What is your supermarket of choice?

[strung out]

Sainsburies is waaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive, and I've never set foot in a Waitrose.

No it isn't! Sainsbury's is only 1% more expensive than Tesco and Asda (as opposed to 5% a few years ago) and for the last month has come out as the cheapest supermarket in The Grocer Magazine's price test. This is a common misconception and Sainsbury's is fast becoming one of the, if not the cheapest supermarkets!

 

[lang rabbie]

Sainsburys is noticeably cheaper than Somerfield. My parents and their neighbours are dreading the imminent conversion of their local Kwiksave into a Somerfield.

 

[lang rabbie]

I voted Sainsburys and Waitrose. Sainsburys for the basics, augmented by veg from local grocer and/or market.

Thankfully for my bank balance, I haven't got the hang of this Ocado thing -- so it's quarterly trips to Waitrose followed by circuitous bottle-laden bus trips back for obscure but good value wines, St Peters organic ale, cachaca etc. not to mention various indulgent sorts of posh snacks/savoury biccies

 

[Termite Man]

Sainsburys but only because it's the easiest to navigate around (out of the local supermarkets) so I don't have to spend too much time in the damn place !

If I had a waitrose near me I'd go there but only because I get discount !

 

[reallyoldhippy]

Burn down the supermarkets!

I wonder, if we could start afresh would people go for local shops or supermarkets? And if the the answer is local shops, how the fuck did we end up with supermarkets?

 

[marco mark]

And expensive, bread in our local one is about 10-15 more than Sainsburys and they think they are cheap?????

They will have one person on the till with a queue of more than 20 people waiting.

SS the last time i bought anything from a co-op local saddleworth, about 3 years ago, 99p for a pack of 2 onions, FFS

 

[davesgcr]

Morrisons = "pie kingdom" - I miss the old branded Safeways - more choice certainly.

Waitrose for "treat" shopping and great deli and wine selection.

We have a great market here in St Albans - terrific value in fruit and veg at the end of the day - counteracts the lemming must use car tendancy ! limit as to what you can carry though.

 

[WasGeri]

Sainsbury's is fast becoming one of the, if not the cheapest supermarkets!

There is no way that Sainsburys is anywhere near being the cheapest.

Asda and Tesco are way out in front.

 

[spanglechick]

my only local shop is a bodega style (non) corner shop full of dusty cans and economy bacon.

Mostly, I go to the big Purley way sainsbury's once a month, and in the interim go to the teeny tiny tescos for 24 hour emergencies (I love these teeny tiny tescos, although some close at 11pm, which is clearly wrong). Or I go to Scummerfield in South Norwood if I need anything more. There are greengrocers and probably a butcher there as well, but I like to select my own fruit and veg, and change my mind after five minutes if i need to - and buying meat just scares me.

I might go to the big asda (either purley way or old kent road, depending where i've been) if i need to stock up on some family friendly stuff like squash - it's super cheap but somehow asda drains me of the will to live.

I'd shop at Waitrose by choice, but I simply can't afford it. I know microwave meals are unspeakable on U75, but their chilled pancetta, parmesan and spinach risotto is perfect stodgy comfort food.

 

[strung out]

There is no way that Sainsburys is anywhere near being the cheapest.

Asda and Tesco are way out in front.

Not according to the grocer magazine (the official trade mag for food retailers) In fact, Sainsbury's has had the cheapest shopping basket for the last 4 weeks in the grocer 33 price check (an even spread of 33 groceries bought in each major supermarket on the same day). Incidentally, this is the exact same price check upon which Asda was basing its "Officially Britain's cheapest supermarket" slogan which they were recently banned from using by trading standards.

 

[Purdie]

Really I was wondering what is it that makes people shop at their fave supermarket. Obviously proximity is a major factor, but what about things like price, quality of food, customer service etc?

Which shop in people's experience is the best at all these things?

None as such. Lidls is brilliant for milk, vegetables, decaf, kitchen and toilet rolls and various 100% juices and it's 5 minutes walk. Their customer service depends on the mood of the individual but over the years i've cpme to know them and tend to sense when they are in a bad mood. So i wait till next time. When i feel posh i go to M+S. Buy their bread, chocolate or biccies and sometime fruit. Morrisons has too much colour, cheap nasty crap on offer and their perfect vegetables make me cringe. Sainsbury's is miles away and i always spend too much in there
Other than that i spend a fortune in the local wholefood shop and try to keep the local baker in bussiness

not read rest of the thread btw

 

[Dubversion]

i don't use them much (for my sins, i'm so busy it's usually just the bloody Costcutter off licence type stores on my way home from work) but Sainsburys is nearest to me, does the best vegetarian / deli style selection and isn't too expensive..

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

I shop at Asda, Morrisons and Netto. Morrisons has improved masses recently when it was rebranded after being a safeway for years. I refuse to buy fruit and veg in there if its wrapped in unnecessary plastic and polystrene Whats wrong with taking a loose pepper to the till and getting it weighed there? why does it have to be wrapped in plastic and barcoded?

 

[WasGeri]

Not according to the grocer magazine (the official trade mag for food retailers) In fact, Sainsbury's has had the cheapest shopping basket for the last 4 weeks in the grocer 33 price check (an even spread of 33 groceries bought in each major supermarket on the same day). Incidentally, this is the exact same price check upon which Asda was basing its "Officially Britain's cheapest supermarket" slogan which they were recently banned from using by trading standards.

I will concede that they may have been cheaper for the past four weeks.
I don't actually read The Grocer magazine. A quick Google search reveals that Asda has won it for the past 8 years in a row though.

 

[Ms T]

I will concede that they may have been cheaper for the past four weeks.
I don't actually read The Grocer magazine. A quick Google search reveals that Asda has won it for the past 8 years in a row though.

Two of my friends have recently switched to Asda from Sainsbury -- they say their shopping bills have been cut by a third. That may be because there's not so much "premium" food on offer, though.

 

[WasGeri]

It will be interesting to see who wins it this year then.

I'm stuck with Tesco due to circumstances beyond my control.

I don't mind them actually as they do have a very wide range of products.

 

[Louloubelle]

Mine's Tesco only because it's 2 minutes walk from my home. The othes are all much further away

 

[Looby]

I usually shop at Tesco but they have cancelled the bus that used to take me there so now it's a 25-40 min journey on 2 buses when it used to take 15 mins.

There is an Asda opposite my office but that then involves a 10 quid taxi if I've got too much shopping.

Morrissons is walking distance (if I nick a trolley) but their selection is shit and I think they're quite dear.
I've got 3 cats so I have to buy shit loads of cat food and litter and I don't drive so shopping is really difficult. We are really shit with money so we tend to stock up for the month at Tesco or Asda and then buy fresh veg and stuff when we need it. I like Tesco, plenty of selection, good value and my local one is always clean and well stocked.

 

[Ms T]

I don't drive so shopping is really difficult

Why don't you do it on the internet and get it delivered. You'll probably spend less money as well because you won't impulse buy.

 

[comstock]

No co-op option? They are still quite big round here (derby).

Co-op, Sainsburys or Somerfield for me. All about 1 miles walk

Mind you my local Jacksons is just about to become a Sainsburys Local (yes!! ), so I'll proberbly do all my shopping there soon.

 

[butterfly child]

The quality of food is shit at Tesco and Asda, IMO.

We shop at Sainsburys, I would use local shops only if they sold things I wanted to buy... fairtrade caffeine free coffee or organic cola, for example.

Sainsburys is also a great source for recycling, the one we go to recycles plastics and cardboard which is more than our local council do.

 

[WasGeri]

The quality of food is shit at Tesco and Asda, IMO.

No it isn't!

Asda stonebake pizzas are the best!

 

[butterfly child]

No it isn't!

Asda stonebake pizzas are the best!

Too rich for us

M&S do a lovely range of pizza.

 

[strung out]

I reckon for all round value for money, Sainsbury's wins it for me. Their prices are exceptionally cheap compared to what they used to be, the quality of food is great (better than anything else of a comparable price) and it's a nice place to shop in. A lot of the other supermarkets I've shopped in just seem a bit scabby whereas the majority of Sains stores seem to either be new or have had a refurb recently.

By the results of the poll, looks like U75 agrees with me as well!

 

[reallyoldhippy]

.........A lot of the other supermarkets I've shopped in just seem a bit scabby whereas the majority of Sains stores seem to either be new or have had a refurb recently.........

Aaaahhh! The power of marketing. I tend to judge by the food.

 

[_angel_]

No it isn't! Sainsbury's is only 1% more expensive than Tesco and Asda (as opposed to 5% a few years ago) and for the last month has come out as the cheapest supermarket in The Grocer Magazine's price test. This is a common misconception and Sainsbury's is fast becoming one of the, if not the cheapest supermarkets!

Admittedly I've not attempted to do a shop there since I worked there pt a few christmasses ago. However it's unlikely that I'd shop there: there just isn't one near to me.

I think the fact that it was stacked with tempting luxury items pushed my shopping bills up tbh. When you're in Morrisons there's bugger all choice and you just want to get in and out fast. When you're in Sainsburies you're being fucking seduced by luxury foods you can't really afford.

 

[comstock]

Aaaahhh! The power of marketing. I tend to judge by the food.

Point taken ROH, but it is nice to have a clean store and friendly staff. Sainsburys and Co-op both score highly on that scale round here.

 

[spanglechick]

Point taken ROH, but it is nice to have a clean store and friendly staff. Sainsburys and Co-op both score highly on that scale round here.

Oh blimey - the co-ops down here (IME) are all gungy overpriced hell holes staffed by zombies, and lacking proper checkouts, meaning you all have to queue up at the fag counter. Nasty.

 

[comstock]

Oh blimey - the co-ops down here (IME) are all gungy overpriced hell holes staffed by zombies, and lacking proper checkouts, meaning you all have to queue up at the fag counter. Nasty.

Where's 'here'? Mines fine, posh even!

 

[spanglechick]

Where's 'here'? Mines fine, posh even!

Ahhh - co-op's I have known and be very scared by...

Bexleyheath (Long la)
Bexleyheath (Pickford La)
Welling
South Ealing
West Norwood
Debden (may not be a co-op, not sure...)

Not a scientific sample, I grant you...