Food prices - can't keep up!

In the covid lock downs I shopped online for my carer and his wife so that they didn't risk their lives (being black) by shopping, instead of giving a pay rise.

His wife worked in one of the big London hospitals and they never missed a day.

That shopping was for three of us. It wasn't just food. It was cheaper then than shopping for just me again.

It is looking back to that when it really hits you as to how much the shopping has gone up.

MickyD

I was shocked the other day when I bought fruit in Tesco -
2 punnets strawberries
2 boxes grapes
2 small blueberries
I small raspberries
Over £17 !!!!
I price compared when I got home and found Sainsbury’s to be only pence dearer.
Bananas were good and cheap though. A hand for only 71p.

Almost all the fruit you name do not grow in this country at this time of year, so will have been flown into the country from counries as distant as Peru and Chile. Some may have come by lorry from Morocco. Thatis why is it so expensive. It also has a high environmental cost, all those airand lorry miles.

I think supermarkets are all pretty much the same - they win on most things but are willing to lose on some (which they used to call "loss leaders" back in the day). The loss leaders entice customers in and the displays, "special offers", delicious smells and general atmosphere do the rest. It takes a very strong shopper to stick to a set shopping list once we're inside! I stopped going to supermarkets during the first lockdown and never went back. My bills have been pretty steady since then because I can take my time sitting here, shopping around in comfort for the most economical deals.

I was shocked the other day when I bought fruit in Tesco -
2 punnets strawberries
2 boxes grapes
2 small blueberries
I small raspberries
Over £17 !!!!
I price compared when I got home and found Sainsbury’s to be only pence dearer.
Bananas were good and cheap though. A hand for only 71p.

escaped

Allira

TBH food prices have traditionally been relatively cheap in the U.K.

As a proportion of income the UK's spending is less on food than that of many other countries.

I've often had this conversation with friends in France. They reckon they spend around 1/5 th of their income on food. In the UK it's more like 10%.

They eat much better than we do as a nation I think, consuming much less junk food on average. Perhaps we would all be healthier if junk food cost more and basics cost less.

escaped

Allira

TBH food prices have traditionally been relatively cheap in the U.K.

As a proportion of income the UK's spending is less on food than that of many other countries.

I've often had this conversation with friends in France. They reckon they spend around 1/5 th of their income on food. In the UK it's more like 10%.

I think it was about 11.2% of average income in the UK in 2023, higher at 14% for lower income families but that was a drop from 2021.

More up-to-date statistics not yet available.

Allira

^TBH food prices have traditionally been relatively cheap in the U.K.^

As a proportion of income the UK's spending is less on food than that of many other countries.

I've often had this conversation with friends in France. They reckon they spend around 1/5 th of their income on food. In the UK it's more like 10%.

We had a savings account that we never touched, was for a rainy day, private medical bills if push came to shove, that kind of thing. But 3 years ago we touched it, and have continued to touch it, is going down alarmingly. And is simply bills and groceries, no new car or expensive holidays and no more left over to pay for private medical bills.

TBH food prices have traditionally been relatively cheap in the U.K.

As a proportion of income the UK's spending is less on food than that of many other countries.

It is getting really really scary now. Our food budget for the week was £70. It now costs us nearly £90 for the exact same things. Lots of stuff we buy is supermarket own brand, it isn't like we buy all premium brand stuff either

mabon1

Shop in Aldi and Lidl, their rices are cheaper than Asda and who ever shows in Waitrose these days? Wealthy people and snobs.

What a pathetic example of inverse snobbery.
Who shops in Waitrose? People who want to.
And incidentally ”Essentials” range is both reasonably priced and good quality.

Just had five weeks in Australia and their cost of living is high. Their pensions are nothing like ours, my brother’s is means tested every fortnight as he continues to do some paid work. They have a housing crisis as well. Family just emigrated to Brisbane and paying £2k per month to rent. All Australia can offer me is weather !!

Shop in Aldi and Lidl, their rices are cheaper than Asda and who ever shows in Waitrose these days? Wealthy people and snobs.

I buy my red lentils and sunflower oil in the world foods section in Tesco/Asda or Sainsbury’s, you get more for your money than buying it from the normal section

I don't often dhop at Sainsburys as too far away. However, today I was nearby and as I had a few items I needed just popped into the large Sainsburys. Goodness it's expensive even with the Nectar offers and a lot depends on whether or not you want to buy the item. I'll stick to Asda/Morrisons/Aldi.

Due to disability it is impossible to get to a supermarket so rely on Sainsburys for delivery. Ok bit dearer but can get what I want. Their own brands & Nectar keep my spending down so no complaints.

Now we're both retired we have a little more time to shop. We get our fruit, veg and salad stuff from a wholesaler. I get some meat from the butcher and everything else from Lidl. I do use Tesco now and again for a change. I pop into M & S when I'm in town, but only buy things that are reduced and that I can freeze. Last week I bought 2 pieces of cod and the same of haddock, reduced from £6.50 per pack to £2.50. I also had a large pack of chicken goujons reduced to half price. They all went into the freezer as soon as we got home.

Jane43

Mt61

BlueBelle

But hasn’t Sainsbury’s and Waitrose always been the expensive supermarkets I don’t know I ve never shopped in either?
You’re right though Asda are sneaky they put their butter up by about 20p then emblazoned ‘January price drops’ yay it had come done by 1p Sneaky

I think Asda & Morrison’s are super expensive, & as for Lidl I don’t know why people think that’s a cheap place to shop.

More reason to boycott Asda and Morrisons then as neither pay corporation tax.

Actually not really true, according to research. In 2023, apparently, they paid no corporation tax due to private equity buyouts. "Between them 200million paid out in years proceeding their aquistions" Retail Gazette.
They are both now fully committed to paying taxes.
"Morrisons especially, contributes to UK taxes in full and on time". All available on their sites and generally on Google.

If able, best to shop around, Iceland on Tuesdays for 10% senior discount and buy the 10 items for £10 deal or reduced items, Morrisons for ertain items, Lidl for others as these are all pretty close. Anywhere else I am, I pop in and search for yellow stickers for bits and bobs. The Co-op freezer £5 deal is good. I also tested some Too Good to Go bags and use my favourite one once a week if I can get it..I have to look at it as a challenge and my hobby to make it work!

NotAGran55

This doesn’t copy very well, but this is from Which? Magazine December 2024 cost of the same items.

Average price for 56 items
Aldi
£100.29
Lidl with Lidl Plus
£101.48
Lidl
£101.56
Tesco witih Clubcard
£111.22
Sainsbury's with Nectar
£112.13
Tesco
£112.90
Asda
£113.22
Morrisons with More
£114.01
Morrisons
£116.32
Sainbury's
£116.70
Ocado
£120.83
Waitrose
£129.83

Interesting. Thanks.

I havent done a full shop since Christmas.
Not looking forward to it now.

Hi I am a "food waste hero" (lol) I volunteer for Olio..we collect from supermarkets at the end of the day and, using the app, upload for people to come and collect..maybe see if there is one in your area?

I agree that groceries in the US/Australia could be higher but the standard of living is also higher than over here, and the dollar can buy an awful lot of groceries over here due to the weak pound against a stronger dollar so of course it feels cheaper.

We have also noticed prices creeping up for a general food shop. Only buy meat from a local independent butcher and have a fish man weekly who buys on the docks before heading to various areas in his van. We never buy supermarket meat and fish now - no guarantees on freshness.

I shop mainly in Aldi as I walk there in 10-15 minutes although Heron is nearer. As others have said Aldi has less choice but I’m very happy with that. Occasionally I go to Morrisons for items not available in Aldi or I visit Asian and Middle Eastern grocers for larger packets of herbs, spices and dried beans. The market in the town centre is very good and here I buy black and white pudding, fruit, veg, meat and sometimes fish.

We have a pretty broad diet so I often buy stuff on special such as duck with hoisin sauce in Aldi £5.00 ish.

Food in other countries is certainly far more expensive than here.

I always shopped in Morrisons but have switched back to Asda as definitely cheaper . Still expensive tho 😟