The Supermarket Sleuth

It’s not all right, Jack for Tesco after all!

The Tesco strategy to open it's own discounter stores to tackle Aldi and Lidal head-one has failed! But well done, Tesco for trying. I think the failure was because Jack's was too different from the German discounters. Both Aldi and Lidl feel similar when you enter their supermarkets, but Jack's did not have that same feel. Aldi and Lidl also offer product from Germany which Jack's didn't. I also felt that having Jack's labels all over the store made it seem too bland. Look inside the German discounters and there are a range of colours and brands - even if the Aldi ones are really all own label.

A quickj update on what’s happening in Australia and New Zealand

We learn that Coles has been very busy and what were Australians' favourite foods at Christmas

The time of the year when we look back and look forward

A quick look at which supermarkets did best in the UK over Christmas and how a supermarket has introduced a new way of testing if the milk you buy is OK after they stop using Use By dates.

A last look at the UK for this year.

I have spliced a little bad news with some interesting snapshots of what's been happening in the festive season. I'll be back in mid-January with more anecdotes and comments on UK supermarkets and products. I do hop you have a great Christmas and New Year. Cheers!

Sleuth comments on Foodstuffs‘ final submission to the Commerce Commission for its Market Study on New Zealand‘s supermarket industry.

Some comments from Supermarket Sleuth on what Foodstuffs has to say, news of a new supermarket in Auckland and a quick dash over the Tasman for a look at what's happening in Australia.

Another look at UK prices and the unusual but topical Christmas TV ad that caused a furore on social media

Once more we look at prices and find out the best supermarket to shop for a really good value Christmas dinner. We also learn of the amusing trick being used by Tesco to free up more of its lorries to deliver all those Christmas goodies to its supermarkets.

Sleuth updates the UK scene: rising prices and a funny story from Aldi

We are talking about rising prices this week, but also a price cut - so it's not all bade news. We also have news from both major discounters.

Updating the UK supermarket scene

A new overseas equity company is on the prowl and has bveen sniffing around another of of supermarkets, which also retails in other categories. There's also an update on Aldi's expansion, Lidl boosting employees' pay and we reveal what's gone wrong with new discounter MERE's opening plans. We also reveal two developments in Milton Keynes, one where a supermarket is opening a draught beer bar with a difference.

Supermarket Sleuth brings us up to date with the latest news from New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

We learn of Morrisons and Asda's latest developments, what Australians think about stores splitting up their orders over several deliveries and we have a short wrap on NZ Commerce Commission's Market Study into the country's supermarket industry.

Sleuth focus this week on the UK and it‘s not good news!

 

we take a look at the problem facing British supermarket consumers. And what a shock to find out how one of the Big Four alway associated with keen prices is now the most expensive! Not a good look by any means We also discover that there's a new kid on the block among the plant-based milks and this you will never believe!