Asda cuts prices on over 200 family favourites

Asda has announced price cuts on in excess of over 200 own-label products as part of its ongoing efforts to offer genuine help and support families during the cost-of-living crisis.

The 226 products, which have been reduced in price by an average of nine percent, include a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat and fish products, cupboard staples and popular ready options, too.

This initiative is part of Asda’s ongoing investment to save customers money in the current economic climate and comes as the latest Asda Income Tracker shows 40% of UK households had negative disposable last month, thus meaning their take home pay isn't enough to cover their bills.

In June Asda launched a summer price lock campaign to freeze the prices on 500 popular branded and own-label products until the end of next month, August.

It's also taken the step of extending its wildly popular ‘Kids Eat for £1’ café meal offer for the rest of this year. Since launching this initiative a year ago, last July, Asda has served 2 million meals from its cafes and invested £1.3m subsidising the offer to keep the meal prices at a very comfortable £1.

Asda's recently added a range of half priced adult meals to the menu, giving a family of four the chance to enjoy a meal in any Asda café for as little as £8.50 in total.

Kris Comerford, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We know families are continuing to feel the pinch financially speaking, especially as they're heading into the summer holidays and are looking for help to make their grocery budget stretch a little further. Whenever there's a chance to help them make their money go further by lowering prices, we'll continue to do so.” 

https://www.asda.com.

Asda brings you a Pizza the action

With Summer in full swing, the Lionesses about to take on their biggest football tournament yet, and families looking for ways to treat themselves for a bit less, Asda has unveiled its latest pizza counter meal deal, live from 24th July, for a stunning £6.00.

Shoppers can visit the supermarket's pizza counters in store and pick up two medium sized pizzas and one medium sized drink, whilst saving a whopping £4.00 compared to if shopping without.

With 14 pizza options to choose from, on either thin and crispy or deep pan bases - there is something for everyone. 

The varieties, which include family favourites like the Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Mighty Meat Feast, Medium Deep Pan Pepperoni Feast and Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Aloha Hawaiian. As well as the option to create their own with up to four toppings.

And vegetarians will not be ignored, as they'll also be able to take advantage of the deal too, with the following options-

Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Very Veggie Supreme

Medium Deep Pan Very Veggie Supreme

With vegans able to opt for vegan cheese on their pizzas, so they can enjoy it too!

Once customers have selected their delicious pizzas, they'll also be able to choose a drink to wash it down with from the following tasty options:

Coca Cola, 1.5L

Diet Coke, 1.75L

Fanta Orange, 1.5L

Coca Cola Zero, 1.75L

Sprite, 1.5L

Besides making some fantastic savings, customers will also be able to enter to win one of six £100 Ticketmaster e-gift cards per week (between 24.07.2023 to 15.10.2023). They'll just need to scan the QR code on marketing materials and complete the online form.

Get ready for summer evenings at home, to enjoy whilst catching up on the football with friends and family or just stock up the freezer at asda.com or your nearest Asda pizza counter.

Great Strawberry news for Asda customers

Arbroath's D. Geddes Farms, which is one of the biggest growers of strawberries and cereal crops in the whole of Scotland, will supply Asda with in excess of 70 million strawberries this season, including Extra Special Scottish strawberries for the very first time.

Operated by Frank Geddes and his family, D. Geddes Farms has supplied Asda stores across Scotland and the North of England with strawberries for over 14 years, including Just Essentials and Grower Selection strawberries, from its farm which is located on the North Sea coast.

The location of the farm means the strawberry crops benefit from a very helpful coastal temperate climate, with cool nights and lots of natural sunlight during the day.

D. Geddes Farms Soft Fruit Manager, Sergei Kaminski said: “We're really delighted to grow Extra Special Scottish Strawberries for Asda! 

"It's a real testament to the quality of our produce that we now supply five different strawberry products to all of the Asda stores in Scotland and the North of England. What's more, we’re predicting a bumper year, supplying over 70 million strawberries from mid-May to mid-October. The strawberries on our farm are planted directly into the soil and we don’t rely on growing substances or compost bags.

Sergei went on to say: “I've been involved in growing strawberries for over 20 years, and I believe strawberries growing in soil have a lot more flavour than strawberries growing in a compost bag. And we're also committed to improving our sustainability and move towards producing fully recyclable punnets this year.”

In 2021, the farm won Asda’s Sustain and Save Exchange Award in the ‘Working with Nature’ category for exemplary achievements in wildlife-friendly farming including growing hedges, planting trees, not disturbing established woodlands, and using biological control, where possible, instead of using potentially harmful chemicals.

Ashley Connolly, Local Buying Manager for Scotland, added: “It is fantastic to continue our partnership with D. Geddes Farms, which has been so successful over the last 14 years. It's certainly clear that our customers love strawberries and we truly delighted to bring a range of quality locally sourced options to our shelves – all 70 million of them!"

The products are available to buy instore or online at www.asda.com.

Asda earns four awards at the prestigious 2023 Grocer Golds

Asda took home the title of the lowest price traditional supermarket for the 26th year in a row at renowned industry awards, The Grocer Gold Awards, which reinforces its position as the best priced traditional supermarket for consumers.

Despite inflation reaching a 40-year high, Asda’s focus on providing great value for its customers was clear as the retailer won the Grocer’s weekly price comparison survey 32 out of a possible 50 times during the last 12 months, beating its nearest competitor by 20 wins. Asda had the lowest average basket price of £67.31 during this period, with its nearest rival over £3 more expensive.

Asda also won a further three awards at the event, many of which celebrated the initiatives the retailer launched to support consumers through the current cost-of-living crisis.

Asda’s new Just Essentials value range won best own brand range of the year following an incredibly successful launch. 

The Just Essentials range comprises of 285 products specially formulated and designed to keep households running on tight budgets. Just Essentials has become a firm favourite with many families with over10m customers regularly shopping from this range.

The supermarket’s leading Kid’s eat for £1 café deal, developed to support communities by providing affordable meals for children, was also awarded Initiative of the Year. Launched to support families across the key holiday periods, the retailer has served over 1.7 million meals to date, which peak to over 80,000 a week during the school holidays. 

Due to its popularity, the initiative has now been extended until the end of the year. The scheme was lauded by the judges for its ambition, reach and longevity. It was a worthy follow-up to Marcus Rashford’s campaign to tackle holiday hunger, according to the judges and evolved into something more multifaceted offering continued support for customers.

To top it off, Asda was also crowned Online supermarket of the year, beating the competition thanks to its appetite for growth and innovation. Thanks to its operational developments, Asda’s online offering now covers 99.5% of the population across the UK and delivered more than 39 million orders last year. The supermarket also cemented its position in the quick-commerce market throughout 2022, running partnerships with third-party platforms across most of its stores. These quick-commerce offerings resulted in a 164% sales uplift year on year.

Commenting on the wins, Mohsin Issa, Asda co-owner, said: “We’re obviously incredibly proud to have been recognised with so many awards at this year’s Grocer Golds, especially for the initiatives we’ve launched to support shoppers though these challenging times.

“Offering customers great quality at affordable prices is at the heart of what we do – and we’re delighted to have been recognised by the Grocer as the lowest priced supermarket for the 26th year in a row. Initiatives like Just Essentials and Kids Eat for £1 are just some of the innovative new ways we’re driving even better value for Asda shoppers."

He went on to say: “These wins are all testament to all our colleagues who work incredibly hard every day to help us keep the quality of our products high and the prices reliably low for customers – so I wanted to say a huge thank you for their continued dedication.”

In addition to The Grocer Gold wins, Asda was also named the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket for the ‘big weekly shop’ by Which? in June, a title that the retailer has held every month for the past three and a half years.

www.asda.com

Asda and BBC Children in Need work together

BBC Children in Need and Asda have launched Fuelling Potential, which is a brand-new campaign to ensure that no child is ever held back by food insecurity. 

Over the next three years Asda & BBC Children in Need are aiming to change the lives of 100,000 children by helping to ensure they have access to nutritious meals while having fun at BBC Children in Need funded holiday sessions that help to boost their mental health and physical wellbeing. 

The campaign is part of Asda’s broader Better Starts campaign, the aim of which is to improve outcomes for five million young people over five years.

As part of the campaign, BBC Children in Need have released findings of a new Censuswide survey which sheds light on how children and their parents are feeling in the lead up to the summer holidays, about food insecurity and their ability to entertain their children throughout the holidays.

The nationwide survey found that:

79% of parents surveyed say that rising costs are likely to affect their plans this summer

63% of parents surveyed are concerned about being able to provide food for the family this summer

66% of parents surveyed have cut down on spending on activities and trips due to the rise in the cost of living

63% of parents surveyed have changed the type of food they buy

A quarter of children surveyed (25%) worry at least once a week about having enough food to eat

1 in 5 (22%) of children surveyed say they have missed or had a smaller meal at least once in the last month because their family didn't have enough food.

BBC Children in Need’s CEO Simon Antrobus, said: "We're obviously enormously grateful to our longstanding partner, Asda, for their continued backing and support and their commitment to making a difference to young lives. 

"Over the next three years Fuelling Potential will help us support even more local charities and projects working to combat food insecurity in communities all over the UK, helping more children and young people to thrive and be the very best they can be."

As part of the Fuelling Potential campaign, Asda will offer £1 meals to all children who visit the Asda café throughout the school holidays during the summer and half price adult meals from 3pm daily. And throughout the school summer holidays, selected Asda Stores will be hosting various Pudsey Themed activities and summer clubs.

Jo Warner, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility and ESG at Asda, said: "We know this year will be particularly hard for families facing increased costs over the Summer holiday period, so we’re really delighted to partner with BBC Children in Need to provide meals and activities over the summer holidays. Also, low-cost meals will be available in Asda cafés throughout the summer, with a family of four being able to access a hot, nutritious meal for as little as £8.50."

Supporting the campaign, Rachel Stevens said: "It's vital children and young people aren’t held back by food insecurity, which is why I’m delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need and Asda’s Fuelling Potential campaign. 

"Providing children with a positive start in life is key to their development and overall wellbeing and ensuring their basic needs are met with a nutritious meal helps them thrive. I’m calling on families, colleagues, and customers to get behind this campaign and help make a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people in local communities across the UK."

For details please visit https://rb.gy/n4wv1.

Asda launches new half price café meals for adults and extends kids eat for £1 offer to support hard-pressed families

From today, Friday 30th June, all Asda café adult main meals will be half price, beginning at £3.12 from 3pm onwards.

So a family of four can eat in Asda cafés from just £8.50.

To help customers tackle the cost-of-living crisis, Asda has announced that its hugely popular ‘Kids Eat for £1’ café meal deal will be extended until the end of the year and also Asda will launch half price adult main meals in its café’s from 3pm onwards.

Asda recently refreshed its Kids for £1 menu adding a more nutritionally balanced offering, including new vegan and healthy meal options. The extension will come as a welcomed boost to the many cash strapped families as the long summer school holidays approach. 

Last summer, over 80,000 meals a week were served across the summer holidays – peaking to over three times the normal levels on an average week.

Asda’s latest Income Tracker shows a decrease in disposable income has been particularly stark for many low-earning families, with 40% of UK households falling into negative income territory in May – meaning their take home pay doesn't cover spending on bills and essentials. The average shortfall for these households was a shocking £42.50 per week in May.

To help relieve some of the financial pressures for families, Asda are introducing half price adult main mains from 3pm until close from Friday 30th June - with the Kids £1 meals remaining in place until the end of the year.

A family of four can eat out as little as £8.50 with the adult menu including some popular favourites like Steak and Ale Pie, served with mash and peas (£3.25), Fish and Chips (£3.25) Chicken Tikka Masala (£3.25), Mac & Cheese (£3.12), Lasagne with Garlic Bread and Salad (£3.25), Scampi, Chips and Peas (£3.25) and Sweet Potato and Spinach curry (VE) (£3.12).

Asda cafés which have an express diner format will also offer a whole 16” pizza for just £4 from 3pm onwards from this Friday until the 4th September.

The supermarket launched the offer for kids under 16 to enjoy a hot meal in any of their 205 cafés in June 2022 and has now served a staggering 1,700,000 million meals to kids from its cafés all over the country. 

As an alternative to a hot meal, Asda cafés also offer a £1 kids cold pick and mix selection that includes a sandwich, drink and some fruit. The refreshed menu now includes new treats like a jelly pot with whole fruit pieces or a jelly squeeze pouch as an alternative to a pack of crisps.

Kris Comerford, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer said; “We know when families are preparing for the school holidays it can often mean an additional strain on household budgets. Our kids £1 café meal deals continue to provide a lifeline to families as we’ve served over 1,700,000 million meals since its  launch. Now with the introduction of half price adult main mains in cafés from 3pm onwards, it means we can extend our support to the whole family in the coming weeks and across the summer holidays.”

During the summer holidays Asda will be working with leading and trusted educational resource experts Twinkl, to provide café activity packs that are jam packed with holiday fun, educational resources to help you keep children entertained over the summer break. These resources will be available in all Asda Cafés or from the stores Community Champion, whilst stocks last.

www.asda.com.

Asda earns 86 product awards in Free From Awards

Asda was awarded a very impressive 86 product awards at this year’s Free From Food Awards including 4 Golds, 27 Silvers, 36 Bronze, 19 Commended as well as the top accolade of the night, Free From Retailer of the Year.

The awards mark a celebration of Asda’s own brand Free From products, which strive to offer great quality and value for all customers. 

Judges were reportedly wowed by Asda’s impressive range, stating: “Between their vegan and their free from ranges Asda now offer a really impressive selection of foods for the allergic community - and at really competitive prices while still maintaining the quality of their products. A massive step towards including those on free from diets in the general community.”

Asda Free From, Chow Mein Stir-Fry Sauce

Free From: Gluten Free, Soya Free

Retail: £0.50

Asda’s Free From, Chow Mein Stir-Fry Sauce, with a hint of garlic and warming ginger is bound to spice up a mid-week dinner. Awarded Gold, this product was described by the judging panel as: “Lovely colour, aroma, consistency & flavour profile. A great balance of flavours with the perfect spice heat at the end. Very impressive to be gluten free, sesame free and soya free. And the price point is equally impressive”.

Asda Free From, Salad Cream

Free From: Egg Free

Retail: £1.10

The perfect condiment to accompany a summer salad in this hot weather, Asda Free From Salad Cream was awarded Gold by the expert panel, described as:

“This tastes just like the real thing. Impressive that this delivers the same flavour and consistency whilst being gluten free, milk free and egg free! Great price. A credible & accessible alternative”.

Asda Free From Extra Special, 8 Sicilian Orange & Belgian Dark Chocolate Cookies

Free From: Gluten

Retail: £2.00

Looking to brighten up your coffee break? made using an all-butter recipe and studded with Belgian chocolate this gold awarded product really is an extra special treat!

Asda Extra Special, 12 Classic Pork Chipolata Sausages

Free From: Gluten Free

Retail: £3.25

The perfect banger on your BBQ, full breakfast or roll to go, Asda’s Extra Special Classic Pork Chipolata sausages are gold awarded by Free From Food Awards panel. As well as great quality, customers can also pick up a bargain, two packs for only £5

Asda Free From, Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream

Free From: Gluten, Milk and Soya

Retail: £2.20

Everyone can cool down this summer and enjoy Asda Free From Vanilla Flavour Ice Cream.

 OMV! Deliciously Vegan By Asda,  Burger Mayo

Free From: Egg

Retail: £1.50

The perfect accompaniment to BBQ season, this 100% vegan burger mayo with flavours of gherkin, American style mustard and tomato impressed judges and won Silver at the Free From Food Awards. It’s sure to be a winner with all guests at summer gatherings.

OMV! Deliciously Vegan By Asda Saag Masala Cooking Sauce

Retail: £2.00

Everyone can enjoy curry night with OMV! Deliciously Vegan Saag Masala Cooking Sauce. A tomato, spinach and creamed coconut sauce with a blend of spices, guests will be left wanting more!

Asda Free From 4 White Rolls

Free From: Gluten, Milk and Egg

Retail: £1.75

BBQ, picnics or mid-week lunch, enjoy all the flavour without missing out with Silver awarded Free From White Rolls.

Shop in store and online at asda.com.

(That's Food and Drink says: "It's good to know that major retailers are working so hard to provide good quality Free From Foods. My wife needs to avoid gluten and soya, so we are aware of the Free From struggle. Well done, Asda!)

Looking for Father's Day gifts? Asda has the answers!

For those looking for perfect Father’s Day gifts, Asda has revealed a series of wonderful products and deals, from confectionary to booze, and everything in between.

Finding a gift for the father-figure/s in your life can be a bit difficult, so Asda is offering deals including bargains on beer and whisky, a range of sweet treats and savings on your steak dinners.

Father’s Day Steak Deal

Until Thursday 22nd June, shoppers can treat dad to a steak dinner – rump, sirloin or ribeye - plus a Viaplay Sport Streaming Voucher, for just £8.00. Some of the delicious steaks included in the mouth-watering deal are the ASDA Flavoursome Beef Rump Steak, 255g at £4.75 each, ASDA Succulent Prime Beef Sirloin Steak, 227g at £4.60 each and ASDA Ribeye Steak, 227g, £5.20 – or 2 for £8.00.

Father’s Day Pizza

For Father’s Day, Asda's launched a special Father’s Day Pizza at its Pizza Counters too, until Sunday 18th June. The Detroit Base pizza with BBQ sauce, cheese, pepperoni, meatballs & spicy beef topped with jalapenos and a bourbon whisky BBQ drizzle costs only £5.00.

Amber Pepper, Product Development Manager at Asda, said: “We know our customers love an Asda Pizza Counter creation, and this is no different. This Father’s Day special is a great option to treat dad. If you’re lucky, he might even give you a slice!”

Gift of Booze

Whisky is a staple gift, with big savings up to £17.00, to be made on branded favourites until Wednesday 21st June 2023. Great deals include but aren’t limited to:

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, 70cl, £18.00 (WAS £26.00)

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire Whiskey, £17.00 (WAS £26.00)

Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £20.00 (WAS £30.00)

Talisker Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £25.00 (WAS £42.00)

Glenmorangie The Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £27.00 (WAS £37.00)

If Dad's more of a beer drinker, customers can pick up cases of Birra Moretti Premium Lager Beer Bottles, 18x330ml, for just £20.00 (WAS £23.00).

The supermarket is running 2 for £20 deal on selected favourites too, such as –

Corona Extra Premium Lager Beer Bottles, 12x330ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £8.00

Magners Original Apple Irish Cider Cans, 18x440ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £8.00

Stella Artois Unfiltered Lager Beer Bottles, 12x330ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £10.00

Doom Bar Amber Ale, 10x440ml, £11.50 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £3.00 (ends 21st June 2023)

Sweet treats

For those father figure/s who’d prefer something sweet to nibble on, Asda has some delicious treats too. Toblerone Chocolate Large Bar, 360g, just £4.00 whilst Cadbury Roses Chocolate Carton, 290g, are £3.50 – both with 50p in Asda Rewards cash pots, too.

If dad prefers sweets over chocolate, then Barratt Wham with Sour Crystals, 300g, Barratt Liquorice Novelties Pick 'n' Mix Sweets Carton, 400g, are just £2.50 each (WAS £3.00 each.)

Some other fantastic deals on sweets include, previous sweet deals and the ones below run now until 18th June:

Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Pralines Gift Box 16 Pieces, 200g, £4.50 (WAS £5.75)

Toblerone Orange Twist Sharing Chocolate Bar, 360g, £4.00 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Pralines Gift Box 24 Pieces, 300g, £6.50 (WAS £9.50) plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Cadbury Heroes Chocolate Carton, 290g, £3.50 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

NEW Guylian Temptations Mixed, 200g, £4.50 (WAS £6.00)

Toblerone White Sharing Chocolate Bar, 360g, £4.00 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Large Gift Bar, 360g, £3.50 (WAS £4.00) plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Maltesers Chocolate Box, £2.50

NEW Guylian Seashells Dark 225g, £4.50

Terry's Chocolate Orange Milk, 157g, £1.50

Hundreds of products are Price Locked at Asda this summer until 31st August, providing customers with value for money on key summer favourites across chilled, frozen, produce, drinks and more. Price locked products include Asda 4 Strawberry & Vanilla Ice Cream Cones (£1.45), Asda Beef Burgers (£3.00) and Asda Juicy & Sweet Pineapple Chunks (£2.00). Find out more here - https://groceries.asda.com/cat/price-locked/1215686354018

Shop in store and online now for all your Father’s Day needs at www.asda.com/fathersday before 18th June.

Asda partners with Avery Berkel and Hanshow to promote refillable solutions for UK supermarket shopping

Asda is embarking on a strategic project to create their first sustainability trial store, and Avery Berkel, a long-standing partner and leading provider of retail scales, was obviously a natural choice for the collaboration. 

Avery Berkel's team and its digital labelling solution partner Hanshow worked very carefully and closely with Asda to develop a sustainable solution for the Middleton-based store, leveraging their expertise in retail scales and unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. 

The collaboration has resulted in a successful solution that will have the potential for a meaningful impact on the retail industry and the wider environment.

Although zero-waste stores are gaining popularity amongst independent retailers and smaller chains on our high streets, they're still viewed as a niche concept in the market of larger consumer stores. 

Asda recognised the significance of this trend and aimed to develop a solution that will assist customers in the initial stages of their sustainable shopping journey. The result is a truly remarkable achievement brought to fruition by the combined efforts of Asda, Avery Berkel, and Hanshow, marking a milestone in the pursuit of sustainability in the retail sector.

The Avery Berkel Solution.

To advance the zero-waste solution and cater to shopper's needs, Avery Berkel partnered with Asda to develop a bring-your-own-container solution. Drawing on their specialised knowledge and expertise, Avery Berkel's team developed a comprehensive solution which includes customised enhancements to meet Asda's specific requirements.

This holistic solution comprised of weighing solutions, Avery Berkel’s enterprise scale management system, and electronic shelf labels powered by Hanshow. 

All three components were designed to work seamlessly together, providing shoppers with an enriching refill experience. 

Compared to standard printed shelf and product labels, the total refill solution presented additional product information, such as refill instructions, ingredients, allergens, and storage details to name but a few.

The simple, intuitive shopper interface was accessible to customers who might not have previously engaged in this kind of technology. To further support the shopper experience and deliver reassurance messaging, Avery Berkel also created a sophisticated set of screen graphics that can be used to deliver messaging direct to the consumer and which would remind them of the effect of their behaviour change.

Asda's concept store in Middleton was the site of the initial consumer trials for their zero-waste solution, which received highly positive customer feedback following its installation in 2020. Within just over a year, three more stores were added to the green roster. Asda continues to support and develop these refill trials, using Avery Berkel technology, with the goal of reducing the amount of single use plastic their customers take home as part of their overarching ambition to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2040.

(EDITOR: Personally I am excited in this opportunity to help protect our environment by how we shop.)

Asda announces Price Freeze

Asda has announced it's taken the step to freeze the prices of over 500 branded and own-branded products to give customers greater control over what they spend weekly.

The price lock, which will run until the end of August, includes cupboard essentials like cereals, pasta and tea, as well as summer favourites such as salads, burgers and ice cream.

The move comes following the latest figures from Asda’s Income Tracker, which reveal that household disposable incomes continue to fall on a month-by-month basis.

Asda continues to support families during the cost-of-living crisis by keeping prices checked and launching new ways to provide customers with more value every time they shop.

Asda's also offering a limited time trial which gives customers the chance to trial the retailer’s pocket-friendly delivery pass service, removing the delivery charge on online orders.

To access the trial, which is available from today, 13th June to 10th July, all customers need to do is sign up to one of Asda’s delivery pass services.

As an extra boost to customer's budgets, Asda Rewards continues to help customers earn pounds, not points, every time they shop in store or online. Over five million customers now use the app on a monthly basis and they've been growing their cashpots to help reduce their grocery bills, earning over £100m in total so far this year.

Kris Comerford, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “At Asda, we’re always looking at ways we can support our customers and communities throughout the year, which is why we’re locking the prices of hundreds of products until the end of August.

“We're well aware that household budgets are tight at the moment, so we want to be able to offer the best value and give customers the confidence they can shop the products they love throughout summer.”

The price lock will be in effect until 31st August in store and online, and products include:

Asda 8 Beef Burgers (454g) £3.00  

Asda Loaded Cookie Dough Ice Cream (480ml) £2.30 

Asda Mild Tender Baby Spinach (180g) £1.00  

Asda Strong Baby Leaf & Herb Salad (75g) £1.00 

Asda Shredded Iceberg Lettuce (130g) £0.50 

Asda Watercress (85g) £1.00 

Asda Fusilli (1kg) £1.65 

Kellogg’s Cornflakes (500g) £2.25 

Warburtons Toastie Thick Sliced White Bread (800g) £1.40  

PG Tips Original Tea 40s (40pk) £1.60 

Asda Stonebaked Double Pepperoni Pizza (329g) £1.65   

Asda 8 Beef Burgers (454g) £3.00   

Asda 2 Garlic Baguettes (340g) £1.00  

Asda 4 Strawberry & Vanilla Ice Cream Cones (440ml) £1.45 

Asda Salted Butter (250g) £1.89  

Asda Unsalted Butter (250g) £1.89 

Asda Orange Juice Smooth Carton (1L) £1.15 

Nestle Shreddies The Original (390g) £2.00 

Oxo Beef Stock Cubes (24x6g) £3.10 

Asda French Fries (1.5kg) £2.45 

Ben's Original Long Grain Microwave Rice (220g) £1.00

www.asda.com

Asda unveils its Trend Book for 2023/24

Asda has unveiled its Trend Book for 2023/24, revealing key themes which will guide its food and drink product development over the next 18 months.

Headed by Jonathan Moore, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Trends and Innovation who has been a chef at a Michelin Star level, the Trend Book maps out the core drivers, mega trends and key techniques and flavours Asda customers can expect to see developing in UK food retail sector.

Beginning with the core drivers, each trend is categorised into four mega trends based on the social and cultural drivers that will inform product development. These mega trends are:

Under Pressure - in a less stable world, where people struggle to maintain control of their health and finances, how retailers can help make food more healthy, affordable and accessible.  

Distract and Displace - food is a primal way to seek comfort, safety and escape. It can be a way to explore different flavours and more than five senses, as it becomes increasingly ‘normal’ for technology to impact how we interact with our food. 

Brave New World - as we see the impact of global warming, the food industry is looking for innovative, practical solutions to tackle the problems that face the world. From finding new food sources to diversifying from more staple crops.

Health Wise - the pressure to be perfect seems increasingly burdensome but the fact remains we all want to live longer, and to live better. More than ever, customers are seeking new, clever, easier and less expensive ways to change habits and improve longevity.  

Within each mega trend there are seven sub-trends, which delve into the flavours, ingredients and cooking techniques that will gain prominence or continue to evolve and grow in popularity, over the coming months.

Around the World

Everyday Heroes

Edible Joy

Sensory Evolution

Unlock Time and Money

Accessible Health

Food Odyssey

“Around the World” sees consumers looking to try new dishes, flavours and techniques from across the globe, but doing it in a way that's wallet and purse friendly. This means shoppers are leaning into ‘forever favourites’ like purse-friendly Italian, American and British dishes but giving them a gourmet twist or trying more regional varieties.

One of the ways Asda expects this trend to materialise is shoppers looking for global twists on food,  for example combing Japanese flavours to Italian food with the rise in popularity of dishes like miso Bolognese or serving an American classic burger inside a croissant.

“Everyday Heroes” sees budget-friendly vegetables given a new lease of life as the centrepiece of main dishes, plus toast and sandwiches get a major revamp. The biggest not-so-humble star? Is the potato! 

Asda has seen a +12% increase in sales of potatoes over the past year as consumers turn to TikTok, which has over 10 billion views for #Potato, for inspiration on how to get creative with this household staple.

Sandwiches and ‘things on toast’ are also stepping forward and into the spotlight, providing a cheap and cheerful canvas to get creative. From getting rid of the humble bread bun in favour of interesting carriers like croissants and roti to bringing back chocolate spread and baked beans toppers, but doing so with a unique twist.

The “Edible Joy” trend references consumers who are seeking out a distraction from the doom and gloom of the world and looking to food for moments of joy in their lives. 

The trend sees the revitalisation of nostalgic childhood dinners and the rise of retro puddings such as baked Alaska, crème brulee, rice pudding and tiramisu. Asda has already started to see this trend with shoppers eager for its recently launched retro ‘school cake’. Tens of thousands of people shared their love for the cakes across social media and the excitement led to over 5,000 people searching for ‘School Cakes’ on Asda.com.

The “Sensory evolution” trend continues to grow as wallet-friendly ingredients are given new life by using condiments, sauces, pastes and seasonings; also known as ‘flavour bombs’. Expect heat to play a part in unexpected ways through experimentation with hot sauces, and bold, herby green sauces paired with everything. Boundaries between sweet and savoury continue to blur with the rise of ‘swalty’ snacks and herbs/vegetables making their way into dessert. Food on a stick also emerges as a trend in its own right, as the most elemental way for diners to get involved with their food; seemingly un-holdable dishes like pasta become more interactive and ease consumption without the need for cutlery.

Social media is vital when it comes to time-saving prep solutions in today's modern world. Within the “Unlock Time and Money” trend, we expect to see these quick cooking practices take a step further with perfectly pre-prepared, nutritious meals that only require a tap to finish off. TikTok shows off ‘lunchbox’ or ‘mason jar’ ramens whilst retail innovation turns to freeze-dried, dehydrated and powered foods. Extra benefits of these new formats include lower shipping costs and carbon emissions, alongside longer shelf-life.

“Accessible Health” in the time of a cost-of-living crisis, sees customers re-order their priorities. There is a move to embrace flexibility and permission for comfort and treats. Fat consumption is more considered, as customers become more aware ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ fats with a desire to learn more about where fat has come from, like butter from grass-fed cows or virgin oils from a single estate.

Cooking methods like air-frying, puffing and roasting put to good use to avoid overconsumption of fats, a trend that continues to grow in popularity with the rapid growth in the sale of air fryers. Asda plans to add air-frying cooking instructions to over 100 Asda-own label products over the next year.

As our understanding of the impact grocery staples have on the planet grows, new innovations outlined in the “Food Odyssey” trend look to ways to replicate and replace. You can expect to see more realistic plant-based fish and sea plants replacing leafy greens (such as seaweed pesto) as producers branch out into new protein-rich ingredients. Precision fermentation is also making waves in the dairy industry, to replicate ingredients like egg whites, animal fats and more.

Jonathan Moore, who is Asda's Senior Director of Food Trends and Innovation said: “Following the success of our inaugural Trend Book last year, we’re proud to share its latest iteration and excited to see how it informs our product development over the coming months. We have spent months researching and identifying seven mega trends emerging in the UK food scene, alongside delving deeper into the relevant social and cultural drivers behind them. Over the next 18 months, we’ll be working hard to bring these trends to life on Asda shelves in a way that’s both exciting and accessible for our customers”.

View the full version of the trends book here https://rb.gy/or748

Asda ready to serve vegan customers with nine new products

As the BBQ season hots up, Asda has introduced nine new products across its OMV! and Plant Based by Asda vegan ranges.

Now, as Google searches for ‘vegetarian BBQ ideas’ soar by some 300%, Asda has announced the launch of nine new products across its vegan ranges, OMV! and Plant Based by Asda.

New and approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute, Asda’s OMV! No-Pork Chilli Sausages (£2.50) are blended with fiery green Jalapeños, red chillies and smoky chipotle, perfect for vegan spice lovers.

Making a deliciously flavourful alternative to meat, the new, fragrant Plant Based by Asda Bombay Inspired Meat-Free Bangers (£2.35) are blended with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, spinach and spices for extra flavour.

If burgers are more your thing, then you should try the Plant Based by Asda Spiced Bean Burgers (£2.35). Shoppers are already praising these succulent bean burgers with spicy chillies, with one shopper commenting they're “the best meat free burgers [they] have ever had.” 

Those wanting to indulge in traditional BBQ meatiness can opt for the OMV! No Beef Burgers (£1.85) or the Plant Based by ASDA Mushroom Sausages (£1.85). Asda’s meat-free alternatives are perfect when served with the OMV! Deliciously Vegan Burger Mayo (£1.50) or sandwiched between one of the OMV! Deliciously Vegan Brioche Burger Buns (£1.15).

To celebrate the arrival of BBQ season, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Trends and Innovation, Jonathan Moore, shares his top three tips on how to master the ultimate vegan BBQ:

“Don’t be tempted to start cooking on your BBQ until the flames have died down, you want to cook over the coals when they are grey in colour”

“Don’t cook your food straight from the fridge to the BBQ, you want your food out of the fridge for 10-15 minutes before you start cooking”

“Cook over direct and indirect heat depending on what you are cooking and how thick it is. When the coals are cooling slightly, you can drop vegetables like peppers and aubergine straight on and cook directly on them. This blisters the skin and adds another layer of flavour”

Asda’s OMV! And Plant Based by Asda ranges are available online and in-store now.

Shop at Asda and earn over £100m in this year alone!

How is this possible? Asda has today announced Asda customers who use its popular Rewards app have earned over £100m in Cashpots this year.

Rewards provides Asda customers with the opportunity to earn pounds, not points, each and every time they purchase certain products or complete a milestone mission.

In excess of five million Asda customers use the app every month and have been growing their Cashpots to help reduce their grocery bills, earning a total of in excess of £100m so far this year. (And it's only June...)

Asda customers in Scotland are high earners, with customers across the country having received a total of over £13.5 million back into their Cashpots.

Customers in the South are also eagerly taking advantage of the Rewards scheme, with London alone earning over £4.8m into their Cashpots.

Customers looking to get ahead of the back to school rush can now also take advantage of the Back to School boost on the app. Customers who convert their Cashpots into vouchers to spend on school uniform or shoes before 18th June will get 33% back in voucher value.

The Back to School boost voucher can be created by selecting the ‘spend’ tab in the app and clicking on ‘create rewards voucher.’ If customers opt to use £15 from their Cashpot on school uniform, a £20 voucher will be added to their wallet which can be redeemed instore.

Since the launch of the app, Asda has continually assessed how customers shop with the aim of providing a more tailored experience for each customer.

Asda recently increased the number of personalised missions that users will have access to. Customers will see an evolution of their offers within the app over time based on how they use it.

To get started on Rewards, customers just need to download the Asda Rewards app and log in with, or create, an Asda Groceries account.

Mark Baxter, who is the Senior Director for Loyalty at Asda, said: “We’re really pleased to see our Rewards users are continuing to benefit from using the app. This milestone shows that by earning pounds and building their Cashpots, our customers are being rewarded for simply shopping with Asda.”

Have a great day of Welsh feasting on St David's Day, courtesy of Asda

 Asda is here to help its customers celebrate one of the most colourful days of the year in Wales, St David’s Day. 

From pies to yoghurts to Welsh cakes and whisky and gin to wash it all down, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate the wondrous legend of St David. But be quick, offers are running in store and online over selected dates only.

For example:-

Popty Bakery Traditional Bara Brith Fruit Cake. Made using a traditional recipe by the third generation of the Williams family in the foothills of Snowdonia. £2.60 (WAS £3.00)

Popty Bakery Six Traditional Welsh Cakes. Rich, moist, fruited teatime treats. Eat as they are or warmed, spread thickly with butter and jam. Enjoy! £0.95 (WAS £1.10)

Welsh Brew 160 Tea Bags Their original premium tea. Blending teas for our wonderful Welsh water since 1989. Foil wrapped for freshness. 30 years of proper Welsh brews. £1.25 (WAS £2.20)

Penderyn Celt Single Malt Welsh Whisky 70cl Penderyn Celt is a Peated whisky which stems from the maturation of the light and fruity Penderyn spirit in the finest Kentucky ex-bourbon barrels first and then in richly peated Islay quarter casks. £23.00 (WAS £32.00)

Edwards of Conwy 6 Traditional Pork Sausages Their Traditional Pork Sausages are made using only the finest cuts of British Shoulder of Pork, delicately seasoned for a flavoursome and succulent sausage £2.50 (WAS £3.25)

Check out www.Asda.com for more Welsh goodies!

Sainsbury's Exceeds 165,000 Orders A Week To Become UK's Second Largest Online Food Retailer

Sainsbury's has reported its online grocery orders are exceeding 165,000 a week, resulting in a yearly turnover of over £750m positioning the retailer second in the UK market.

The 20 per cent year on year rise in orders a week, makes Sainsbury's the fastest growing online grocery business and has been driven by industry leading customer service. This was demonstrated by a new Ipsos Mori study on online customer service, commissioned by Sainsbury's, which showed Sainsbury's industry-leading position across the key service measures of:

- Quality of products
- Availability of delivery slots
- Customer service from the delivery person
- Speed of placing an order
- Contact centre staff

Accessed via www.Sainsburys.co.uk, groceries are hand-picked by colleagues in nearby Sainsbury's stores, reducing the distances drivers travel to customers' homes and therefore food miles. The company's 3,000 delivery drivers also have dedicated training with a sharp focus on customer service.

Jon Rudoe, Director of Online, Sainsbury's said: "Thousands of new customers are choosing Sainsburys.co.uk each week because it's simple to use and like our stores, people are assured of the service they'll receive.

"We're proud of our successes so far, but it doesn't stop here, we've got ambitious growth targets which we'll reach by continuing to deliver the best possible experience for our loyal and new customers."

In addition to groceries, Sainsbury's also has a fast-growing general merchandise site including home and garden, appliances, technology, toys, games and sports and leisure products, as well as a new entertainment site.

Growing numbers of shoppers are also taking advantage of Sainsbury's market leading Click & Collect service. Sainsbury's offers the largest number of Click & Collect points, now available in over 900 supermarkets and convenience stores, allowing customers to place general merchandise orders online by 2pm for next day delivery from the store of their choice.

General merchandise online now offers more than 10,000 products, spanning everything from cookware to entertainment. Top brands including Apple, Le Creuset and Sony can all be purchased online.

FACTFILE:

Quality of products

1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda Joint 3rd - Ocado Joint 3rd - Tesco

Availability of delivery slots

1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado

Customer service from the delivery person

1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado

Speed of placing an order

1st - Sainsbury's 2nd- Tesco 3rd- Asda 4th- Ocado

Contact centre staff

1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda 3rd - Tesco 4th - Ocado

Ipsos Mori - 1912 online interviews were conducted by Ipsos MORI between 14 February 2012 - 21 February 2012 with a sample of GB online grocery customers aged 16+. Sainsbury's supplied a sample of 912 of its customers and 1,000 were customers of other supermarkets sourced through online panels including Tesco: N=400, Asda: N=400 and Ocado: N=200.

RC Cola Reinvent Traditional Ice Cream Float with a Festive Twist

RC® (Royal Crown) cola unveils tasty treat in time for Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, RC® Cola has teamed up with mixology expert Alastair Tatton to craft a celebratory cocktail to toast the festive season.

Inspired by RC® Cola’s American roots, the ‘Really Christmassy Cocktail’ is a festive take on the iconic ice cream float which has tempted tastebuds across the pond since 1874.

Sundeep Gill, assistant brand manager for Cott Beverages Ltd. who launched RC® Cola in the UK, said, “Just like the ice cream float, RC® Cola has been at the heart of America for over a century. With an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version, this spiced-up version of an old-fashioned treat is perfect for anyone wanting to indulge themselves this Christmas. The kids could even leave one out for Santa!”

If you fancy trying to create your own RC® ‘Really Christmassy Cocktail’, simply follow Alastair’s step-by-step recipe:

RC® Really Christmassy Cocktail (Please enjoy responsibly. Not suitable for persons under the age of 18)

Ingredients:

12.5mls Kahlua

37.5 mls cinnamon-infused vodka

150 mls RC Cola

2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Ice:

Cubed

Garnish:

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cherries

Method:

Infused the vodka with cinnamon sticks by leaving the cinnamon in the vodka for 4 days

Fill a tall glass with ice and add all the ingredients apart from the ice cream putting the RC Cola in last. Add the ice cream scoops at the top and garnish with the cinnamon sticks and cherries.

For those interested in a non-alcoholic version, simply follow the same method, with the below ingredients:

Virgin RC® Really Christmassy Cocktail

Ingredients:

Pinch ground cinnamon

150 mls RC Cola

2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Ice:

Cubed

Garnish:

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cherries

Method:

Fill the tall glass with ice and add all the ingredients apart from the ice cream putting the RC Cola in last. Add the ice cream scoops at the top and garnish with the cinnamon sticks and cherries.

Created in 1905, RC® cola is one of America’s original colas and is already available across the globe in over 60 countries. Launched in the UK by Cott Beverages Ltd. and available exclusively in Asda stores nationwide, just visit www.rccola.co.uk for your local stockist.