Shoppers heartbroken as Aldi pulls Sunday lunch favourite off the shelves

The Sun

02-05-2025

SHOPPERS are gutted after Aldi pulled a much-loved Sunday lunch staple off the shelves — with many fearing it's gone for good.
Fans of Aldi's beef gravy were left scrambling when they couldn't find it in stores, sparking a flood of posts online from disappointed customers.
One worried shopper wrote on Facebook: 'Anyone know if they have stopped selling this? Been to two local Aldis and not had any? Thanks.'
Aldi confirmed the product hasn't been discontinued - but it's a seasonal product on sale through certain months of the year.
Still, many customers say they're heartbroken to be without it in the run-up to summer.
For some, it's not just about the gravy — it's about the comfort and tradition of Sunday lunches, now feeling incomplete.
This isn't the first time Aldi has caused a stir by pulling popular products.
Just last month, shoppers were shocked when the £2.99 Liz Earle beauty dupe, a cheap alternative to the £30 Cleanse and Polish, was dropped from shelves.
The store also recently discontinued its Very Berry Muesli, leaving breakfast lovers searching for substitutes, and previously axed its hot cloth cleanser, a product that had built a loyal following among bargain beauty fans.
Retail experts say cuts like these often come down to sales figures and product performance, but loyal customers still feel the sting when their favourites vanish.
Even as some products disappear, Aldi remains a hotspot for bargains.
Shoppers are urged to look out for red-sticker items, which can slash prices by up to 75 per cent, especially toward the end of the day.
Aldi also offers Too Good To Go bags — surprise bundles of fresh food usually worth £10, sold for just £3.30.
But act fast: only limited numbers are available each day.
For everyday savings, Aldi's Everyday Essentials line offers low-cost staples, including 1.5kg bags of wonky carrots for 60p and discounted packs of wonky grapes for £1.49.
And don't skip the middle aisle, where Aldi's famous special buys pop up regularly.
Shoppers have recently reported spotting 300g pouches of Quality Street for just 49p, down from £1.99 — proving you can still find treats even when favourites go missing.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
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