Everything to do with Shops

[SteveH]

Revealed: Cheapest supermarket for weekly shop and it's not Asda or Lidl
Analysis from Which? uses a list of groceries to decide the best value with Aldi taking the top spot again

A consumer champion has named the best value supermarket for August and its the two German retail brands that are battling for top spot. The monthly analysis by Which? revealed that Aldi was the cheapest supermarket last month.

The results come from comparing the average prices of a shop consisting of 62 popular groceries at eight of the UK’s biggest supermarkets. Buying these groceries at Aldi cost £110.58 on average across August. Lidl was just behind at £111.88 on average with Lidl Plus, and £112.17 without......................

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/revealed-cheapest-supermarket-for-weekly-shop-and-its-not-asda-or-lidl?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Dozens of Tesco products price-matched to Aldi - such as chicken nuggets, cottage pie and blackcurrant squash - are not like-for-like, BBC Panorama has found.

In the case of chicken nuggets, the Tesco product contained 39% chicken compared with 60% in the Aldi one.

Of 122 Tesco products, 38 - nearly a third - had at least five percentage points less of the main ingredient than the Aldi products they had been matched to.

Twelve Tesco products were found to have more of the main ingredient.

Tesco told the BBC it constantly reviews the quality of its products and has clear processes in place to ensure its price-match products are comparable to Aldi.

It also said a higher proportion of any one ingredient does not necessarily mean it is better quality.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m0vrmlzgyo

[SteveH]

With the arrival of Hotel Chocolat in town soon, a good time for this article.........

I WENT ALONG to a thriving little chocolate store in Llandudno to sample some of their treats and find out what all the fuss was about.

Maisie’s Chocolate Shop, at 25 Vaughan Street, was established in 2016 at the site of a closed sweets and treats shop.

Taken over by the ever-friendly Karen and Richard Winstanley in April 2019, the business continues to be a hit with both residents and visitors to the town.

cont plus photos https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24615770.inside-llandudnos-thriving-maisies-chocolate-shop/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Shoppers warned prices of milk, bread and butter could vary between supermarkets' own stores
They may be higher at some chains' branches, researchers find

Prices for essentials like milk, bread and butter all had a big markup, reports the Express . Releasing the findings, Which? said: "Shoppers pay eight percent more for two pints of own brand semi-skimmed milk at all of the three supermarkets' smaller chains.

Study's key findings........... https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/shoppers-warned-prices-milk-bread-30028284?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Marks & Spencer launches drive to hire thousands of festive workers
The high street retailer wants to hire more than 11,000 extra workers

High street retailer Marks & Spencer is ramping up its festive recruitment with plans to hire more than 11,000 extra workers 1,000 more than last year. The group said the additional customer service staff will be hired to offer support in stores across the UK, from serving on the shop floor to stocking shelves and helping with the food-to-order service.

The vacancies span both its food and clothing and home division. The group will be recruiting from October 9 and new staff will be brought on from mid-November.

"With a range of roles and flexible working patterns available, anyone who is interested in being part of something special this Christmas should visit our careers website to apply." M&S said there will be a range of start dates, variety of roles and flexible working patterns available................https://jobs.marksandspencer.com/christmas

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/marks--spencer-launches-drive-30054849?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Tesco tells customers to return mince pies to store in food safety alert
Supermarket giant says will offer a full refund

The products being recalled have a best before dates of 04 October 2024, 26 October 2024, 02 November 2024 and 10 November 2024.

The Food Standards Agency said: "Tesco is recalling the above product and has issued a recall notice. This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product."

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tesco-tells-customers-return-mince-30070600

[SteveH]

'Most expensive' supermarket is charging 18% more than almost every other for key grocery essential
Prices of the same basket items at the six main supermarkets since March 2022, including Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury's have been tracked

For the last six consecutive weeks it has been Asda that's worked out as the most expensive, cementing that position last week with a 13% price hike of its chicken breasts and an overall bill of £12.78. It retains that position this week, with the price still £2.65 for the 300g pack, which is 18% more than almost every other supermarket is charging................https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/most-expensive-supermarket-charging-18-30337832

[Ian]

It's true; Asda has become extremely uncompetitive.

[Hugo]

That may be true about Asda, but Asda's meal deal with their chips and Lasagne is worth every penny.        In fact their Lasagne is the best I've ever tasted and I have the Lasagne at least once every week

[SteveH]

Llandudno targeted as 'first ever' farm strike aims to empty supermarket shelves
Organisers have warned of 'massive' food shortages and have promised further action

Furious farmers have warned of "massive" food shortages and "significant" food price hikes as the industry prepares for its first ever strike. From Sunday, November 17, supplies of meat and crops will be tightened in protest at Labour’s new inheritance tax policies.

The week of industrial action includes a demonstration in Westminster on Tuesday, November 19. Police and organisers have relocated the event because Trafalgar Square, the original venue, is not big enough to contain the numbers of people expected................
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-targeted-first-ever-farm-30362023

[SteveH]

This could cause a bit of a price war.........hopefully !

List of Tesco price changes as cutting cost of 200 products - including staple foods
It comes amid major retailers' warnings of knock on affects from Budget............

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tesco-plans-price-changes-200-30429818

[SteveH]

Loyalty cards offer genuine savings, watchdog says

Supermarket loyalty cards do offer genuine savings, the UK's competition watchdog has found, but it said people should still shop around.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) looked at 50,000 products on loyalty price promotions across Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Co-op and Waitrose.

It found "very little evidence" that supermarkets were inflating their "usual" prices to make promotions look like a better deal.

However, it found that despite discounts being legitimate many shoppers still did not trust that the offers were cheaper.

While the CMA also said its review "has shown that loyalty prices aren’t always the cheapest option, so shopping around is still key".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew2ejj7lkvo

[Hugo]

Seeing this video reminded me of a Christmas time in my late teenage years.         I went to the public Bar in the Stanley pub in Mostyn Street to meet my mates but the public  bar was empty although the lounge bar was crammed full of people enjoying themselves at Christmas time.
I had a pint of Double Diamond while I waited for my friends and noticed that there was a hospitality tray with mince pies on it.    Now I'm rather partial to a mince pie and had one and then another and by the time I had finished my pint I had eaten all of the eleven mince pies.
My friends still hadn't arrived so I moved on to the Snowdon where I found my friends and they were quite surprised when I declined one of the Snowdon's mince pies
As a mince pie person I would recommend Aldi's mince pies for 2024 they are delicious especially when warm and with their Brandy Butter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cn85j2801vno

[Hugo]

Major high street chain set to close 17 shops - including one in North Wales
WHSmith has been announcing the closures over the past few months.     The Llandudno branch of W H Smith's is to remain open but the branch in Rhyl will be closing next month


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/major-high-street-chain-set-30815620

[Hugo]

Work underway on fire hit Asda store in North Wales with rough date on when will reopen
Contractors are now on site and work is underway

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/work-underway-fire-hit-asda-30826177