Missing out on an Aldi shopping experience? Not anymore in five areas

How so? Because Aldi is opening five new stores across the UK in the next several weeks.

They'll be joining the other existing 990+ stores that Aldi already operates. It'll be opening in new locations this month June including Southampton and Whittlesey.

Further stores in Norwich, Castle Donington and Porthcawl will also open early next month, July.

The new stores are a part of Aldi’s commitment to invest over £400 million in store development during 2023.

On average each new store will provide about 40 new jobs on average, thus offering a welcome boost to employment opportunities in local areas.

Store Assistants will be able earn up to £11 nationally, and £12.45 inside the M25 zone, with paid breaks included, increasing to £11.40 and £12.85 respectively from July.

George Brown, Aldi's Real Estate Director, said: “Demand for Aldi has never been higher, and more than two thirds of British households already shop with us.

“However, there are still too many people for whom shopping at Aldi isn’t a convenient option and we’re committed to changing that, thus we'll be giving even more people access to our award-winning products at unbeatable prices.

“To meet that demand, we're investing in new stores up and down the country and won’t stop until we’ve made quality, affordable food accessible to everyone.”

Aldi has been recognised by Which? as the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for the past 12 consecutive months, with the latest figures showing Aldi was a massive £18.21 cheaper on a basket of shopping than the most expensive supermarket, Waitrose.

List of store locations opening in the coming weeks include:

Hedge End Retail Park, Southampton

Eastrea Road, Whittlesey

Station Road, Castle Donington

William Frost Way, Norwich

Eastern Promenade, Porthcawl

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.”

Tesco shoppers called to help raise vital funds in charity’s fight against food allergies

Shoppers at Tesco are being asked to help an ongoing in-store and online allergy awareness and fundraising campaign to support medical research into food allergies.

For the fourth year running, Tesco is working with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation by donating 10p from every Tesco own brand Free From product customers purchase in stores and online throughout the week. More than £270,000 has been raised for the Foundation since the start of the partnership in 2020.

All money raised through generous customer donations will help Natasha’s Foundation continue its research into reducing the risks of food allergies and raise awareness around ingredient labelling.

Natasha’s Foundation was founded in 2019 by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse OBE, following the tragic loss of their daughter Natasha, who had a fatal allergic reaction to a baguette that contained sesame seeds not listed on the packaging.

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, said: “We’re thrilled that Tesco is supporting us for the fourth year running, helping us raise essential funds to deliver our mission to #MakeAllergyHistory and better the lives of up to 3 million people in the UK living with food allergies."

Oonagh Turnbull, Head of Health Campaigns at Tesco, said: “Tesco was the first UK supermarket to develop a Free From range to help customers with food allergies, or other special dietary needs to enjoy the food they want to eat. Since its launch in 2003, our own brand Free From range has grown to 176 products across all categories, many of which are award-winning. We are delighted to continue to support Tanya and Nadim, and the Foundation’s crucial and potentially life-saving research.”

Tesco is an eight-time winner of the Retailer of the Year title at the annual Free From Food Awards.

Better bread for less dough as Tesco revamps its in-store bakery range

Shoppers looking for fresh, tasty bread are to be offered a fresher bakery experience at Tesco, with the introduction of new highest quality, limited-edition speciality bread and sweet products, available for less than the premium prices often found at trendy artisan bakeries.

The major move has seen the supermarket re-design its in-store bakery options launching nearly 30 new lines, including six limited-edition products.

As part of the revamp, which will roll out to all Tesco bakeries this month, the supermarket will also include nutritional information on packaging, such as calorie content and daily recommended allowances.

Said Tesco Lead Bakery Product Development Manager, Sarah Donovan: “Times are changing in the baking world, and we’re seeing the emergence of an adventurous new type of shopper who is very eager to try more premium artisan varieties of bread and sweet treats.

“But we don’t believe shoppers should have to pay higher prices for artisan bakery items, which is why we’ve launched a new range of great quality products baked daily in store.”

Among new artisan bread lines being introduced are:

Tesco Finest Cheddar Boule – 400g - £2.25. Fermented for 12 hours and bursting with indulgent, melted pockets of Vintage and West Country Cheddar and Red Leicester cheeses. Stonebaked for a deep crust.

Tesco Finest Halkidiki and Kalamata Olive Batard 400g - £2.25. Made with a blend of Greek olives – black olives from the southern Ionian area of Kalamata and green olives from the northern Halkidiki peninsula to give a full and rounded flavour.

Tesco Finest Limited Edition Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia – 250g - £2.25. Crafted with a long fermented Italian style Biga dough, made and hand topped with Italian extra virgin olive oil, Anglesey sea salt and rosemary. 

Added Sarah Donovan: “Instead of seeing bread as just something to toast in the morning or make a sandwich with, more people are beginning to appreciate it as a food to savour and one that can have many different flavours and complex tastes.

“This has resulted in a major boom for speciality bread with sales of focaccia, ciabatta and Mediterranean varieties all selling really well.” 

New sweet lines include:

Tesco Finest 2 Victoria Sponge Muffins – £1.75.  Made with a light and fluffy vanilla sponge the muffins are filled with strawberry jam and topped with strawberry pieces with buttercream enriched with clotted cream.

Tesco Finest 2 Sicilian Lemon Meringue Pastries - £1.90. A new twist on the classic lemon meringue pie. These Danish pastries are made up of 24 layers of delicious flaky pastry with a zingy Sicilian lemon favoured filling and finished with crunchy meringue pieces and a drizzle of icing.

Tesco has dropped the price of bread and butter across its stores and online as part of its commitment to provide value for customers during the cost-of-living crisis. The move has included reducing the price of the supermarket’s most popular bread, the Tesco Toastie white bread, from 85p to 75p.

www.tesco.com

Sainsbury’s rolls out Nectar Prices into new categories

Sainsbury’s has expanded its Nectar Prices initiative and it's now offering some great discounts on dairy and bakery products, available in store and online.

The change means there are now over 900 products available through Nectar Prices, helping Nectar customers to save even more money on their shopping.

Customers can expect great value and enjoy half price on selected products including household favourites such as Philadelphia cheese and a range of Yeo Valley milk.

Following the launch of Nectar Prices in April, Sainsbury’s is now expanding its initiative by introducing offers on dairy and bakery products for the first time. The change means Nectar customers can continue to make big savings, but now on a wider range of items, when checking out in Sainsbury’s supermarkets or online.

Products will also include customers favourite household brands with Nectar Prices discounts on a range of dairy products including Cathedral City mature cheese (usually £4.75, Nectar Price £2.75), Philadelphia cheese (usually £2.20, Nectar Price £1), Yeo Valley organic semi skimmed milk (usually £2, Nectar Price £1) and Lurpak 500g butter (usually £5, Nectar Price £3.25).

Lower prices will also be available on a range of popular branded bakery products including Soreen fruit loaf (usually £1.50, Nectar Price £1) and Warburtons bagels (usually £1.85, Nectar Price £1).

Sainsbury’s own-brand lines including Taste the Difference and by Sainsbury’s products will also be included with great offers on family favourites including Taste the Difference Carrot Cake (usually £3, Nectar Price £2), a range of by Sainsbury’s folded flatbreads (usually £1.35, Nectar Price £1) and by Sainsbury’s plain tortilla wraps (usually £1.20, Nectar Price £1).

The expansion means Sainsbury’s now has over 900 products included in Nectar Prices, spanning a wide range of categories including health and beauty, confectionery and snacking, beers, wines and spirits, household, baby and pet and food cupboard items, as well as the latest addition of dairy and bakery.

Products will continue to be added to Nectar Prices, ensuring all Nectar customers get great value on a wide range of items all-year round.

Already a Nectar customer? All existing Nectar customers need to do to benefit from Nectar Prices is scan their app or swipe their card at checkout to save. Customers shopping online will have their discounts applied automatically if their Nectar and Sainsbury’s accounts are linked.

Want to become a Nectar customer? Shoppers can sign up to Nectar Prices by joining on the Nectar app, online at www.nectar.com, or by picking up a Nectar card in store.

Want a hot gift for the foodie in your life? Then Chilli No. 5 is the one for them!

Introducing six luxe gift sets launching in the UK.

Chilli No. 5 has launched six gourmet gifts that are a guaranteed winner for you and the other chilli loving foodies in your life.

Aimed at health conscious, hot sauce lovers across the world, the new luxurious range is launching in the UK for the first time just in time for BBQ season.  Ranging from £12.00 to £60.00 the gift sets are the ultimate treat for those who just love experimenting with food.

A thoughtful but practical gift for loved ones this Father’s Day the range is aimed at those who love to cook (and eat). The Chilli No. 5 gift sets explore a variation of spices and hot sauces and gives people the chance to experiment with new flavours, food cultures and different recipes.

Whether you love to travel, are health conscious, enjoy a lazy pizza night in or love to grill on the BBQ, Chilli No. 5 has something for everyone, whilst also remaining a special treat. The gourmet chilli range is a taste explosion, packed with superfood ingredients, and its luxe, high-end packaging will not disappoint.

For those who love to BBQ

BBQ Sauce Collection Gift Set

RRP: £25.00

Whether you’re grilling cheese, steak, chicken or vegetables, the BBQ Sauce Collection by Chilli No. 5 is sure to add some flavour and heat to the grill.

For those who love to travel

Passport Piccante, World Chilli Sauces Gift Set

RRP: £35.00

If you know your loved one is into travel, and likes to explore different cultures and cuisines, then this gift set is perfect for them. This hot sauce collection contains 12 glass bottles inspired by sauces from all around the world, including Jamaica, Thailand, Mexico, Spain, Britain, and India.

For those who enjoy a gourmet health foodie experience

Gourmet Chilli Sauce Gift Hamper

RRP:  £80.00

A little slice of luxury for a very selective dietary palette, this collection of Chilli No. 5 products is an excellent option for health-conscious foodies. This gift set includes the Chilli No. 5 Pizza Oil, a 200ml bottle of Mexican Fury and Ever So English, as well as the Chilli No. 5 chilli flakes, two travel-sized sauces and a bottle of our limited-edition Pure Chilli No. 5. This is a collection that any gourmet would really enjoy and all these products are filled with health supplements and superfoods, too.

For those who like chilli hot...

The Hot Chilli Flakes Box Set – Crushed & Dried Chilli Flakes Gift Set

RRP: £30.00

Time to really spice up your life! This is perfect for those who love adding heat without affecting the taste too much. The chilli flakes gift set contains five different types of chilli flakes, which vary in taste from Smokey to fruity and floral to peppery and sweet. 

And in the level of Scoville, they vary from 400,000 to 2.2 million, all of which are extremely hot, so make sure to tell them to be extra cautious when adding any of them to a meal!

For those who love pizza

Pizzazz Pizza Oil Gift Set

RRP: £12.00

Spice up your Friday night with pals by gifting the Chilli No. 5 Pizza Oil. This gourmet pizza oil is not only packed with flavour but also tons of superfoods and supplements. Made of the finest 100% virgin olive oil, the Chilli No. 5 chilli pepper blend, garlic, rosemary and thyme, this delicious pizza oil is packed with health benefits such as those of garlic, which is rich in manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and selenium. Read more about the health benefits of the different superfoods we use in our sauces, chilli oils and chilli flakes on the Chilli No.5 website.

For those who are always on the go...

Chilli No. 5 Mini Hot Sauce Gift Sets

RRP: £15.00

Choose from one of the 10 collections of mini hot sauces to pick the perfect combination of hot sauces depending on your heat and flavour preferences. We made 10 unique collections, each of which is made up of 5 travel-sized hot sauces with a certain purpose such as “Best for Burgers”, “Best for Cheese”, “Best for Italian Cuisine” and much more! You will also find a collection of mild hot sauces, as well as a collection of super spicy hot sauces if you are choosing your gift depending on their heat preference.

To purchase any of these gifts please head to the webshop: https://chilli-no5.com/category/gift-box-tasting-bottles.

Gift sets are also available on Amazon.co.uk, too.

There's a fantastic new way to keep your Craft Beers chilled this summer, the Craft Beer Icebox

The Best of British Beer Icebox is here to revolutionise summer craft beer enjoyment. Icebox is reusable and recyclable and keeps your cans at the perfect drinking temperature.

At the heart of the Craft Beer Icebox is an innovative reusable and recyclable cardboard ice bucket. Crafted from sturdy, eco-friendly materials, Icebox offers the perfect solution to keeping your beers refreshingly cool for hours.

Fantastic at a festival, brilliant on the beach, great in the garden and perfect for the park, Icebox comes with 6 x 440ml cans of craft beer from some of our favourite independent British breweries and can be used again and again, reducing waste.

All you need to do is remove the top, pop in some ice and you are good to go. When you’re finished, empty out any water out and flatten the box and it’s ready for next time, no need to wander around with a bulky plastic chiller.

For more information please get in touch with will bestofbritishbeer.co.uk.

National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival announces full line-up for 2023

The National Geographic Traveller (UK) has unveiled the full line-up of guest speakers and exhibitors for this year’s Food Festival, which returns to London’s Business Design Centre for a star-studded weekend celebrating culinary travel on 15-16 July 2023. 

Hosted by award-winning magazines National Geographic Traveller (UK) and Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK), the two-day event invites visitors to taste the world, with wine tutorials, international tastings, culinary masterclasses, live demonstrations, on-stage interviews with acclaimed cookbook authors and talks from celebrity and up-and-coming chefs.

The line-up will bring together some of the most exciting names in modern gastronomy. The festival’s Main Stage will welcome the likes of MasterChef judges John Torode and Anna Haugh, while Speakers’ Corner will showcase Caribbean specialist Andi Oliver and The Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod.

Tickets are priced at £26 per person, including booking fee. A limited number of additional tickets to the Wine & Spirits Theatre are available at the price of £6 per session, purchased in advance, with up to two drinks tastings included.  For more information, and for the booking link, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Main Stage

The Main Stage will feature demonstrations and interviews with the culinary world’s leading lights, including:

MasterChef judges John Torode and Anna Haugh

Restaurateurs Thomasina Miers and Ravinder Bhogal

Writers Ixta Belfrage and Melissa Thompson and many more

For the full Main Stage line-up, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Speakers’ Corner

Over on Speakers’ Corner, there will be an absolutely stellar line-up of cookbook authors will talk through their latest releases. The programme will take a deep dive into the culinary destinations that inspired these works, with visitors invited to ask questions before being given the chance to purchase their favourite cookbook and get it signed. This year’s line-up includes:

Andi Oliver, who’ll be discussing her long-awaited debut, The Pepperpot Diaries

Petty Pandean-Elliott, author of The Indonesian Table

Coinneach MacLeod, whose latest release, The Hebridean Baker: At Home, celebrates recipes and stories from the Scottish islands

For the full Speakers’ Corner line-up, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk

Masterclass Theatres

Alongside the festival’s guest speakers, two Masterclass Theatres will host live cooking demonstrations from more than a dozen destinations across the world, including:

Azerbaijan

Ecuador

The US and many, many more

Wine & Spirits Theatre

This year’s Wine & Spirits Theatre will also embark on a global tasting tour, featuring everything from Czech and Californian wines to Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon.

Attendees can book sessions to learn more about more about their favourite tipples before visiting the Drinks Showcase to try, and buy, wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages from all over the globe.

Main Hall

Finally, the Main Hall is going to be packed with a wide range of exhibitors, from tourist boards to producers, who’ll be available to inspire visitors through demonstrations, samples and stories. Some of the planet’s best chefs will be there to put a spin on classic dishes, with tourist boards on hand to tell you more about the culinary destinations that inspired them.

Meanwhile, in partnership with Brand USA, Travel South USA is hosting the Travel South Pavilion, offering visitors a homespun way to discover the flavours of the Southern states. Highlights include demonstrations by renowned Southern chefs and drink aficionados serving as Travel South Ambassadors, who’ll prepare tasty samples and share stories behind the region’s food and drink, along with inspirational travel information. 

A ticket to the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival offers visitors an immersive experience, giving them the inspiration to plan their next trip and get better acquainted with global cuisines. 

Thousands of food-lovers poured into the Business Design Centre in 2022, and with this year’s event promising to be even bigger and better, be careful! Because tickets are expected to sell out quickly. 

Tickets include entry to the festival, with access to all interviews, Q&As, panel sessions and chef demonstrations.   

For the full line-up, and to book a ticket, visit: foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk  

Main website: News, features and more: nationalgeographic.com/travel 

Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Twitter: twitter.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Instagram: instagram.com/NatGeoTravelUK 

Vimto Jam? Yes! Vimto Jam!

On my recent trip to Home Bargains The main purpose of the mission? I was actually buying some nuts for out parrot I bought a couple of very decent ales, some coffee (good quality coffee at a very reasonable price) and my eye fell upon some Vimto Jam.

Yes, Vimto jam. Which I had not even realised was a thing. 

Actually, it's not called Vimto jam it's official title is Vimto Fruit Spread.

It's described as "a seedless Vimto flavour mixed fruit jam with raspberries, black currants and grapes."

And "Made with our secret recipe."

It's produced in the UK by Somerset Cuisine Ltd of Highbridge in Somerset, manufactured under licence from the owners of Vimto, Nichols PLC who are based in Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside.

So, what does it taste like? Absolute perfection! It's Vimto flavoured and it is truly delicious on hot buttered toast, on jam sandwiches, on bagels, on scones (especially with clotted cream!) and is really spiffing if you spread it on a Victoria sponge cake, etc. 

It's available in 200g jars from most supermarkets, plus Home Bargains, B&M, etc.

https://www.vimto.co.uk/vimto-range/product/vimto-fruit-spread.

I have just noticed that B&M Bargains also sells Vimto jellies! Another great British idea!