Latest news with #Ocado
The Herald Scotland
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Grocery inflation soars to 18-month high as pressure grows on UK shoppers
It represented a rise from inflation of 4.7% a month earlier and marked the highest level since January 2024. The data indicated that rising prices are set to add an average of £275 to shoppers' annual grocery spending. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said: 'Just under two thirds of households say they are very concerned about the cost of their grocery shopping, and people are adapting their habits to avoid the full impact of price rises. 'Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and, in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6% versus 4.9%.' He added that shopping data also showed that consumers have been cooking simpler meals in recent months as part of efforts to stick to budgets. The price increases come amid a backdrop of commodity price pressures and higher costs for retailers, after recent increases in National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. Worldpanel data also showed that overall consumer spending across UK grocers rose by 4.6% over the 12 weeks to July 13. Online retail specialist Ocado saw the fastest rise in sales over the period, with 11.7%. It was closely followed by German discount chain Lidl, which saw sales rise 11.1%, to take its share of the UK grocery market to 8.3%, moving it close to the size of rival Morrisons. Elsewhere, the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco increased its share of the market further after growing sales by 7.1%. Asda and the Co-op were among the weaker performers, with sales declines of 3% and 3.7% respectively over the quarter.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grocery inflation soars to 18-month high as pressure grows on UK shoppers
UK grocery prices have increased at their fastest pace for 18 months amid growing concern from shoppers about the rising cost of living, according to new figures. Grocery price inflation accelerated to 5.2% in the four weeks to July 13, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator, which was recently renamed from Kantar. It represented a rise from inflation of 4.7% a month earlier and marked the highest level since January 2024. The data indicated that rising prices are set to add an average of £275 to shoppers' annual grocery spending. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said: 'Just under two thirds of households say they are very concerned about the cost of their grocery shopping, and people are adapting their habits to avoid the full impact of price rises. 'Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and, in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6% versus 4.9%.' He added that shopping data also showed that consumers have been cooking simpler meals in recent months as part of efforts to stick to budgets. The price increases come amid a backdrop of commodity price pressures and higher costs for retailers, after recent increases in National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. Worldpanel data also showed that overall consumer spending across UK grocers rose by 4.6% over the 12 weeks to July 13. Online retail specialist Ocado saw the fastest rise in sales over the period, with 11.7%. It was closely followed by German discount chain Lidl, which saw sales rise 11.1%, to take its share of the UK grocery market to 8.3%, moving it close to the size of rival Morrisons. Elsewhere, the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco increased its share of the market further after growing sales by 7.1%. Asda and the Co-op were among the weaker performers, with sales declines of 3% and 3.7% respectively over the quarter.
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Grocery inflation soars to 18-month high as pressure grows on UK shoppers
UK grocery prices have increased at their fastest pace for 18 months amid growing concern from shoppers about the rising cost of living, according to new figures. Grocery price inflation accelerated to 5.2% in the four weeks to July 13, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator, which was recently renamed from Kantar. It represented a rise from inflation of 4.7% a month earlier and marked the highest level since January 2024. The data indicated that rising prices are set to add an average of £275 to shoppers' annual grocery spending. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said: 'Just under two thirds of households say they are very concerned about the cost of their grocery shopping, and people are adapting their habits to avoid the full impact of price rises. 'Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and, in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6% versus 4.9%.' He added that shopping data also showed that consumers have been cooking simpler meals in recent months as part of efforts to stick to budgets. The price increases come amid a backdrop of commodity price pressures and higher costs for retailers, after recent increases in National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. Worldpanel data also showed that overall consumer spending across UK grocers rose by 4.6% over the 12 weeks to July 13. Online retail specialist Ocado saw the fastest rise in sales over the period, with 11.7%. It was closely followed by German discount chain Lidl, which saw sales rise 11.1%, to take its share of the UK grocery market to 8.3%, moving it close to the size of rival Morrisons. Elsewhere, the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco increased its share of the market further after growing sales by 7.1%. Asda and the Co-op were among the weaker performers, with sales declines of 3% and 3.7% respectively over the quarter.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to avoid one 59p product to clean sinks but B&M item has 'solution'
Kitchen sinks can often suffer from a build-up of dirt over time. While there are many tough stain-removal products out there, not all are safe to use on your sink It's frustrating when you can't get your kitchen to look sparkling clean because of a build up of dirt in your white sink. These stains are glaringly obvious on white composite material. And what is worse, they're hard to avoid. Pretty much everything ends up in the sink: food, drink, dirt and a mishmash of cleaning products. Over time, this can lead to a build-up of minerals and all kinds of discolouration. Unfortunately, while there are many tough stain-removal products out there, not all are safe to use on your sink, as they can cause surface and structural damage. READ MORE: Banish washing machine mould and make sure it 'never' appears in 5 minutes with simple task Sara Baker came to the 'Cleaning tips and tricks' Facebook group in search of advice. She wrote: 'Help!!! Tips to clean white composite sink?! It's driving me bananas.' Commenters were quick to rush in with their own suggestions. One said: 'Bar Keepers with a non abrasive scrubber and some rubbing. I have this sink and ruined it by filling it with bleach and water constantly.' They added: 'My sink gets a lot worse when cleaning certain pans I put BKF and go to town on it and it comes out shiny.' Other commenters also recommended using Bar Keepers Friend. Bleach has traditionally been a popular cleaning agent, due to its powerful disinfecting and stain-removing properties and for it's low price point. For example, Ocado sells a bottle for just 59p. However, consistently using too much bleach can damage white composite sinks over time. This is because it contains oxidising properties, which can cause discoloration and sometimes even cracks to appear on the sink's surface. Meanwhile, Bar Keepers Friend is a much safer cleaning product which contains oxalic acid. This makes it effective at removing rust, mineral build up and stubborn stains. One of its main draws is that it is suitable for use on a wide variety of surfaces. These include stainless steel, copper, brass, ceramic, glass and porcelain. The product is also incredibly easy to work with. Simply wet the surface you want to clean, sprinkle the powder and then use a damp cloth to scrub away at the stain. Although, make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly after cleaning and dry with a clean cloth. Otherwise, the product can leave a fine residue that will cause damage over time. Don't worry if you don't have Bar Keepers Friend lying around at home – it's pocket-friendly, too. You can pick up a bottle from B&Q for just £3.50.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘I've been known to eat a punnet in one sitting': eight superfans on the best ways to enjoy British strawberries
Conjuring visions of sunny days at Wimbledon, decadent desserts and wholesome homemade jams, British strawberries simply can't be beaten when summer rolls around. No wonder they were among Ocado's bestselling products last summer and, as these shoppers can attest, they're reclaiming their starring role this year … 'When Ocado strawberries are in season, you know it's summer. I love them because they're always perfectly round and sweet, and the beautiful red colour always looks so appetising. My favourite way to eat them is to make my favourite dessert, which is Eton mess. Delicious!' 'I always buy Ocado strawberries – as a family of five, we receive two Ocado deliveries a week and I order four boxes of strawberries in each as we all want to enjoy them. My local fruit shop is fab, but I prefer Ocado strawberries because they're so sweet, a good size and great value. I love them for snacking on, and my son's very healthy so, post-gym, he enjoys grazing on them rather than being tempted by more processed snacks. That way they help him meet his fitness goals. We all nibble from the fridge and I put them in fruit bowls for dessert. They're so sweet, you can enjoy them just on their own.' 'We buy Ocado strawberries regularly – they're firm but sweet and always fresh. Although I shop at a range of supermarkets, I have to buy strawberries from Ocado because I like knowing I can trust their quality. If I'm making something for guests or a special occasion, I know they can be relied on. At home, we enjoy them for a healthy snack after school and in smoothies. The strawberries are so good, they can disappear in minutes, courtesy of my four children!' 'Like most of its products, Ocado's strawberries are often better quality than most other supermarkets – especially now, when best-before dates have been removed from a lot of fresh produce. I mainly buy strawberries because my children love them, and they make for a great snack or dessert that's high in vitamin C. My kids also like to use them to decorate waffles and pancakes, which is an easy way to involve them with preparing their own food, teach them about nutrition and to avoid unhealthy sugary snacks. With picky eaters like mine, it works better if the strawberries look and taste great, which is why Ocado's consistent quality matters.' 'I try to buy seasonal fruit and veg so I always go for Ocado strawberries at this time of year – they taste so delicious right now. I use them for breakfast, to make smoothies or to top a bowl of yoghurt and homemade granola. We also like to take them on picnics, and I give them to my son with kefir yoghurt for a healthier pudding.' 'I'm a private chef who specialises in healthy cooking, so strawberries are a daily essential for me – and of course, they're even better when they're in season. I've been an Ocado shopper for two decades, and I find the big punnet of strawberries great value, especially when you compare it with other brands. They also last really well if treated gently. Both my clients and I love huge, mixed-fruit and yoghurt bowls dotted with a variety of nuts and seeds and a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa nibs. Strawberries are also essential for plopping into prosecco and summer cocktails, so I bring them to lots of park picnics. Recently, I've even been experimenting with dehydrated strawberries at home, to make chewy snacks.' 'I absolutely love using Ocado, especially to help keep my fridge stocked up with strawberries. When you have a two-year-old, you have to keep the berries coming. Ocado strawberries are always fresh, sweet and last well, which is a must in this house. I use them in all sorts of ways, but I especially love them sliced over Greek yoghurt and drizzled with honey. They pair perfectly with my homemade gluten-free banana pancakes, which is my daughter's favourite breakfast. And for me, it has got to be Ocado strawberries with a lovely cold glass of champagne. Whether it's for everyday snacks, weekend brunches or something a little more indulgent, they are a staple in my kitchen.' 'Ocado's strawberries are amazing quality – really plump, flavoursome and juicy. I've been known to eat my way through a punnet in one sitting, because they're so moreish. Usually, though, I'll have them sliced on to crepes or as part of a traditional fruit salad, which is one of my favourite desserts – it's so refreshing, especially at this time of year.' Shop Ocado's lusciously sweet strawberries – a celebration of summer
