Sainsbury’s boosts value offering and savings for its customers

As the cost of living challenges continues to face shoppers, Sainsbury’s has revealed that it's still "totally focused" on providing great value on the products customers buy the  most often. 

From today onwards, Sainsbury’s has added in excess over 40 products to its Aldi Price Match campaign, making it the biggest yet with over 400 products. Additions include a range of by Sainsbury’s soups; burger buns and bread for those late summer BBQs; and sweet treats such as Bramley Apple Pies.

Whilst food inflation is showing signs of beginning to slow down, Sainsbury’s remains fully committed to passing on savings to its customers. 

With the price of butter continuing to fall, it's reduced the price of its by Sainsbury's British Butter 250g by 10% since May. It's  now £1.79. Cheese, fish fingers and toilet roll are some more of the popular products Sainsbury’s has lowered prices on ahead of the busy back to school period.

From today, Nectar Prices, which offers Nectar customers lower prices on a wide range of products, is also now available on frozen foods for the first time ever, completing the roll out of Nectar Prices across Sainsbury’s branches. 

Customers will now receive special Nectar Prices on in excess of 5,000 products in Sainsbury’s supermarkets and also online, with new deals launching including up to half price on frozen favourites like Birds Eye Fish Fingers, Goodfellas Thin Margherita Pizza and Linda McCartney Original Sausages. Since the launch of Nectar Prices in April, Nectar customers have saved in excess of £244m.

As Sainsbury’s continues to go big on providing value for its customers, it's also revealed it's increasing its Pocket Friendly Prices campaign to 55 products across most of its convenience store. This campaign highlights the great everyday competitive value it's offering customers on the most popular essentials in convenience, including by Sainsbury’s chicken breast fillets, butter and baked beans.

Earlier this year, Sainsbury’s launched Stamford Street, which is a new brand for all of its entry price point products. With the rollout of some 200 products now nearing completion, the distinctive packaging, dedicated in-store signage and custom website page make it easier than ever for customers to find everyday staples at budget-friendly prices.

Simon Roberts, who is Sainsbury’s CEO said: “We’re continuing to do all that we can to battle inflation and as costs fall, so do our prices.

"We’re passing savings on as quickly as possible, wherever we possibly can, so our customers get the very best prices when they shop with us. With our biggest ever Aldi Price Match and Nectar Prices campaigns, whatever you’re shopping for you'll always be getting great value at Sainsbury’s.

"From offering great value through its Stamford Street range and passing cost price savings on to customers, to Nectar Prices promotions, Aldi Price Match value and Pocket Friendly Prices for our convenience shoppers, Sainsbury’s value offering will help make delicious meals for busy families, great lunch boxes for the return to school and weekend treats affordable to more customers."

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tesco has 425 million reasons for customers to recycle

Customers shopping at Tesco are going to soon see changes across its own brand milk, as it the works with its milk dairies to make milk bottles even easier to recycle. 

By removing coloured plastic and changing blue, red and green milk caps to a clear alternative, on some 425 million bottles of milk annually, Tesco is improving the quality of recovered material from household waste and enabling the cap to be recycled back into new milk bottles. Customers are encouraged to squash or crush empty bottles, replacing the original lid before recycling to ensure it's not lost or discarded. 

Coloured plastic currently has to be processed separately from clear packaging, so this simple, yet effective change, means every year 3,900 extra tonnes of recycled plastic will be able to go back into making new milk bottles, a process which can be repeated each and every time a customer recycles it. 

The move will be seen in all Tesco stores, across 4 pint, 2 pint and 1 pint plastic milk bottles. However, different types of milk, whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed, will still be easy for staff and shoppers of identify, thanks to coloured labels around the main bottle.

James Waddy, who is Category Director for Dairy at Tesco, said: “Ensuring our packaging is as sustainable as possible is very important to us, and customer feedback on our trials of these new clear milk caps was overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we'll continue to look for ways to improve the packaging of all of our products, thus helping to make it even easier for customers to recycle at home.”

Tesco follows its 4Rs strategy when it comes to plastic and packaging, aiming to remove plastic where possible, reduce where it can't, reuse more and recycle what is left. 

Earlier this month, Tesco announced a trial of fresh mince ‘pillow packs’, which use 70% less plastic and are fully recyclable at in-store soft plastic collection points.                                           

To date, Tesco has removed around 2.2 billion pieces of plastic from its UK business, including: 

200+ million bags from Tesco.com deliveries

100+ million extra lids from products such as wipes, creams, yogurts and desserts

33 million pieces of plastic from bakery bread and doughnuts 

Incidentally here is the link to the story about the fresh mince trial that we carried a few weeks ago:

https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2023/08/tesco-unveils-fresh-mince-pillow-packs.html

Shopping at Aldi? Here are their August Bank Holiday opening hours

Aldi has announced its opening times for the August Bank Holiday.

Aldi's branches will open as normal Saturdays and Sunday. But stores will be open in England and Wales from 8am until 8pm on Monday 28th August, but opening hours in Scotland will remain unchanged (8am – 10pm).

However, customers are advised that the opening times of some stores could vary, and they're advised to  visit Aldi’s website to check their local store's opening times.

Aldi report that they have everything shoppers will need for a stunning Bank Holiday, due to its fabulous range of delicious food and drink.

From BBQs and picnics to garden gatherings and soirees, shoppers will be able to can cater for any long weekend plans with Aldi's stupendous range of fresh meat, vegetarian and vegan options, sides, snacks, sweet treats and drinks, all at amazing Aldi prices, too!

And Click and Collect is also available to customers at some 200 Aldi stores. Customers at select stores can visit groceries.aldi.co.uk to browse the supermarket’s range online and book a timeslot for collection, where all of their shopping will be brought to their cars and loaded into their boots by Aldi colleagues.

www.aldi.co.uk

Sip Urban Rhino gin and support wildlife. It's a real win-win!

There's a real win-win situation for lovers of good, high quality London dry gins, as every time they take a sip of Urban Rhino Gin, they are helping to save rhinos.

And the spirits world bible 'The Spirits Business" has acknowledged this by naming Urban Rhino Gin as one of the top 10 conservation spirits brands that is supporting conservation projects.

A spokesman for Urban Rhino Gin commented: "It's a real special honour, and we're obviously thrilled to learn that we've been listed alongside some other amazing drinks brands which also have conservation at their heart."

Announcing their top 10, The Spirits Business said: “Just creating excellent liquid isn't enough for some spirits brands, many want to do more, so we've rounded up 10 producers who are going the extra mile for our planet and its inhabitants.

“From the conservation of endangered species to looking after the agriculture of our planet, conservation projects are becoming the raison d'etre for many spirits brands. Here, we've looked at 10 producers which have made it their mission to help the planet, one drop of spirit at a time.”

And featuring Urban Rhino second on the list the publication stated: “London Dry gin Urban Rhino is said to seamlessly combine authenticity, craftsmanship, and a commitment to rhino conservation in everything it does.

“With a recipe of six botanicals, Urban Rhino Gin does actively contribute to the fight against rhino extinction.

“Owner Pete Richardson was part of the team which took action to save the orphaned rhino babies in the Waterberg area of Limpopo in South Africa when the rhino poaching crisis hit the headlines back in 2012. 

"Pete then went on to establish the world's first purpose-built facility, The Rhino Orphanage, Urban Rhino Gin's charity partner, which works to protect and conserve both rhinos and their habitat.”

It's a remarkable union of conservation and craftsmanship, with Pete, co-founder of the world's first baby rhino orphanage, recently acquiring The White Rhino Gin Company Ltd and the Urban Rhino gin brand.

Pete, who is 57, was working in The Waterberg area of Limpopo in South Africa when the rhino poaching crisis hit the headlines 11 years ago.

Alongside conservationist Arrie van Deventer, Pete was part of the team which action to save the orphaned babies and went on to establish the world's first purpose-built facility, The Rhino Orphanage.

Pete remains an active director of the orphanage, despite now living in the UK.

Urban Rhino gin can be bought in the UK via their here website at www.urban-rhino.com.

Their spokesman said: "We invite gin lovers to embrace their passion whilst at the same time making a meaningful contribution to rhino preservation. With every sip, supporters of Urban Rhino join the movement to protect these majestic creatures from the threat of extinction."

We at That's Food and Drink and our sister site That's Christmas firmly believe that bottles of Urban Rhino Gin will make excellent Christmas gifts for Christmas 2023. 

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A Seafood Extravaganza: England's Seafood Feast

England's most exciting celebration of seafood is returning to the English Riviera, South Devon, this autumn. 

Shaping up to be a feast for all senses, England’s Seafood FEAST (29th September - 15th October) will see a stunning array of experiences and special menus at in excess of 30 eateries. 

Seafood lovers will be able to visit the world-renowned Brixham Fish Market and also meet the inspiring Faces of the FEAST spearheading it all. 

Alongside a whole host of stunning and exclusive events, the English Riviera’s best independent eateries will showcase an array of seafood set menus, platters and tasting menus available throughout the two week celebration.

Meet the Faces of the FEAST at Exclusive Events

On select dates during the FEAST (4th, 5th, 11th, 12th October), Brixham Fish Market will open its doors for special early morning tours, providing an exclusive glimpse into the landing site of England’s biggest catch. 

Over 40 species of fish and shellfish are regularly sold at the daily online auction and the behind-the-scenes experience offers an exciting, exclusive insight into the seafood industry before a seafood breakfast at Rockfish overlooking the harbour.

There’s also a wonderful opportunity to Meet the Maker (12th October) with Simon Hulstone from The Elephant; and Frazer Pugh from The Hand Picked Scallop Co. 

Simon will be cooking up a delicious feast featuring hand dived scallops from the local waters of Torbay, while Frazer will immerse guests in an engaging discussion about what life's like at sea and his passion for protecting the local waters. 

Meet another maker at an Exclusive Celebration Seafood Supper at Sandridge Barton (29th September). Tour the winery whilst sipping a glass of sparkling wine and sampling local oysters before being served a special 5-course tasting menu (with optional wine flight) showcasing local independent fisherman Keith's best catches.

Catch and Cook at Cary Arms (6th October) - spend the day fishing from the pier on Babbacombe Beach, before heading back to the inn to enjoy your catch, cooked by the chef.

Art enthusiasts can meet local artist Becky Bettesworth at Hampton by Hilton Hotel (13th October), indulging in a coastal afternoon tea while she shares her inspiring journey and what fuels her creativity as an artist by the sea. 

Meet Matt Newbury, author of Wild Swimming Walks (Torbay, Dartmoor and South Devon and Cornwall editions) for a Seafood Feast Dip and Dine at Cantina (3rd October). The evening will include inspirational talks and short films, all swimming-related, and a delicious bowl of warming seafood chowder. 

The Guardhouse Cafe on Berry Head Nature Reserve is teaming up with local bird expert and illustrator, Mike Langman, for a ‘Seabirds and Seafood’ Guided Walk and Breakfast (10th October). As participants venture along the clifftops, they can expect to spot the first returning winter flock of guillemots and keep their eyes peeled for kittiwakes, skuas and shearwaters. They may even catch the occasional sighting of dolphins and porpoises, while the lucky few may see splashes of huge Atlantic bluefin tuna further out to sea. A scallop benedict will be served on return to the award-winning cafe.

Delivering fun for all the family in Goodrington, Seafest (30th September) is a one-day celebration of the sea and the remarkable coastline. Highlights include theatre performances, live music, entertainers, watersport taster sessions, a beach clean, family beach activities, art workshops, escapology, short films, mermaids, a wash-away art gallery, treasure hunts and a Parade of the Sea that everyone can join in. Later that day, Loluli’s will be hosting a 'Fish Over Fire Takeover’ at Otto, on Torquay harbourside, combining amazing local seafood with a theatrical display of fire.

Mitch Tonks, restaurateur and owner of Rockfish, says: “The world of seafood can be a bit of a mystery sometimes, we often stick to the things we know. Our Seafood Coast in England has the most amazing range of species caught and landed in our waters by our fishermen. FEAST is a fantastic couple of weeks showcasing all of that, people can visit and try so many different things. It really is feasting; feasting on all the variety, going from place to place and trying something different, it’s like a seafood trail. Get your map out early and plan where to go and what to eat, it’s time to feast!”

Simon Hulstone, chef-proprietor of the Michelin-starred Elephant Restaurant, says: “South Devon has an abundance of fantastic produce and I honestly can’t think of anywhere better in the UK for local sourcing. It’s a pleasure to support the local coastline with England’s Seafood FEAST and I’m looking forward to being involved again this year.”

Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company, says: “England’s Seafood FEAST is an occasion for both locals and visitors to the area to fully immerse themselves in a true celebration of our locally caught and landed seafood. It’s an opportunity to taste the exquisite flavour of dishes cooked by local chefs while breathing in the fresh sea air and admiring the natural beauty of our stunning coastal region.”

The FEAST, taking place in the heart of England’s Seafood Coast, promises visitors a unique experience featuring the world-renowned local seafood that the region is famous for. The towns of Brixham, Paignton and Torquay have joined forces providing the chance to dine like a local and taste some of the best seafood in the world, right where it’s landed. 

Book your tickets now, with participating businesses, to avoid disappointment. Some events, like 7 Chefs from England’s Seafood Coast in Brixham and Torquay, sold out within days of being announced.

Exciting events are being added regularly to the programme so keep checking back for more information. In the coming weeks, watch out for a Seafood Feast with a talk from British Marine Biologist, Monty Halls, at The Thatched Tavern, English Riviera meets French Riviera at La Petite Maison, heritage talks about withy pot making through the generations and displays by Sarah Ready at The Prince William and more…

England’s Seafood FEAST is brought to you by English Riviera BID Company and kindly sponsored by Torbay Council and Henderson Seafood.

The full programme can be found on www.theseafoodfeast.co.uk. For regular updates follow theseafoodfeast on Instagram and follow/like theseafoodfeast on Facebook.

Scam warning to UK shoppers

A warning has been issued to UK shoppers to be wary of fraudsters who are creating fake Wilko websites, scamming unsuspecting victims with fake clearance sales and discounts.

With the advancement of online shopping scams used to prey on unsuspecting shoppers, being vigilant when shopping online is of vital importance. 

Nick Drewe, retail expert and founder of online discounts platform, Wethrift, has provided some savvy tips on how to spot a fake retailer website and how to keep safe when shopping online.

Is the deal too good to be true?

If a ‘deal’ you see circulating online looks too good to be true, that means it probably is. A product for what seems an excessively low price can be a sure indicator of a potential purchase scam. Always trust your gut and use logic for whether a deal is legitimate or not, regardless of whether a retailer is having ‘closing down sales’ or not.

In this case, one fake Wilko website is offering shoppers up to 90% off products in a fake clearance sale.

Is the branding on the website correct?

Often, when scammers replicate a brand’s page, they can get a little sloppy when coming to the branding. Low quality images and logos, poorly photoshopped designs, or using outdated branding are all key things to look out for on a brand’s social media page. 

Look for spelling and grammatical errors on the page/s

Another red flag that gives away fake websites is spelling and grammatical errors. Scammers can often overlook these small details when creating a fake website, and a legitimate site from a retailer like Wilko would never contain spelling and grammar mistakes. 

Does the URL look to be suspicious?

Hover your cursor over the URL, which the post or ad is asking you to click through to, but don’t click it until you’re sure it’s safe. Do a quick Google search for the brand name and check that the URL matches the official site. 

Often, scammers will create a URL that is a close resemblance, but there will often be subtle differences that could easily be missed. 

When shopping online, always check the website address to make sure you are on a legitimate site. The address should begin with ‘https.’ and there should be a locked padlock symbol that appears on the URL bar. This means that the site is secure for shopping.

As well as this, sign up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code when given the option. This process involves registering a password with your card company, which will add a further layer of security when you are shopping online. 

Read a site’s privacy policies 

Privacy policies tend to get overlooked due to how long and complex they are, but they are still very important. The privacy policy of a website will tell you how it collects personal information. If there is no policy available or there is no registered address, this is a potential red flag that the site is actually a fake set up by fraudsters. 

Are you able to pay with a credit card?

When looking at the payment options, check to see whether the website enables you to pay with a credit card. Credit cards are one of the safest methods to pay for goods online, as credit card companies are able to easily refund any money that has been lost to fraud. 

A major retailer’s website not offering the option to pay via credit card is an indicator that the website is a fake that has been created by scammers. 

Install the latest security software for your devices 

Keeping your computers and mobile devices up to date is one of the best ways to protect yourself against any other online threats such as phishing scams. If you know that you’ll forget to manually do this from time to time, set up automatic updates. 

When it comes to your computer, make sure your device has the right antivirus software and firewall installed. Also, ensure that your web browser is set to the highest level of security. 

That's Food and Drink would like to thank Wethrift for their help with this article.

https://www.wethrift.com/wilko

(Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

Plan your wedding wine list with Aldi. And get free wedding day wine!

Newlyweds-to-be will be in with a chance of having their wedding wine absolutely free in Aldi’s newest competition which is open until 11th September.

With the average UK wedding costing nearly £20,000, Aldi is offering cheaper alternatives to help couples during the cost-of-living crisis.

Mistress of Wine, Sam Caporn gives top wedding wine tips including whether you should or shouldn’t match wine with your food.

Getting married has never been pricier, with the average wedding now costing £19,1841 and alcohol alone taking something like 10% (£1,800) of the budget.

Aldi, which is The Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year, says shoppers can make big savings on their big day by sourcing their wine from Aldi, which can cost as little as £2.25 per person.

Proving that you really can’t put a price on love and to celebrate these impressive savings, the discounter is offering three lucky couples ‘to be’ 60 bottles of award-winning wine to contribute to their special day – FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE!

To be in with a chance of receiving a mix of white, red and rosé wine supplied by Aldi, all budding couples need to do is send an email to aldiweddingwines@clarioncomms.co.uk with the below details:

Full name

Proof of age

Date and location of wedding

150 words explaining why you think you should receive a selection of Aldi’s wines for your wedding.

 

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine says: “I know myself when you’re planning a wedding, there’s so much to think about and decisions like choosing the right wines can be daunting and a bit overwhelming, especially when budgets are tight. 

"Together with Aldi, I want to show happy couples they don’t need to compromise on the quality of wine at their wedding to get a bargain and by following these few simple tips, it can be a lot easier than couples might think.”

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine’s I dos and don’ts of choosing wines for weddings:

Don’t try to match it with the food – A common mistake people make is focusing on matching the wine with the food when actually guests will prefer to stick to one wine throughout. Plus, the meal is very much just one part of the wedding. 

It’s better therefore to opt for easy-drinking wines, i.e. not too oaky or acidic, not too high tannin or rich. A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Freeman’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc £6.79, 75cl) or a soft Pinot Grigio such as Aldi’s Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, available for just £4.49, are sure to be confirmed crowd-pleasers!

Do match the wine to the season Whether a relaxed outdoor summer gathering or an elegant indoor winter wedding, the season can drastically change what wine to serve. For a winter wedding upweight easy-drinking but well-bodied red wines such as a Shiraz (Cambalala South African Shiraz £4.75, 75cl) or Malbec-I would recommend60:40 red to whites. Whereas for summer weddings, introduce rosé into the mix (30:30 rosé to whites).

Do opt for alternatives to Champagne – Couples often assume you need champagne for their wedding toast. However, Champagne for a wedding can get very pricey. Think of fizz alternatives like a Crémant, which is a delicious alternative, this premium French fizz is made in the same style, by the same methods so you might be surprised how few people will notice the difference, especially as often bubbles are pre-poured or obscured by a white napkin. Aldi’s Specially Selected Crémant du Jura (£8.99, 75cl) is a purse-friendly alternative to luxury brands, but equally as tasty. Available in store 11th September.

Don’t splash out unnecessarily. You really don’t need to spend lots of money for a delicious wedding wine. Focus on good-quality but great-value favourites rather than expensive, premium bottles. The style of wines like Premier Crus are often not to everyone’s taste, so do focus on more approachable wines. A Spanish Rioja Reserva like Aldi’s Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva (£5.99, 75cl) or Argentinian Malbec like the Specially Selected Argentinian Malbec (£6.59,75cl) are great choices for red wines.

But please don’t forget the non-drinkers. Whether they're a designated driver, pregnant, abstaining or just generally prefer not to drink alcohol, having fun no or low alcohol options will make everyone feel included. Aldi’s 0% sparkling, Zerozecco is just £2.99, tastes delicious and is perfect for the toast.

Entries to the competition are now open until Monday 11th September. To enter now and view the full terms and conditions, visit the Aldi Wedding Wines page on https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-wedding-wine

UK households see green shoots of recovery as disposable income rises, points out Asda

The latest figures from Asda’s Income Tracker shows the financial pressures facing UK households eased slightly during last month, with a 4.5% increase in disposable incomes year-on-year - marking the strongest annual growth rate since September 2021.

In July, the amount households had to spend on themselves after paying taxes and essential bills, was up by £9.48 a week compared on the same period a year prior.

Compared with the previous month, disposable income picked up by £6.09 per week, taking the average disposable income to the highest it has been since March 2022 at £218 per week.

The improvement in household spending power was due to the easing of inflation down to 6.8% in July compared to 7.9% the previous month. This was predominantly due to lower energy prices, while lower food and non-alcoholic beverage prices also contributed to the monthly slowdown.

But despite these recent improvements, family disposable income remains firmly below the levels experienced prior to the cost-of-living crisis, down by £25.99 per week for the average household compared to July 2021.

There are also notable differences between households, with those aged 30-49 feeling the pinch the most as spending on essentials like food, housing costs and utility bills, was 9.4% higher in July compared to a year earlier. 

On average, these households spent £726 on essentials per week in July - £135 per week more than the average spend on essentials for all households.

In contrast, older households aged 65+ enjoyed a 7.8% increase in average disposable incomes in July compared to a year earlier. This reflects their stronger gross income growth following the recent uplift to the state pension and smaller rises in the cost of essentials.

Asda has pledged to continue to support families during the cost-of-living crisis by keeping prices under control and is monitoring the situation and launching new propositions to provide customers with more value every time they shop.

Asda won the Grocer 33 pricing award for the 26th consecutive year last month and has recently revealed it was cutting the prices of over 200 own-label lines by an average of nine percent. The products include a whole host of fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat and fish products, cupboard staples and popular ready meals, too.

Asda's also extended its immensely popular kids eat for £1 cafes offer until year's end of the year. It's served over two million meals to kids since it launched the initiative last June.

www.asda.com