket chains in new battle to tackle low cost rivals

By Sean Poulter PUBLISHED: 01:29, 2 January 2014 | UPDATED: 09:06, 2 January 2014

Supermarket giants are fighting back against the rise of budget chains and pound shops in a raft of price cuts with some everyday products slashed to just 50p. Asda is today launching a 50million pricing overhaul to reduce the cost of many food items and household goods. Sainsburys is offering a host of half-price discounts from today, and Morrisons and the Co-op are also running deals. At the same time, Tesco has pledged to at least match the reductions of its rivals under its Price Promise scheme. It is also giving customers 5p per litre off the cost of fuel if they spend 50 on groceries.

Latest industry figures show all the big five supermarkets have lost customers in recent months to budget stores Aldi and Lidl, which have made a concerted effort to attract middle-class shoppers. Poundland and its rivals are also thriving at a time when middle Britain is under enormous strain from a five-year squeeze on the cost of living. Asdas price cuts appear to be a direct attempt to win back customers who have deserted its stores for budget chains.

Barry Williams, chief merchandising officer for Asda food, said: With hundreds of products at 50p, were even making the pound shop and Aldi look expensive.

Poundland and its rivals are also thriving at a tim e w hen m iddle Britain is under enorm ous strain from a five-year squeeze on the cost of living

Asda, which is owned by American firm Walmart, said the 50million worth of price cuts in the first three months of 2014 are part of a bigger 200million set of reductions planned for the full year. Tesco and its chief executive, Philip Clarke, have also made great play of being on the side of shoppers with promises to lower prices and help them make ends meet. However, consumers may be sceptical about the true value of the supermarkets claims as rising food costs continue to outpace increases in wages and pensions. Food price inflation was 2.3 per cent in November, according to the British Retail Consortium. The figures suggest that although retailers are keen to promote reductions on some products, the cost of others may be going up by stealth. Mr Williams added: It goes without saying that Christmas can be a struggle financially and when you look at the way people have reacted to the sales, its more clear than ever that UK shoppers priorities are well and truly focused on price.

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Comments (230)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View newest 10 Page 1 of 2 12Next Mark, Kent, moments ago Use a farm shop I can get 3 football size cabbages for 1 or 40p each and about 15kg of potatos for under 5

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Frank Morris, MAIDENHEAD, United Kingdom, 45 minutes ago Oatburst Porridge 0.50 for 64g - I pay 0.39 for 500g in Lidl - Rip off Britain

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Click to rate allij, Colchester, 47 minutes ago Hard to do if you work all day + the only shops which are open when you're not at work are supermarkets. Why don't independent shops open when people who work, and therefore have money, can go?

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Click to rate locksmith, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Aldi for me

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Click to rate Ronnie Stevens, Peterborough, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago How come now? Oh I forgot, they are being forced to, by the cheaper, no thrills shops? how can these Pound shops sell branded goods at 1-00p whereas they sell the same goods at 3 to 4 times that?

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1 12 Click to rate Dom and Wolfhound, Costwold Hills, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Many of Sainsbury's "Basic" range have been replaced by their own brand versions, often as much as 600% of the price of the old Basics. Those items still available are generally those which sell badly anyway; tinned carrots and potatoe, for instance. sAlternatively, there is just a few of the Basic items on the shelves, just so they can say they have them, but the shelf spaces can remain empty for up to a week. Of sourse, that might just be in central Oxford!

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Audacious, Ruxox, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago M&S was a Penny store. Then profits became the big thing rather than giving the customer the best deal.

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Click to rate lancashire lass, wigan, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago big retailers have the advantage of free parking and everything together. I would use my local town centre but parking and public transport are exorbitant and the market is half empty as are the shops due to high rents and rates. I have little incentive to go to town. if councils encouraged people by free parking and cheaper rents for markets and small shops then there would be competition for the big boys

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Click to rate BigFamilyMan, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago They will still take us for mugs, a few months ago I was buying Asda 200g of cheese spread for 1.00 they then replaced this with a new 125g tub for an intro price of - yup u guessed it 1.00 !!! idiots, did they not think i would notice !!! ... I can buy 750g of chicken breasts for 6.50 but in both cases I can go to Aldi and get 1kg of Chicken for 6.89 and 200g Cheeses spread triangles for 0.89p and these r not bland budget ranges but again, they dont get that, i want tasty food not bland bland low cost budget food, then they match their normal food to Aldi prices then i might consider it, I also use farmfoods, they are even better sometimes than Aldi 1kg chicken breasts 5.00 etc.

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Lily Putt, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago I'm all for Lildl, Aldi, Pound shops, Poundstretcher and Home Bargains if they make the robbing supermarkets bring down their prices. Bet they are not making losses on the reduced prices.

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1 49 dorix, Chippenham, 24 minutes ago Don't forget 99p shops 1 0 Click to rate The-Commentator, Testing-my-standup-routine, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Things have gone down hill ever since they stopped putting walnuts inside the bottom of walnut whips. Click to rate

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Click to rate The-Commentator, Testing-my-standup-routine, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago I handed in four pounds of coupons today, sent by Tesco, for items I buy regularily. It took ages for the girl to scan them all. Why don't they just reduce the prices?

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Click to rate Katy, Bristol, 1 hour ago I buy fruit and veg from Lidl as it is far superior - i am sick of buying fruit that is rock hard then goes mouldy before it is soft enough to eat. Peaches are not supposed to crunch like an apple! Fruit and veg isn't supposed to be stored for 18 months in artifical conditions so we can eat strawberries in December! and before anyone comes back and says 'it's because we want strawberries in December they do it' that is rubbish - if they hadn't started doing it no one would expect it.

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Click to rate izzywizzy, Central, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago We use Aldi for almost everything, and carefully select anything else we can't get there but use frequently from Asda. Meat is purchased from a local butcher, I wouldn't touch supermarket meat with a bargepole.

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MJJ, Sunderland, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago I never ever use supermarkets. I shop local. Always have and always will and if I shop around it doesn't cost much more. Supermarkets are underhanded sly and manipulating killers of the high street and communities! Had a friendly chat with your local Asda staff? I doubt it.

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E.J.C., Basingstoke, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago All they are trying to do is demolish the competitors who arnt in their private price fixing club! Same as they did with the local greengrocers and butchers and bakers etc, then once they again have a monopoly the gang will enevetibly just keep fixing prices and increasing the profit margin. If you actualy look at the sample of products listed the savings are rubish anyhow, probably just the highest mark up goods. It is about time food production and sales were a bit more responsable, profit chasing is killing the planet not just your bank account...

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Click to rate Grumpy, Guernsey, Guernsey, 2 hours ago The big boys' long-term strategy, which many saw coming decades ago but few would listen, has come to fruition: drive out the local shopkeeper, dominate the means-to-market, screw the supplier until they bleed, demand cheap meat no matter the incredible pain to the factory farmed animals (and fish and poultry) in the process, and then if there's any more room left set up local convenience stores on the street corner to replace the small independents they drove out in the first place. Oh, and of course, pay your staff peanuts. An evil evil industry and the public's 2014 resolution should be to fight back by, for starters, boycotting supermarkets and returning to the small local independents.

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Angel Bob, London, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Very well, and eloquently said. Here here. 0 4 Click to rate William, Drury Lane, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Probably the most effective way to save money on shopping is to question whether you really need what you are buying. Secondly avoid big mega stores and all their unecessary temptations, third avoid brand names, fourth only buy offers (e.g. 2 for 3) if it is a product normally in your shopping basket and you can freeze for later use in the weeks and months ahead.

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Click to rate OMG, UK, 2 hours ago RUBBISH - As usual SMALLER PRICE = SMALLER SIZE. ~~~Best of the Offers = porridge 50p BUT IT IS ONLY 64g.... you can pay 75p for a whole kg at Tesco.~~~~~~~~~~ Kingsmill bread = 50p BUT AGAIN ONLY 400g or HALF SIZE .... you can pay 1 for 800g at Iceland anyway. Don't bother being drawn in by these.

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Click to rate Noel, Merseyside, 2 hours ago Won't be dragging me from Aldi and Lidl!

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Click to rate LaChatelaine, Florence, Italy, 2 hours ago Means it was all overpriced before and they've just been cashing it in ....poor punters taken for a ride again

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Walter, Stuttgart, Germany, 2 hours ago Cheap food is indeed a blessing for millions - but more than likely at the cost of quality - I personally go to my local market where I get my things in the portions I require and as such are cheaper - furthermore because the farmers and producers are all local , the carbon footprint I leave behind is very small indeed.

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theamber, erf - erf, 2 hours ago if anyone sees a BOGOF vodka offer please let me know !

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Uncle Bulgaria, Varna, Bulgaria, 2 hours ago One of the many reasons i moved to Bulgaria. The UK is a total rip off.

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Click to rate CastleGreyskull, Blackburn - UK, 2 hours ago Aldi is best value by far those of us who go know the quality that you get for your money is far better then other supermarkets. Though lots of people still hate aldi it's them that are loosing out

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Click to rate poorlittlepepper, London, 2 hours ago Much prefer my local green grocer. I can buy the amount I actually need. Its all weighed out and put in brown paper bags so

no nasty plastic box trainers to get rid of.

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Click to rate fazer, belfast, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago I do most of my shopping after 7 in Tesco , in the reduced part and can get most of the weeks food. meat can be frozen and veg only 10p each can last 4/5 days.

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago The supermarkets should be offering bread, milk, cheese, fruit,veg,fresh fish and fresh meat at half price. They should be charging processed convenience foods at double. Would do us all a big favour, they would get more custom and we would eat far healthier too

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Always check your receipt before leaving Tesco. I have been overcharged a number of times . I bought 3 x beef in the 2 for 7 or 3 for 10 offer recently and was charged @ 7 for two and 4.95 for the third!

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Often the "deals" at the end of the aisles in Tesco are NOT GOOD VALUE I checked out a "deal" for gravy granules the other day against the shelves two aisles away for the gravies etc and it was dearer to buy the special deal than buy either the smaller or larger packet of the same brand per unit! Robbers

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mogseymoo, petersfield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago It happens a lot 0 4

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Click to rate luap, Cheshire, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago I think you've often been able to get a better deal in the larger supermarkets - many of the half decent branded products in the pound stores are tiny sizes. Take Head and Shoulders shampoo for example - you are often better off buying a large bottle from Asda, rather than 3 or 4 tiny bottles from the pound shop.

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mogseymoo, petersfield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Not true lately. A lot of the big stores have gotten greedy. 1 2 Click to rate luap, Cheshire, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago They've always been greedy, that's not news. I'd be very greedy if I was Mr Asda :). What do you buy from Poundland that you think is better value than buying from a Supermarket? 0 1 Click to rate Fluffy, Swansea, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago A couple of weeks ago I went into the Morriston, Swansea branch of Asda to purchase a couple of items which was to buy some tins of fruit to back for Christmas for my 6 year old grandson who is fanatical about it, looking through the different types I came to peaches , on the price marker on the shelf it read 99p each or 2 for 2, having no choice other than to get them when I went to the checkout I pointed this discrepancy out to him to the operator to which he replied "oh there must be a pricing error" I was amazed that he was so much better educated than me as to be able to point this out to me. I wonder how many people that had been caught out by this & many other "pricing" errors 'in the stores favour' over the very busy Christmas period without customers noticing . I actually took a photo of this error on my mobile to show a couple of relatives etc

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mogseymoo, petersfield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago There wasn't a mistake. The supermarkets often do it in the hope people don't notice 0 4

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Click to rate DaveBassett, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Main supermarkets 3*200ml apple juice=1. Lidl 5*250 ml apple juice=0.93. That's double the quantity for less. That's why so many of us are voting with our feet.

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Click to rate andyroo, Norfolk, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago I visited Tesco recently and found after leaving the store all the BOGOF and half price items had been charged at full price, Tesco apologized and asked me to return the 16 miles to store with my goods and receipt. As it wouldn't have been cost effective I declined and Tesco then sent me a 5 gift voucher, whoopee!! I have been Conned again, Scrooge ain't dead he's running Tesco.

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Jax, Midlands, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

How come they can afford to make big reductions if they've been giving such unbeatable value in the past.

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Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago

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They aren't making big reductions - look at he quantity, 400g loaf reduced from 70p to 50p but a 800g loaf is still 1 - same as! 0 14 Click to rate stephen boyd, belfast, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago It will be clever marketing. So wat about bread, milk, soap powder, fuel??? The cost off living in this country is a disgrace, compared to wat we are ALLOWED to earn.

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mogseymoo, petersfield, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago It is what no WAT. However i do agree. They will still get their money somehow. 0 1

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Click to rate Jigsaw, Basingstoke, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago They will still make a profit by increasing other items to compensate

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Click to rate Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago This is what is called a 'loss leader' exercise. They reduce the price to a loss level just to get you in and then you pay over the odds for everything else to make up for the loss. Be wise, just buy the loss leader products from one store and then shop elsewhere for other loss leaders. They'll soon stop doing it though because they can't afford to sell at a loss, so make hay while the sun shines!

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Click to rate Big Mama Mai, london, 3 hours ago You think its bad in UK shop in Brussels, the dominant supermarket, is Delhaize, and their price s are extortion !! Broccoli 1.99 Euro !! No buy one get one free. No discounts, nothing. UK supermarkets are the best !!

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Click to rate Francisjpg, Right here, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago KEEP YOUR PRICE PROMISE RUBBISH. It ANGERS me when Sainsbury's give me a VOUCHER for my next shop instead of actually LOWERING the cost to that of their competitors! We may return to Asda if they are going to seriously lower prices.

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago I think the two for one deals should be outlawed1 They are always on stupid things that don't keep like fresh vegetables, salad bags etc The supermarkets should just half the price

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Click to rate carolhughes, rochford, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago I just love poundland and the 99p shops. No rip off just plain cheap stuff. Wondeful shops

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Forget these club cards, coupons at the end of the shop saying you can have the amount OVERCHARGED on your next shop, two for one deals etc Please just give us good food at good prices All of you!!!!

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Eric Arthur Blair, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Don't you just love the buy two for 1.80 offers when the unit price is 85p? Bargain, not. I've also notice that in some shops the weight has disappeared from the front of the product and is in small print hidden away. As others have said, smoke and mirrors.

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Click to rate Jellybean, NORTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Most are not bargains, just look at the lower weight, chocolate bars are half the size, trouble with these stores they think we are all stupid and don't take this kind of thing into consideration.

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Click to rate Smartyyekim, Peterborough, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Original price of 70p for a loaf of bread ? ...... I have not seen a loaf of bread under 1.00 for AGES.

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39 2 of 4 repliesSee all replies Terminator, York, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago ASDA 2 for 1 on bread in the run up to Xmas 1 0 Click to rate Smartyyekim, Peterborough, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Oh I see . I need to get out more , I wasn't aware you could now buy half a loaf of bread. 0 2 Click to rate Ellie, Glasgow, 3 hours ago Sorry those are not cheap prices. Porridge oats can be bought for 69p per kilo and if you can't get those ones they are widely available for 99p per kilo. Kingsmill 50/50 bread 800g is widely available for 1, or more usually at 2 for 2. As for weight watchers items, they are just a con just eat less of ordinary items. Click to rate

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Click to rate Andymoochers, Malaga, Spain, 3 hours ago Lets hope they dont screw the farmers who have livestock so that the animals get even LESS care,(if thats possible).

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Click to rate Brian, Lincoln, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago I stopped going to Tesco, in Wragby Road, Lincoln, when they started work on building their new store on the same site, and closed most of the car park and the exit road. This caused chaos both at the store and on the surrounding roads. To avoid this, I started using Lidl, in the Carlton Centre. The quality and price in Lidl amazed me. I actually saved a fair bit of money, and did all my Christmas food shopping there. I have never been back to Tesco since, doubt that I will, and don`t regret it. well done to Lidl.

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Click to rate Maurice, Bristol, 3 hours ago the main reason Tescos ,Asda has many many customers is because of parking Massive parking area ,plus disabled electric trolleys available,May I suggest you all check your bills before you leave ,my wife is alway finding things over charged example daddies Sauce 1 advertised charged 1.89 on the Check out.I under stand it cannot be easy with a tolley full and children with you and you should not have to check .we did get our money back plus a voucher .JUST CHECK YOUR BILL

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Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago

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I totally agree - several times I have checked our bill and found items that have been charged more for than the labelled price. It seems they reduce the price on the labelling but don't alter the bar code price, so check everything on your receipt -

especially so called 'reduced' items! They rely on peoples ignorance and complacency. 0 3 Click to rate Jon Cooper, Cornwall, 3 hours ago Tesco seems to have become quite expensive recently, that and their bizarre decision to stop stocking popular brands has sent me looking elsewhere

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Click to rate Miskinman, Cardiff Wales, 3 hours ago Everything that is healthy and good for you, broccoli, chicken, fish etc the prices are through the roof. THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK OF US! PROFITABILITY AT IT'S BEST!!

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AGPCUK, Bournemouth, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago This is RIP OFF not a bargain price list. Note Porridge is a meager 64Grams for 50P, whilst best brand Jodans Porridge is a whopping 750 Grams in the 99P shops.

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Henry the cat, Here and there, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Something tells me supermarket workers won't be getting much of a wage rise this year. Always the low-waged who pay in the end for our "bargains". Think on, MailOnline readers, these stores have gutted your high streets, destroyed jobs and businesses, spread the low-pay culture, and take billions of consumer spend out of local economies. A bargain is the last thing you're getting.

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Tonys mate, in the smelly office., United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

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Shouldnt worry about their wages too much, the Rumanians if they are not dipping will soon have all these sort of jobs. 1 8 Click to rate Dara Mac, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Now that Christmas is over, the DM are fluttering their eyelids at their staple: the supermarkets.

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Click to rate jp, Swansea, 3 hours ago Asda always forget to mention that during January they're staff are cut back to they're contracted hours in most cases 8 hrs a week give a saving to one person by taking out of the pocket of others

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Click to rate yorks lass, scarborough, 3 hours ago And they will still make a profit on it!!

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Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago Not necessarily, this is a loss leader exercise. See my comment below. 0 0

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Chatsboy100, Plymouth, 3 hours ago Just goes to show how overpriced their good are, if they can afford to do this...

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Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago

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They can't, this is a loss leader exercise where they make a loss on certain products and you pay more for others to make up that loss. Surprising how many fall for it. 0 2 Click to rate mark, chester, 3 hours ago looks good for about a week

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Mark R, COVENTRY, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Many have moved away from the large stores and will not be returning

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Click to rate Brian, Leeds, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago Examples such as these just demonstrate how much we've been ripped off in the past.

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Robin, Valencia, Spain, 3 hours ago See my comment on 'loss leader' products. 1 3

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Click to rate Rik, Leyland, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago I'll stick to my local store for locally produced vegetables, good quality meat and Aldi for everything else I cannot find in the local shop. The meat may be more slightly more expensive than the supermarket stuff but it goes much further as it's not watered down.

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haikurambler, Warminster, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago its like a wobbly jelly - down one popular product and up by small increments several other popular products!!!

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Click to rate RW, LONDON, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago Best avoid all cynical supermarkets and their overpriced tawdry disgusting stuff they dare call 'food'. If you can find any local markets, best use them - fresher and cheaper

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GillyP, East Anglia, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago The 50/50 bread for sale in Tesco is only a 'half-loaf', so it makes an 800g (full size loaf) still cost 1 - same price as in Aldi. Just sayin'...

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Click to rate YampyGramps, Cannock, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago These are loss leaders just to get you into the store...The rest of the prices are just the same as usual.

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Click to rate Linda, Hertfordshire, 4 hours ago I have thrown away food from Aldi that was supposedly still in date, one of the items I had to throw away was a bottle of squash which had about 7 months date left, I don't think I have ever had to throw squash away. The prices in Aldi are not that much cheaper and the quality of the meat is not good either. I don't have a choice financially and do still go in there and buy fruit and veg and not all of that is cheaper. Beware of the Aldi hype it pays to shop around if you have the time or the shops near you.

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2 of 3 repliesSee all replies Knowitall, London, 3 hours ago

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Interesting that this is your first comment, as is the case for 'roz' of Scotland. Don't suppose you've been asked to add these negative comments? 2 5 Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago I have thrown food away in better condition than the same food type for sale in Tesco 1 2 Click to rate cxjam, birmingham, 4 hours ago Like they are doing us a favour!!!! They can afford to "slash" prices by 50 million because either us or the food producer are getting screwed in some other way.

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Click to rate and another thing..., In the sun, 4 hours ago Am I being cynical in suggesting this is just a 'loss leading' gimmick - which will result in even more small independent traders going bust? One of the reasons that Aldi & Lidl are cheaper is their business model. That being, you buy whatever random collection of goods happened to be delivered that day - straight from the pallets - and being served at the checkout (when you eventually get there as there will only be one open), by the checkout assistant, who also stocks the shelves, sweeps the floor, and is the customer services department.

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Anita K, Hull- Humberside, 4 hours ago The Pound shops stock many items that the huge supermarket greats don't have. I don't think there is any chance of the giants being rivals to the pound shops at all.

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Click to rate jambo4ever, edinburgh, 4 hours ago Why have the supermarkets wait till people leave before they begin reducing prices? What the supermarkets are trying to do is force Aldi, Lidl etc out of business and when they have gone theue prices will go back up but even higher to recuperate the losses from the price cuts they are offering now........If you abandon Lidl, Aldi etc do so at your peril

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Click to rate marion, stowmarket, 4 hours ago Looked in asda this morning the 50p broccoli was 50% thick stalk not worth buying. Lidl however was99p for 500g with very little stalk.

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2 of 3 repliesSee all replies SYNCHROPAIR, portsmouth, 3 hours ago In places like Tesco / Asda we just pick off the florets we need and leave the stalk. 1 5

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Click to rate Elsie, England UK, United Kingdom, 5 minutes ago You can eat the stalk, it's got a delicate taste. 0 0 Click to rate Cooper, Cambridge, 4 hours ago It is NOT just the price differences between the big supermarkets and Aldi and Lidl. It is VALUE. The price may be the same or less in the two "budget" shops but the quality is better for the price. For the same price as the cheapo products in the "big" supermarkets, you can get much better quality in Aldi and Lidl.

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Click to rate Ricky Spanish, Yorks, 4 hours ago Let's see how long these deals are really on offer for. At the budget shops it's an ongoing low price, usually with the bigger Supermarkets the price cuts are only there for a few weeks to maybe a few months - a flash in the pan, so to speak.

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Mark, Manchester, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago And there was Tesco's MD telling us we're "going to have to get used to higher prices". Choking on his words now. We're not coming back that's for sure, so they'd better get used to it..

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Click to rate CarolineinEngland, Manchester, 4 hours ago We just did a shop at Aldi, a big basket of groceries and cleaning products for just over 25. It would have cost us double if we had gone to Waitrose (much as I love Waitrose). We are converts to the Aldi way.

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago I always try to look at the unit price to see what is the best offer but Tesco are so sly that they will list one pack of cheese for example at cost per METRIC unit and the other next to it cost per LBS so unless you know the magic formula to convert it you have no chance of doing so.

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Mrs Trellis, North Wales, 4 hours ago

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It's not really magic, just remember there are 453 grams in a pound. You can get there roughly by assuming 2lb is 10% less than 1kg. 1 9 Click to rate Man In London, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago Actually Mrs Trellis there are 450 grams in a pound. 1 3 Click to rate nimrod69, Burnham-on-Crouch, 4 hours ago Since the only thing I would regularly buy from your list is broccoli, it doesn't look like I'll be saving much! My guess is that other shoppers will really struggle to find any true cost reductions. The big supermarkets have carved up the market between them and are not going to rock the collective boat too much. Expect more smoke and mirrors!

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Click to rate saulfn, Millom, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago So basically all the big supermarkets are doing is just confirming how much they were ripping me off in the first place.

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pete29, northampton, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago wont last long, it will be like when they sold bread very cheaply years ago just to get you in the door

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Click to rate npn, Newcatle U Lyme, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago Tesco has to stop all the silly coupons and other gimmicks and cut down in price almost same as Aldi shops.and one pound shops. This is the only way to get customers back.I was a Tesco shopper. I am now shopping in Aldi. Saving 15 or more every week buying for best quality food. Well done Aldi.

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Click to rate Miskinman, Cardiff Wales, 5 hours ago They have "think tanks" all over the place looking to screw us and this is just another spurious way of misleading us ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS!!

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Click to rate what katie did next, cleveland, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago A lot of the items listed are NOT EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS We need bread, milk, potatoes, vegetables, fruit ,fresh meat, fresh fish etc

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Click to rate Miskinman, Cardiff Wales, 5 hours ago Well if they can cut prices like this, why haven't they done it before? we all know why, one filthy word GREED !!!

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Elsie, England UK, United Kingdom, moments ago

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If Tesco, for example, cared about their customers they wouldn't close or alter popular stores and expect people to get in their car to travel to the nearest 'bigger' one ... and then change that when they build yet another 'even bigger' one, even further away. It's corporate greed, with little concern for the consumer .. and the staff seem to forget that it's the customer who pays their wages. 0

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Michael the un pc, sittingbourne, 5 hours ago Morrison's increased a lot of prices when they started their 40 off your big Christmas shop con, sorry that should be promotion

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Click to rate David, London, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago Don't fall for it. Stick with the businesses whose model is to provide value for money at all times. The major supermarkets have a habit of whacking up prices as soon as local competition is out of the way.

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Click to rate Traindriver39, Wigan, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago just shows you how much they have been ripping us off

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Click to rate Cooper, Cambridge, 5 hours ago it is not just the prices that attract people to Aldi and Lidl. It is VALUE. The price may be the same or lower, but for better quality.

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Click to rate YampyGramps, Cannock, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago This just goes to show how much they are ripping us off now

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Click to rate Joalea60, Barry, 5 hours ago Time to scrap 2 for 1 and think of the single people. The wasted food in this country is a disgrace.

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Click to rate Jo Boy, Carlisle, 5 hours ago

I stopped shopping at Asda 3years ago, their food could be beaten then by LIdl and Aldi, I've never been in any of their stores since. I'm a pensioner and would rather use Aldi and LIdl neither are near my home, but local buses are good.

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Click to rate milady 1la, nearcentreof england, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago until they include lidl and aldi in their price match then the big 3 will never get my custom. Told by all 3 that lidl and aldi are not supermarkets so wont price match

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Click to rate tony, London, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago And assuming we all go back to the big supermarkets and there was no longer competition for them what price would these products be then? I am going to continue shopping where I was given a fair price to start with. Almost every company in the UK will only give a fair price if they are undercut. They seldom value their customers till they lose them. Maybe testing customers fairly might be the difference between the new contenders and the big six.

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Click to rate ex-pat abroad, working internationally, 5 hours ago The future is clear, big chain supermarkets are out of favour. People are also using butchers (& other local shops) after horse meat gate, about time power was taken from these giants!

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Click to rate henrick999, manchester, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago they get labelled budget store. maybe their just selling it for the right price. where as your Tesco asda etc just try to rip people off. no if you have opened up countless superstores express local and you have forced the small shop keeper to close. you know that most people HAVE to come to you . so charge people what you want.

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Click to rate me there, london, 5 hours ago What the hell do you lot want everything for a penny most of the commenters on here are wealthy Tories, yes the biggest scrooges people who work these stores will suffer because of these ridiculously low prices

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2 of 3 repliesSee all replies Heidi, Norfolk, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago

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Food retailers have been allowed to get away with charging as much as they want. They make billions in profit and pay low wages. Corporate greed needs to stop.

0 35 Click to rate Ellie, Glasgow, 3 hours ago Sorry not wealthy or Tory. In fact single, living on a low fixed income. And no not on benefits either. 1 12 Click to rate david, cleethorpes, United Kingdom, 5 hours ago Big deal it was 60p, now we have 'slashed' it to 50p. Wow. Meanwhile that other item that was 1.99 is now 2.49 with more to follow. I'm sure this will have Aldi and Lidl quaking in their boots.

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Click to rate Peter, Suffolk, 5 hours ago If those "deals" represent the best on offer, then forget it. They hardly represent a cross section of "staples", do they ? Why would anyone want to change supermarket just because a Frijj Milkshake (whatever that is) is cheaper at a competitor's store ????

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Click to rate me there, london, 5 hours ago But how does this affect the people that work for these stores it is not for the better,the share holders still want massive returns and this is all to the detriment of the staff

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Click to rate Me, Manchester, 5 hours ago Frijj has been 50p at most supermarkets for as long as I can remember!

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