We're all feeling the pinch when it comes to food prices, as they skyrocket amid the current cost of living crisis.
However, the major supermarkets have launched new initiatives to help customers weather the rising costs over the coming months, including Iceland announcing yesterday they’re doing a discount for over 60s.
Here, we reveal exactly what they are doing to help you...
Iceland
The frozen food specialist has become the first supermarket in the UK to offer a specific discount for over-60s.
To claim the 10% off your grocery bill, you have to visit the store on a Tuesday at any point during its opening hours that day. If you are eligible, you will need proof of ID.
The supermarket say their money-saving deal is targeted at this age group due to concerns about the cost of living crisis impacting older people.
Iceland’s Managing Director Richard Walker said: “The cost of living crisis has made support for these customers even more important, which is why I’m proud that we’re finding new ways to support them, including the launch of this discount. “We hope it will help all those in this age category to cut costs where they can.”
Tesco
This month, they are launching their ‘Better Baskets’ initiative. Certain items will have the logo on them, to help customers spend less when making more eco-friendly choices such as purchasing products with re-usable packaging or plant-based foods.
Over 200 of their cheaper Aldi Price Match and Low Everyday Prices products will be included in this.
It’s also worth getting a Clubcard if you don’t have one already, as members get access to extra deals. These include receiving up to a third off Tesco Meat & Veg burgers, sausages and goujons, and there’s also up to 40% savings on household cleaning products.
Existing Clubcard customers who received coupons in May 2020 have to cash them in by the end of this month - and Tesco say there’s still £17million that haven’t been used. Check if you have forgotten vouchers by logging into tesco.com/clubcard.
Asda
They’ve invested over £73million in tackling the cost of living crisis for both its customers and colleagues, increasing pay for 120,000 people working on their shop floors.
For customers, Asda have lowered the price of over 100 items such as fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and easy cook rice, which has dropped by 25% down to 75p from £1 for 500g. The company has committed to keeping those items at those prices until the end of the year.
Later this month, the value range Just Essentials at Asda will launch, replacing their existing Smart Price products. It will contain over 300 low-priced essential goods, for shoppers on tight budgets.
Mohsin Issa, Co-owner of Asda said: “We know that household budgets are being squeezed by an increasing cost of living and we are committed to doing everything we can to support our customers, colleagues and communities in these exceptionally tough times.
Co-op
The Co-op has stepped back in time, announcing “walking deliveries” for customers who live near 200 of its shops following a successful trial in Cornwall.
People who live 15 minutes’ walking distance from a Co-op can order online for same-day delivery, getting their goods within two hours, and delivery fees will be between 90p and £1.99 for orders over £15.
This is especially helpful for customers who struggle to leave their homes or those who are having problems with the rising costs of fuel.
This year, the chain have also held the price of over 2,300 products, including 100 of Co-op’s most popular goods.
Waitrose
The chain say they are helping customers by keeping the prices of staples as low as possible, citing their Essential Waitrose value range that includes over 1,000 products.
At the moment, offers include 16p for a loose Fairtrade banana, 65p for a medium sliced wholemeal loaf and £1 for a pack of six free range eggs.
A Waitrose spokesman said: “Our Essential Waitrose range offers great value without compromising on quality, high welfare and strong sustainability credentials that are really important to our customers.”
Their myWaitrose loyalty scheme gives customers personalised offers and extra savings every week on the items they buy the most often.
Lidl
Earlier this year, the supermarket were found to be the UK’s cheapest, with the average basket costing £24.21 compared to the most expensive shop Waitrose which was £33.71.
More than one million shoppers have reportedly switched to Lidl, and their rival discount supermarket Aldi, as their budgets are squeezed.
A spokesperson for Lidl GB said: “Our focus has always been on providing customers with the best quality products at the lowest price, every day of the year.”
They are also currently offering £25 worth of vouchers for customers who have a broadband connection. The deal is found on their Lidl Plus smartphone app, which gives the free cash to spend in-store when users switch their current internet connection to something new.
Aldi
Boss Giles Hurley recently sent out a message reassuring customers that prices would stay low despite the current crisis.
He also said Aldi prices remained below those offered in other shops, quoting research by trade magazine The Grocer that compared the cost of baskets of food, adding: “That’s a saving of between £7 and £27 on a typical basket of 33 everyday essentials at Aldi - these differences could really add up over the course of a year.
“Value is the number one consideration for most households as they wrestle with rising costs and our promise to our customers is that we will always provide the lowest grocery prices in Britain.”
Alongside the low prices and ‘dupes’ of mainstream food, drink and beauty brands, Aldi also roll out their ‘Super 6’ offers every two weeks, on fruit, veg, meat and fish.
Some of the best deals in the latest will see customers be able to pick up 1kg of pork loin medallions for £5.99 and 400g of curried hotdogs for £1.99.
Sainsbury's
Their Price Lock initiative gives shoppers access to low prices on items such as tinned tomatoes, cereals and dishwasher tablets, which are locked in for eight weeks at a time.
Sainsbury’s also recently said they were cutting prices of 150 items, their My Nectar Prices app offers personalised discounts so customers can save on the products they usually buy from there.
A spokesman for the company said they are acutely aware of the rising cost of living. They added: “We are relentlessly focused on keeping prices low on the products that our customers buy most often such as meat, fish, poultry, dairy and fresh produce and are committed to doing everything we can to help our customers, colleagues and communities at this challenging time.”
Morrisons
They have just announced one of their biggest price cuts in recent years, reducing prices on over 500 products by an average of 13%. These include cupboard staples such as coffee, baked beans and rice.
They’ve also cut the price of a quarter of their own-brand products. For example, 1kg of Morrisons British chicken wings will cost £1.75 instead of £2.80 and own-brand paracetamol is now 25p for a pack of 16 instead of 65p.
The supermarket has also added over 180 additional products into their promotions, including a buy two for £1.80 deal on cereals.
CEO David Potts said: “These price cuts will have a noticeable and long term impact on our customers’ budgets and demonstrate our commitment to offering them the best possible value.”
