UK people - supermarket choices.

HI - I am wondering which supermarkets you guys feel are the cheapest for healthy food? I have been using Morrisons as it is the most local, but recently it seems to have got very pricey and the range in my local one (which is smaller) seems to be a bit poor.

I have all the big name supermarkets in my city - Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi.... So where do you suggest I go?
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Replies

  • sophiercook
    sophiercook Posts: 46 Member
    cannot beat asda for fresh fruit and veg in my opinion, brilliant prices.
  • alyngard
    alyngard Posts: 103
    I don't have an asda near me, but I do have a lidl. I go there for fruit/veg and chicken breast and I buy other "name brand" items at sainsburys, which is the closest regular supermarket to me.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    What is "healthy food"?

    Aldi and Lidl will be the cheapest, I tend to alternate between Sainsburys and Tesco as they're my closest options.
  • Tigermum9
    Tigermum9 Posts: 546 Member
    Aldi is very good value, but not as much choice as the other supermarkets - but more choice tends to make me spend more....
  • phreekles
    phreekles Posts: 216 Member
    Aldi is starting to increase its prices since becoming more popular with the middle class - but the highlight for me is going through the random items in the middle.

    I think lidl is the cheapest and still has much better quality than most "finest" ranges at the big supermarkets.
  • rachaelgifford
    rachaelgifford Posts: 320 Member
    I have heard they are pretty good. I always worry they wont be fresh as they are so cheap. I will give them a try. Also, will try Lidl as it is much closer - but last time I went to one it was a bit like a jumble sale. :-(
  • Th3stral
    Th3stral Posts: 93 Member
    We use sainsburys. All the branded items are the same price as everywhere else and their own range of products is usually the best.

    I do a monthly online shop at Goodness Direct for all my more unusual purchases, for allergies/restricted diets there is fabulous choice.
  • rachaelgifford
    rachaelgifford Posts: 320 Member
    Aldi is very good value, but not as much choice as the other supermarkets - but more choice tends to make me spend more....

    Very good point. My local Aldi is tiny, and I usually forget it is there!
  • rachaelgifford
    rachaelgifford Posts: 320 Member
    I have never heard of goodness direct. I will have a look.
  • rachaelgifford
    rachaelgifford Posts: 320 Member
    Aldi is starting to increase its prices since becoming more popular with the middle class - but the highlight for me is going through the random items in the middle.

    I think lidl is the cheapest and still has much better quality than most "finest" ranges at the big supermarkets.

    Ideal - I will try them first as they are the next closest to home after Morrisons - and it isn't a majot detour to get home after work.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    Sainsburys. Their own brand products are the best, hardly ever buy branded stuff.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    I go to Tesco for most of my stuff.

    However, Asda has a great selection of sauces and mixed spices that are a boon to the dieter that is getting bored with their lean choices, plus a larger range of cheap low/no fat yogurt.
    Also Asda has not put up their price of carbonated water like Tesco has recently.

    Lidl and Aldi are hit and miss whether you are paying less or more for items, so you really need to have a good idea of the rates £/100g of foods from the larger stores before going there as you may be stung and not know it.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Tesco is ok..I use my local market for cheap veggies.
  • AprilOneFourFour
    AprilOneFourFour Posts: 226 Member
    I use Tesco and Sainsburys, Tesco have better offers in fresh food. But no supermarket can beat my local street market for price or quality - fantastic RIPE fresh fruit, especially at this time of year. And often there are entire big bowls of produce - tomatoes, peppers etc for only £1. I also like handing money over to self-employed people.

    Sainsburys - mine is quite big and in London - also have ethnic shelves where the food tends to be much cheaper - 3 tins of chickpeas or tomatoes for a quid. Big bags of cheap rice, packets of spices that are cheaper than their own jars. If you have an Indian supermarket nearby, try that for rice and pulses.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    I get most of my fresh fruit and veg from Lidl. I find it good quality and very reasonably priced. It is a lot cheaper than the larger supermarkets.

    The larger supermarkets seem to all be on a par with each other. Tesco definitely seems to have increased their prices over the last few years and I now find Sainsbury's marginally cheaper but think they're all much of a muchness.

    I think Morrison's has the widest variety of fresh produce and I can find more unusual items there. However it is across town from me so I don't venture there often.
  • icklistpiklist
    icklistpiklist Posts: 64 Member
    We've started shopping at Aldi and finding the savings are useful, not just in terms of the price but also because there is less range of product you're not tempted to buy what you don't need!
    My husband, who used to sell lettuce (to Tesco's and other supermarkets), tells me that it's cheaper because
    a) they go direct to the suppliers (our Cornish Aldi sells 'St Pirans' milk. Closer examining of the packaging tells us that it is from the same farm that produces Trewithen Dairy products, clotted cream, butter and milk, by going direct Aldi have negotiated a good deal and we know that our money is going to local farmers).
    b) they order a consistent, usually easy to transport, quantity. The larger supermarkets will vary their order depending on demand and often end up with less easy to transport quantities (ie truck half full) thereby costing more.
    As to freshness, I've got no real complaints about the fruit and veg, there has been the occasional rotten tomato or bruised apple so I now I tend to scrutinise the packet a bit more before I put it in the trolley.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    We use Sainsbury's as it's the nearest, and I think it has the best quality. I've tried Tesco but I don't like their fruit and veg, and Asda is too far away, although when we did go I wasn't impressed.

    If I could afford it I'd go to M&S! We get food from there occasionally and it's always so nice.
  • LaserMum
    LaserMum Posts: 133
    I use Aldi for the majority of my shopping and then go to Sainsbury to get the rest. There are some things that you just can't get at Aldi such as gluten free stuff.

    I find Aldi generally cheaper and their alternative brands are really much tastier than the supermarkets (according to my OH). Also, they have some nice continental alternatives (for example, in cooked meats).

    When I have bought fruit such as peaches in the big supermarkets like Sainsbury's/Tesco's, they were so hard in the middle I couldn't remove the stone without cutting around it! The peaches/plums/nectarines I get from Aldi are lovely, all I have to do is cut in half (around the stone) twist the fruit and they separate. Perfectly ripe and so tasty and juicy. I never buy fruit in the other supermarkets any more.
  • BeccaBollons
    BeccaBollons Posts: 652 Member
    Much like lasermum, I get what I can from Aldi, then top up at sainsburys with things I can't get at Aldi. (Like dairy-free products)
    Our morrisons used to have the best fruit and veg, but since their massive re-vamp the quality has gone down. Its a bad year for veg anyway, after last years bad weather and I think everyones prices reflect this. Hurrah for new season carrots!
  • plantboy2
    plantboy2 Posts: 224 Member
    If you can, use your local greengrocers: you get to know them, they do you deals, the produce is usually from the UK, local and seasonal (so you know it hasn't been in storage for months like the supermarket crap that goes off in two days) and you are supporting the local economy (not sending your cash to Walmart in the States). Not to mention cheaper. Yesterday I bought 2Kg of plum tomatoes for 70p and they are the best I have ever tasted. Two punnets of rasberries and 350g of blueberries for £1.50 (fat and juicy) which is 1/3 the price of the supermarket and they are from a farm down the road.

    If you prefer or have to use supermarkets, try the ethnic or world food sections, which often sell the same items but cheaper than in the health food section. Morrisons for example charge 75p for their chick peas. Go tot he world food section and they are 34p. Same for many pulses, spices, etc.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,995 Member
    In our neighbourhood (Shoreditch) our supermarkets from closest to the furthest are Sainsbury, Iceland, Coop, Tesco, Waitrose. Iceland is outrageously cheap for factory food like non free range chicken and eggs, and frozen veg. Fresh produce selection is cheap but limited. We actually get fruit and veg from a local green grocer who is terrific.
  • HLSalter
    HLSalter Posts: 260
    Either Tesco or Asda for me. I usually do my shopping online though to make sure I only buy healthy stuff. It's easy to justify buying junk food if it's on offer in the shop :)
  • Gel_W
    Gel_W Posts: 20
    I shop at Tesco & always online to save temptation.

    Although, I get my fruit & veg delivered weekly from a fantastic couple who own a marketstall. They decided to start delivering fruit & veg to peoples doors - and because they go directly to wholesalers it lasts for so much longer than any supermarket food.

    Maybe do a search & see if you have one in your area? I get £20 fruit salad & veg one and it's so much value for money.
  • Nix143
    Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
    I buy as much as I can from Aldi. I tend to buy around their offers, particularly the fruit and veg 69ps, and change my menu's accordingly. Then I top up - quinoa etc - at Asda.
  • RachyD21
    RachyD21 Posts: 83 Member
    We use Aldi for the majority and then Tesco for goat's milk and other items that Aldi don't carry. The fruit & veg is usually considerably cheaper at Aldi but, as others have said, the range is limited. Interestingly, it's cheaper than the local market.
  • helenrosemay
    helenrosemay Posts: 375 Member
    I get my Asda shop online as the delivery charge is same as any bus fare I'd have to pay. I then walk to Aldi for fresh produce and a few other things.
  • funhouse77
    funhouse77 Posts: 179 Member
    Price-wise, Asda are probably best for value, unfortunately I don't have one near me.

    But choice-wise for healthy food, Morrisons, hands-down. And fairly good value too. I love their fresh fruit, veg, fish and seafood, and their NUME range is amazing. I also shop in Lidl, again very good value, and great fresh fruit and veg. Love their continental choices and they do great yogurt, low fat cheese, and basics like pasta and cereals.

    I'm not keen on Tesco for fresh things like fruit, and their pricing structure makes no sense, I don't find them especially good value at times, they have an amazing range of junk food though :/

    Sainsbury's - I have shopped there a handful of times, I find them expensive, and have an uninspiring range of food.

    So, Morrisons and Lidl it is for me.
  • I like Asda and Morrissons although there's not a Morrisons near me anymore.

    I think Asda is really good value for money, I always bulk buy their 3 packs of meat for £10 offers. I've always got like 20 chicken breasts in my freezer. :laugh:
  • I shop at tesco , but that could just be used to it
  • slatts75
    slatts75 Posts: 32
    I mostly shop at Aldi and anything I can't get there I get at Morrissons as it's right next door (lucky me). Lidl do large bags of onions and massive bags of basmati rice for next to nothing.

    I have to say in my experience of buying chicken portions from Aldi, it never lasts till it's sell-by date and I've taken several packs back due to this (even after getting a new fridge). The cheapest way I have bought meat and fish is from the market (Bury and Bolton aren't too far away from where I live and both have really great large markets) - it's a bit of a trek, but I go once every couple of months and can fill the freezer for a fraction of what I would pay in the supermarket and much better quality/flavour IMO.

    My local market is cheapest for veg and fresh herbs.