Vocal Voices

This time on bread and milk.

The problem with price caps is that they very soon become the default price unrelated to what the wholesale price is. If the wholesale price drops the cap still stays the same, unless heavily regulated, and that never happens.

What I have noticed in the local Asda and Morrisons is that many of their own brand items have disappeared in favour of big brands. Beans, ketchup and many soups, which were just as good as the brands IMO, are very rare. A can of Asda beans is 46p, if there are any about, compared to Branston at 90p and Heinz at £1.40! Asda ketchup for 550g is £1, if it's there, Heinz is £3.40 for 450g!

No wonder some *spurts are claiming that food inflation is at 20%. Things like loose veg have hardly moved for ages, yet those "ever so cheap and time saving" ready meals have sky rocketed. Honestly, we are being taken for mugs, and price caps will not help.

The moment you try to interfere in the markets, you have lost.

What I have noticed is the bleeding of large brands into Lidl and Aldi. As LIdl and Aldi were a method of reducing shopping bills for people who have stressed budgets, this is not good news.

Whilst most of LIdl and Aldi stuff is of similar quality to the big brands, not all. But this is OK, you can choose the level of quality you are paying for. Losing this ability is part of the problem.

Suff wrote:Whilst most of LIdl and Aldi stuff is of similar quality to the big brands, not all. But this is OK, you can choose the level of quality you are paying for. Losing this ability is part of the problem.

Exactly!

I have stopped buying beef and lamb from the supermarkets and now use the local butchers. They are a tad dearer, but I can get whatever cut and weight I require. The other week one had shin beef on. I have not seen that for years, but I do know that it makes a brilliant stew. I hope he can still get it in the autumn so I can batch cook it in the slow cooker. Also he will do mince from whatever cut you choose - chuck, skirt, brisket and flank / onglet. They do make tasty spagbols, cottage pies and C-con-C.

The Asian butcher does mutton and it makes the best curries in the Universe, especially Madras and Vindaloo. Bring on winter!

What I have noticed in the local Asda and Morrisons is that many of their own brand items have disappeared in favour of big brands.

Interesting you raise this - Waitrose as well, and not just food items. Waitrose Essentials Pre-Wash Stain Remover Spray was brilliant, but hasn't been on the shelves for at least three months now. It's all Vanish products - at about triple the price.

We go round the budget supermarkets, not just Aldi either.

Quaker oats Sainsburys £2.75. Home Bargains of B&M two for £4.
Freddos Sainsbury's £1.25, Home Bargains 85p.

"Capping" prices is an attempt to deny reality.

Shoppers are being done in many ways. The brand of tissues and kitchen rolls that we buy have suddenly declined in thickness and quality. The washing up liquid is now thinner. Ben's rice is the same price but now for 200g instead of 250g.

cromwell wrote:Ben's rice is the same price but now for 200g instead of 250g.

Rice is rice. Basmati is Basmati. Go to to the Asian markets and get it for peanuts,

Erm... don't buy "brands" and not from the 'big' shops. It's not hard.

I use B&M and Home Bargains for things like laundry, shampoos and household cleaners because they are a fraction of the price for the same 'brand'. They are often in the same retail parks as the 'cheap' supermarkets, FGS!

Sadly I have Eczema. I use Bold and Imperial leather. No choice.

But for a lot of other stuff non brand is perfect.

cromwell wrote:We go round the budget supermarkets, not just Aldi either.

Quaker oats Sainsburys £2.75. Home Bargains of B&M two for £4.
Freddos Sainsbury's £1.25, Home Bargains 85p.

"Capping" prices is an attempt to deny reality.

Shoppers are being done in many ways. The brand of tissues and kitchen rolls that we buy have suddenly declined in thickness and quality. The washing up liquid is now thinner. Ben's rice is the same price but now for 200g instead of 250g.

£2.60 for my decaf teabags in B&M, they're £4 in Tesco!