Food shopping Where and why?

[rebrascora]

Yes, you only make that mistake once with the wheelie baskets at Lidl! I always keep a coin in the car as even when I think I just need a few things and a basket will do, invariably I buy more and struggle to carry everything out. 🙄

 

[trophywench]

Aldi - not often a Blue Badge space free, only 3 of them and unless we find a spot pretty near to the door a bit difficult for OH and I rely on him to drive me. Not a great selection of fruit and veg, but sufficient and it's usually OK. Got sick of us trying things, deciding we liked em then them never having it again so mainly stopped bothering to go there.

Don't have a Lidl near enough to use it regularly.

Agree they're brill in France but should we need 'household goods' as well as food then must be one of the French(?) stalwarts, Leclerc, Auchan, SuperU, Carrefour - rarely Intermarche now and to see one with the original 3 Musketeers sign is unlikely to the extreme now. (Anyone remember Geant supermarkets in France? Oooh - there was Casino too, but exceedingly downmarket in price and quality.)

Both A & L have good butchery and fish but not such a selection of cheese or cooked meats though the number of different sliced hams on sale is wide and varied so if you like to eat a lot of ham ....... You will gather that I don't!

Two Tescos in opposite directions, each approx 2.5 miles. One of which is huge and often manic as is the parking etc too, now. So we usually go to the smaller one with the undercover parking. (and some staff faces we've watched grow up!) Built on more or less the same spot as was previously OH's Infant & Junior School..

Sainsburys and Asda both over 5m away now.

There is a 'reasonable sized' Morrisons approx 2.5m away with most things BUT a bit dearer than Tesco for a lot of their stuff so usually only go to it if we 'just need X or Y' and we need to go somewhere in that vicinity anyway - eg our GP surgery or the hairdressers. (Selection of things is a bit boring.)

 

[trophywench]

PS Waitrose was the sole supermarket in Kidderminster town centre when we moved there in 1971 and the quality of their produce was second to none, though I couldn't afford everything they sold. Excellent Deli, so got spoiled and subsequently since been cross, when I couldn't get such items in lesser emporia!

 

[Lucyr]

I can’t cope with lidl or Aldi, the checkouts are too fast. There’s no Morrisons in this part of the country. So that leaves Asda Sainsburys Tesco and Ocado. Asda is out as they play background music.

If I’m having a difficult time with ME I use Ocado as the shopping is delivered in bags with the freezer / fridge stuff all in one bag so I can shift that then have a break. Otherwise I do click and collect at Tesco or Sainsbury’s. Sometimes pop into Sainsbury’s Tuesday evenings as reductions are good then.

 

[CoolShot44]

I shop at my local Aldi store its 5 mins from my home, and it has everything i need for my weekly shop and its well priced and the staff are very pleasant 🙂

 

[silver minion]

Nearest supermarkets 3 miles in each direction is Co-op. Tend to top up on milk and bread between monthly shops but I do check their special offers. Main shopping is either Lidl or Aldi plus Tesco. That covers 90% of our shopping. Also like to use local butchers, greengrocer and bakers in the nearby villages. All within 5 miles. Lucky enough to grow own veg and fruit, chickens give us enough eggs.

 

[CliffH]

PS Waitrose was the sole supermarket in Kidderminster town centre when we moved there in 1971 and the quality of their produce was second to none, though I couldn't afford everything they sold. Excellent Deli, so got spoiled and subsequently since been cross, when I couldn't get such items in lesser emporia!

I lived in Kiddy from 1996-2000: the Waitrose was still there in 1996, although not for long. I to love the big Sainsbury's that opened the other side of the ring road - and the M&S.

 

[helli]

Asda is out as they play background music.

Morrisons may be out too then if they had one in your area.
My local Morrisons plays 1980s pop all the time I am there.

I did just correct my first sentence to make it “may” as I seem to vaguely remember some years ago they agreed to open early one day a week with no music for people with divergent personalities (I am very sorry if I have that term incorrect. I do not mean to offend anyone.)

 

[Lucyr]

Morrisons may be out too then if they had one in your area.
My local Morrisons plays 1980s pop all the time I am there.

I did just correct my first sentence to make it “may” as I seem to vaguely remember some years ago they agreed to open early one day a week with no music for people with divergent personalities (I am very sorry if I have that term incorrect. I do not mean to offend anyone.)

It would depend on the type of background music really, Asda just really grates on me even though I wear noise cancelling headphones to shop. (I think the word you meant was neurodiverse people but really the quiet times are for anyone it helps and that will include people who aren’t neurodiverse too)

 

[CliffH]

PS Waitrose was the sole supermarket in Kidderminster town centre when we moved there in 1971 and the quality of their produce was second to none, though I couldn't afford everything they sold. Excellent Deli, so got spoiled and subsequently since been cross, when I couldn't get such items in lesser emporia!

It would depend on the type of background music really, Asda just really grates on me even though I wear noise cancelling headphones to shop. (I think the word you meant was neurodiverse people but really the quiet times are for anyone it helps and that will include people who aren’t neurodiverse too)

You make a great point: my mother's probably neurotypical but hates Christmas music in supermarkets, although she's okay with 'normal' music.

 

[Drummer]

I am spoilt for choice.
There is the Coop, Waitrose, a big Makkah, a Kopernik, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Aldi - some of them multiple choices and most of them I can trundle off to on my mobility scooter no trouble.
They are all clean and tidy - though I have noticed that some of them have reduced the things they stock and sometimes I find what I want is out of stock, but I just trundle along to another one and often there is no problem about going in on the scooter if I have already got some bags of shopping. I do feel a bit guilty sometimes but I would not be able to haul all the shopping around these days - I only shop twice a month so have multiple bags.

 

[indio02]

Sorry but this one subject that I get a real bee in my bonnet about. It's so sad to see how supermarkets have taken over especially as they aren't particularly 'cheap' or good quality. How cheap can they really be when the bosses are being paid £100,000's A WEEK.
Waitrose is pump out the narrative that they're good quality yet looking at the ingredients list on some of their branded sausages you see they're full of fillers with the meat of such poor quality they need to use bamboo fibre to give it some texture. Bacon is pumped full of water.
Noticed yesterday that 'cheap' Lidl was selling Aubergine at 95p each whereas the local independent greengrocers was charging 50p. 89p for a cucumber against 50p Lidl also have a very poor selection outside the very basics ie no fennel bulb which I get for £2.75/kg whereas Sainsbury's/Waitrose charge £5.50. Packet of fresh herbs cost 3/4 times. Also in supermarkets your pretty much forced to buy 6 apples or a punnet of plums whereas in a greengrocers you can 2 apples 3 plums etc massively reducing potential waste.
To wrap up I do get the basics from supermarkets ie milk, butter washing powder etc but everything else from quality independents. It means my bread has 4 ingredients not 17. I can buy 120grams of a good farmhouse cheddar not a 300g block of plastic wrapped industrial cheese because when it's all added up the total costs are about the same. Remember supermarkets are making humongously massive profits!
#SupermarketsAreNotYourFriend

 

[JJay]

Sorry but this one subject that I get a real bee in my bonnet about. It's so sad to see how supermarkets have taken over especially as they aren't particularly 'cheap' or good quality. How cheap can they really be when the bosses are being paid £100,000's A WEEK.
Waitrose is pump out the narrative that they're good quality yet looking at the ingredients list on some of their branded sausages you see they're full of fillers with the meat of such poor quality they need to use bamboo fibre to give it some texture. Bacon is pumped full of water.
Noticed yesterday that 'cheap' Lidl was selling Aubergine at 95p each whereas the local independent greengrocers was charging 50p. 89p for a cucumber against 50p Lidl also have a very poor selection outside the very basics ie no fennel bulb which I get for £2.75/kg whereas Sainsbury's/Waitrose charge £5.50. Packet of fresh herbs cost 3/4 times. Also in supermarkets your pretty much forced to buy 6 apples or a punnet of plums whereas in a greengrocers you can 2 apples 3 plums etc massively reducing potential waste.
To wrap up I do get the basics from supermarkets ie milk, butter washing powder etc but everything else from quality independents. It means my bread has 4 ingredients not 17. I can buy 120grams of a good farmhouse cheddar not a 300g block of plastic wrapped industrial cheese because when it's all added up the total costs are about the same. Remember supermarkets are making humongously massive profits!
#SupermarketsAreNotYourFriend

You are lucky to have the choice, and the time to compare. But I suspect that for many people, like me, it’s years since they had a “local independent greengrocer”, never mind the time to visit them. How many have you found open when you’re on the way back from work at 7pm? Or butcher, or fishmonger, or baker (fortunately we’ve just gained one of those, but he only opens 2 days a week because he can’t afford to give up the day job).

People today have busier lives and demand convenience, one-stop shopping and nearby parking. My grandfather had a good old fashioned grocer’s shop with top quality produce, personal service and home deliveries. But as early as 1959, when he retired, he remarked how people would soon prefer supermarkets. Indeed the business was sold to International Stores. Three similar businesses in the town were gone by the end of the sixties. The fourth struggled on into the seventies, but only by demolishing its glorious, characterful premises and rebuilding as a supermarket.

Incidentally I have no idea which Waitrose sausages you’re talking about but I’ve failed to find bamboo fibre mentioned in the ingredients list of any of them!

 

[nonethewiser]

Mainly 2 shops, Sainsbury's & Aldi. Occasionally pop to Asda to stock up on no added sugar squash & bread, also odd trip to butchers but none local to us.

 

[Ivostas66]

We try to use a local greengrocer for our fruit and veg. He has gone from a small market stall when he arrived fleeing Kosovo back in the 90s, to a well known 'brand' across the area - several shops and market stalls, even shirt sponsor for the local National League football club. Two local butchers we use 'as a treat' - good quality, but very expensive.

We have an Aldi and Sainsbury's next to each other and it's surprising how many people like us start in Aldi and then head to Sainsbury's afterwards for things that Aldi either don't sell or aren't as good with.

 

[TonyB]

We are saving a fortune on shopping at the moment due to my T2D Pathway to Remission diet, so not eating much at all, and my Wife is pretty much on the same diet, so we are spending very little on Groceries, which is a bonus! However, we are luckily spoilt for choice with local supermarkets, within walking distance is a small Co-op. And within easy driving distance is an Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury and a small Tesco Express. We tend to use all of them, for no particular reason other than when we are passing them. Plus we are also lucky to have plenty of small local independents, eg: butcher, bakery, pie shop, farm shops, etc, etc.
🙂

Sounds like me. I live in Tankerton and all Supermerkets are within range except Waitrose. Prefer Aldi to Lidle as the Isles are wider in a bigger shop.

 

[CliffH]

You are lucky to have the choice, and the time to compare. But I suspect that for many people, like me, it’s years since they had a “local independent greengrocer”, never mind the time to visit them. How many have you found open when you’re on the way back from work at 7pm? Or butcher, or fishmonger, or baker (fortunately we’ve just gained one of those, but he only opens 2 days a week because he can’t afford to give up the day job).

People today have busier lives and demand convenience, one-stop shopping and nearby parking. My grandfather had a good old fashioned grocer’s shop with top quality produce, personal service and home deliveries. But as early as 1959, when he retired, he remarked how people would soon prefer supermarkets. Indeed the business was sold to International Stores. Three similar businesses in the town were gone by the end of the sixties. The fourth struggled on into the seventies, but only by demolishing its glorious, characterful premises and rebuilding as a supermarket.

Incidentally I have no idea which Waitrose sausages you’re talking about but I’ve failed to find bamboo fibre mentioned in the ingredients list of any of them!

Great points! The reality is that supermarkets meet a demand: they don't force us to shop in them! I have sufficient money and time (now that I'm semi-retired) to hunt around 'independent' shops if I choose to do so - but I've decided that life's too short. A fishman visits in his van once a week: the quality of his fish is great but he's more expensive than supermarkets and if I don't happen to be around at 2.00 on a Wednesday then I'm out of luck.

 

[CliffH]

Sounds like me. I live in Tankerton and all Supermerkets are within range except Waitrose. Prefer Aldi to Lidle as the Isles are wider in a bigger shop.

I remember Tankerton! I lived there (and Herne Bay) in 1989/90. I think if I lived there now I'd overdose on oysters

 

[Grannylorraine]

Tesco because we get staff discount. Some bits in Sainsbury or Morrisons as they are walkable from our house.

 

[Vonny]

To help me get my steps in I do all my shopping locally and on foot. Butchers and greengrocers (more expensive but use it or lose it!) Sainsburys for most of the shopping, or if I need to get 8+k steps in at one go, Aldi which is the furthest away. I can only do this now I'm semi-retired. When I was full-time I used to get a Sainsburys delivery before I moved to my current town.