The Supermarket Sleuth

Looking back to Christmas and a sobering outlook for this year

We look at how the supermarkets fared over the festive season and learn what steps are being taken at Asda to turn the business around

How's this year's Yuletide faring in the supermarkets and which is the cheapest?

Why the Gen Z's and Millenials are moving away from traditional Yueltide treats and meals and where to go for the best value

Good news as we approach Christmas

Are you suspicious of loyalty schemes? Are they a benefit or just a rip-off? 

Christmas is coming and we are already into food and present buying!

It looks as if British shoppers are being more cautious with the money they spend this year. And Aldi is launching two very unusual products in its stores, with Tesco bringing back a big favourite after it vanished from shelves 40 years ago.

UK shop prices fall at the fstest rate for more than three years

So we start with some good news just in time for Christmas. We also learn of some interesting developments in both Asda and Sainsbury's and new supermarkets due to be opened by Christmas by Lidl GB and Aldi.

Why are there so many empty spaces on UK supermarket shelves?

We discover what's causing the empty shelf space. We also learn that Aldi is still the cheapest supermarket and it's also been named the Best Overall Grocer.

Has the planned merger of North and South Foodstuffs ground to a halt or will there be an appeal?

The New Zealand Commerce Commission had said No to a planned merger of the two Foodstuffs companies based in Auckland and Christchurch. But Foodstuffs can appeal in court. What happens next? In the UK Tesco is doing better and Coronation Street has a new supermarket.

Are supermarket specials genuine and are some offering 'illusory' discounts

This time we briefly visit Australia to discover that its two major supermarket chains are being sued by a government department allerted to promotions alleged to breach consumer law. And the UK is told that some Aldi price-match claims may not always be what they seem.

 

Will the New Zealand Commerce Commission ever be able to harness the power of the country's supermarket duopoly?

We discuss the progress NZ's Commerce Commission is having in bringing the country's supermarket duopoly to heel and we take a look at what's been happening in the UK at Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Ocado.

Warm weather snap boosts supermarkets sales and Asda admits it has problems

We catch up with how supermarekt sales went in the last four weeks and learn that one of the discounters has stopped online sales  and another has given up its refill stations.