Latest news with #grocery shopping
The Independent
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Aldi loses title of UK's cheapest supermarket
Aldi has lost its title of cheapest supermarket in the UK for the first time in nearly two years, with rival Lidl taking its place. Price analysis by consumer group Which? looked at an average basket of 76 grocery shopping products across July, including both popular brands and own-brands, with Lidl edging out its discount rival by less than £1 overall – or slightly more if loyalty cards were used. Lidl's total price was £128 with the loyalty card and £128.40 without, while Aldi came in at £129.25. More notably, both those supermarkets worked out to be around £17 cheaper than Tesco and £40 cheaper than Waitrose, which was the most expensive at £170.91 overall. The price of a Tesco basket with a loyalty card was cheaper than Sainsbury's with a loyalty card. Morrisons failed to beat any different competitors whether a loyalty card was used or not, with a price reduction in this instance of less than £1. With food inflation rising and general cost of living pressures still affecting households, supermarkets have continued their price war to attract customers, using price comparisons and other tactics. In turn, customers have changed where they shop. Analysis last year showed more than a third changed their regular supermarket (37 per cent) while almost half (45 per cent) cut down on treats and luxuries when shopping. In a second price analysis to see which supermarkets came out on top in a bigger shop of 192 branded products in a basket, Lidl and Aldi were excluded due to less items on offer meaning they didn't stock all the chosen products. Instead, Asda came out on top at an average price of £474.12, with Waitrose 14 per cent higher at £538.33. Which? noted consumers would 'pay a lot more if you stock up at Morrisons, Sainsbury's or Tesco without a loyalty card' as a key finding from the analysis. 'Households are still contending with high food prices but our analysis shows it pays to shop around. Simply choosing one supermarket over another could save you 25 per cent,' said Reena Sewraz, retail editor at Which?.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Family of 5 Go Viral for $1K Grocery Hauls. Now They're Breaking Down the Reality of the Hefty Price Tag (Exclusive)
YouTubers Gabby and Christian Carlin talk with PEOPLE about grocery shopping for a family of fiveNEED TO KNOW Gabby and Christian Carlin share how they involve their three kids in their grocery shopping routine, from building the list to picking the snacks The YouTube creators break down their monthly grocery costs and why they don't stick to a strict budget The parents of three also open up about balancing content creation with real-life parentingFor YouTube creators Gabby and Christian Carlin, grocery shopping with their kiddos is less about going viral and more about getting through the list, just like any other family. Gabby and Christian Carlin — who go by @TheCarlins on YouTube — are parents to three children, Audrey, 5, Asher, 4, and Abbie, 2, often sharing their family adventures with a growing online audience. Among their most popular content is peeks at their monthly grocery shopping hauls, where viewers often weigh in with their guesses on the price tag. They admit to PEOPLE that buying groceries with three little ones in tow is no easy feat. 'When we do our groceries, we always come with a big list,' Christian tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'Whenever we run out of something, we tell Amazon, 'Alexa, add this to the list,' because if not, we're going to forget.' Naturally, with three kids, sticking to the list isn't always easy. The kids sometimes try to sneak items into the cart — 'Asher, he's like a little ninja,' Christian says of their 4-year-old son — so they make it a point to have them check in before adding anything. 'Sometimes it's something that we actually need,' Christian adds. 'They're so aware of what we need — they're so smart.' To avoid impulse buys, the Carlins say they usually head to the store after breakfast, which helps curb cravings and keep their purchases focused and shopping may be a routine task for the Carlins, but in their household, it's something the kids actually look forward to. 'We just tell 'em, 'Hey, we're going to go do groceries,' and they get super excited because they love going with us,' Gabby time, even staple items have become a source of excitement — from frozen mangoes and peaches to a recent family favorite: Sam's Club egg bites. 'It's like we're going to Starbucks at home,' she adds. 'We make them their little meal, and they eat it.' With a home full of activities — from dance and football to swim lessons and homeschooling — grocery trips also double as prep for the week ahead. The Carlins rely on easy, grab-and-go snacks like fruit, yogurt and veggie chips to keep their kids fueled throughout the go-to picks include easy handheld items like mandarins, veggie chips, yogurt drinks, Babybel cheese and string cheese snacks that travel well between sports, dance and days at the also keeps a small bag in the car stocked with diapers, wipes and other essentials. It's a system that comes in handy not just for the baby, but also for the older kids. 'Even for the bigger kids, the wipes are always needed,' she parents of three don't necessarily have a budget when it comes to groceries, and for good reason. Buying in bulk from Sam's Club allows them to stock up on essentials for the month, while weekly trips to Publix help replenish fresh produce, dairy and other household items as needed. 'Groceries are so expensive,' Gabby says. 'We just need to get what we need, because if we have everything at home, we have no reason to eat out [at a restaurant].' 'When we do go to Sam's Club, it literally lasts us a whole month,' Christian adds. 'People are like, 'Oh my gosh, between $500 and $600 at Sam's Club for a family of five,' but it lasts us a whole month.'Still, the Carlins make quick stops at Publix throughout the week — often for fresh produce, milk or other perishables — which adds to their overall grocery bill. 'So, five to seven hundred for Sam's Club, but on top of that, we go to Publix every week, so that's probably like $120 to $200 a week,' Christian says. All in all, the Carlins spend about $1,000 a month to keep the whole family well-fed and ready for their action-packed days. For the parents of three, what began as a fun, creative outlet while they were still in college has since evolved into a full-time career, one built on authenticity and lots of teamwork behind the scenes. Still, quality time with their family is the priority. 'We are a complete team in this house,' Christian says. 'Family time is the most important.' 'Every day looks so different, so we balance it out,' Gabby adds. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Health Line
21-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 Grocery Shopping Method?
The 5-4-3-2-1 grocery shopping method simplifies grocery shopping while still prioritizing whole foods. It can be modified to fit different dietary needs if necessary. Sometimes, going to the grocery store can feel like a chore. It can be mentally tiring to make a list every week. Some weeks, you may be so busy that you find yourself unable to find the time to sit down and make a list. Without a list, you may end up overspending or buying items you do not use. This food can take up space in your fridge or pantry, and it may even end up expiring if you forget about it. The 5-4-3-2-1 grocery shopping method is an easy way to ensure you buy the right amount of food while still prioritizing balanced eating. How to shop Each number in the 5-4-3-2-1 method represents the quantity of a category of food. The original version of this method includes: five vegetables four protein sources three fruits two carbohydrates one 'treat' When choosing proteins, try to limit or avoid processed red meats, such as bacon. These are linked to adverse health outcomes, such as an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. When choosing carbohydrates, try to avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and other items made with white flour. Consumption of refined carbohydrates can increase your risk of obesity. Of course, you don't have to completely restrict processed foods or foods high in added sugar. A 'treat' food can be a bag of chips or your favorite ice cream. It is important to remember that all foods can fit into a balanced diet in moderation. Meal planning with the 5-4-3-2-1 method When using this grocery shopping method, it can be helpful to use a template when planning your meals for the week. Each meal can have a protein, a carb, and a vegetable. It can also help to choose recipes that share common ingredients. For example, if you buy chicken breasts for one of your proteins and rice for one of your carbohydrates, you may use them for two dinners and swap out the vegetables to add variety. Modifications The original version of this method may not be suitable for all eating patterns, or you may just want to change things up. You can modify it to suit your needs. For instance, it is important to keep in mind that meat is not the only source of protein, especially if you are following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Other sources of protein you may consider include: If you want to increase your fiber intake, you may also want to swap the fruits and the proteins. So instead of four proteins and three fruits, you could buy four fruits and three proteins. Considerations Sticking to the 5-4-3-2-1 method at all times will not always be feasible. For instance, it does not account for seasonings, herbs, condiments, or staples such as olive oil and butter. You may also plan on making meals that call for specific ingredients that fall outside of the scope of the categories in this method. For these reasons, you may want to use the 5-4-3-2-1 method as a starting point for your grocery shopping instead of sticking to it rigidly. Takeaway The 5-4-3-2-1 grocery shopping method streamlines the process of obtaining essential items from the grocery store to make balanced meals. It can adapt to fit specific diets, and you can shuffle around the categories as you see fit.
CNET
17-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Meal Kits Have Gotten Cheap, but Are They Cheaper Than Groceries?
Bloated costs on everything from eggs to olive oil have folks looking for ways to cut costs. Meal kits -- once considered a splurge -- may not have cause a blip on your thrifty radar. While supermarkets seemingly jack prices up at will, meal kit companies have been more careful when raising consumer costs, since retaining subscribers is key to their survival. Meal kit services such as EveryPlate, Blue Apron or HelloFresh are known for helping busy people save time and eat better, but I crunched the numbers to find out if any of of the top meal delivery services are cheaper when compared with a supermarket haul of the same items. Meal kits vs. buying the groceries Cost per serving (average plan) Cost of same ingredients at grocery store EveryPlate $6 $5.40 Blue Apron $11 $9.75 HelloFresh $9 $6.55 After looking at several ingredient lists for various recipes, I found that some meal kits are more expensive while others are about the same price as grocery shopping, or in some cases even cheaper. It depends on the service and, more importantly, the meals you choose. Here's a breakdown and how I got these figures. How I did the math I put on my math hat to see if meal kits are actually a good deal in see how much Blue Apron, HelloFresh and EveryPlate meals cost to make, I priced out the ingredients for two real recipes that are included in a standard subscription. When choosing groceries, I used the cheapest version of the same or similar ingredient I could find at Shop-Rite, a budget-friendly grocery store in my area. Because meal kit recipes include only the amount of ingredients needed, I prorated the cost by how much you would actually use for a recipe, not the full price of the bottle, jar, box or bag. I chose basic, nonorganic items unless it was otherwise specified in the meal kit recipe. How I picked the recipes I picked steak and seafood recipes to compare since they represent the best value on most meal kit menus. David Watsky/CNET If you're looking to meal kits as a value proposition, you'll have to be smart about which recipes you choose. Steak, chicken and fish tend to be more expensive to cook at home than plant-based meals, so I specifically chose recipes featuring those proteins. (I also recommend you take advantage of them if you're signing up for a service). Not all services include steak recipes without a surcharge, but HelloFresh and Blue Apron do. Blue Apron typically offers at least one fairly high-end beef cut like sirloin steak with no added charge. HelloFresh offers one or two beef recipes per week, but it's usually a cheaper cut like chuck steak. Seafood options are limited with a basic HelloFresh, but I found a barramundi recipe on this week's menu, in addition to the ranch steak with Caesar salad. Budget-friendly services including EveryPlate don't usually offer steak or seafood, which is how they keep prices low. For my EveryPlate analysis, I chose a cherry beef meatball and pork chop recipe. Blue Apron presents real value if you choose the right meals Blue Apron's seafood recipes including steak, salmon and trout prove to be an excellent value in 2025. Blue Apron Blue Apron has the most high-end recipes of the three I chose to analyze. I picked a recipe featuring sirloin steak and another with fresh filets of steelhead trout. When I priced out the groceries to make these meals, they clocked in at $11.26 and $8.23, respectively, with an average price of $9.75 per serving. Both meals proved more expensive to buy at the supermarket than the $8 per-serving cost for the largest (cheapest) Blue Apron plan. As good as that sounds, Blue Apron's largest plan is a whopping five meal kits per week with four servings each, and likely practical for most people. If you choose a more reasonably sized plan -- let's say three meal recipes with four servings each -- the price per serving jumps to $10. That's still cheaper than the cost of buying the groceries, but only by a little. Add the $11 weekly shipping cost and the Blue Apron creeps over the cost of buying the groceries, but only slightly. When you consider the convenience a meal kit provides, it's hard to argue that Blue Apron isn't a good value. Blue Apron vs buying the groceries Trout with feta, couscous and vegetables Ingredients: Cost: Steelhead trout filets, 10 oz $11.50 Pearl couscous, 1/2 cup $2 4 oz. grape tomatoes $1.25 1 red onion $1.29 Crushed pepper flakes $0.10 Feta cheese, 1/2 oz $2 Spice blend, 1 tbs $0.25 Green beans, 6 oz $3 Roasted sunflower seeds, 2 tbs $0.50 Pitted niçoise olives, 1 oz $0.64 Total: $22.53 Per serving: $11.26 Mexican steak with green beans and sweet potatoes Ingredients: Cost: 2 sirloin steaks, 11 oz $7 Guajillo chile pepper sauce, 1/3 cup $1 Lime, 1 $0.50 Raw pepitas, 2 tbs $0.59 Cotija cheese, 2 tbs $0.60 Sweet potatoes, 1 lb $3 Green beans, 6 oz $3 Smoky spice, 1 tbs $0.25 Garlic, 2 clove $0.20 Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbs $0.46 Total cost: $16.55 Per serving: $8.23 HelloFresh was the worst value HelloFresh meal kits cost $10 per serving but only around $6.50 per serving if you were to buy the groceries yourself. HelloFresh HelloFresh might be the most popular meal kit service, but it was also the worst value of the three. I chose a barramundi recipe and chuck steak meal kit to compare with local grocery prices. By my calculations, HelloFresh meal kits would cost just $6.55 per serving to buy the groceries and make the meals yourself. That's about $2.50 cheaper than HelloFresh's average meal plan of $9 per serving, and that's all before factoring in your weekly delivery cost of $11. If you were to spread that shipping fee out across two or three meal kits, the actual per-serving cost is more like $11 to $12. HelloFresh may have one of the largest weekly menu of meal kits and user-friendly ordering interface, but as it turns out, the popular service doesn't offer as much value as other meal kit companies. HelloFresh vs buying the groceries Barramundi with lemony carrots & couscous Ingredient: Cost: Barramundi, 10 oz $7.56 Carrots, 12 oz $1.50 Lemon, 1 $0.57 Cumin, 1 tsp $0.23 Israeli Couscous, 2.5 oz $0.75 Cilantro, ¼ oz $1 Garlic, 2 cloves $0.20 Chili flakes, 1 tsp $0.23 Veggie stock concentrate, 1 packet $1 Total: $13.04 Per serving: $6.52 Balsamic-glazed steak tagliata Ingredient: Cost: Potatoes, 12 oz $1.50 Lemon, 1 $0.57 Italian seasoning, 1 tbs $0.50 Garlic powder, 1 tps $0.23 Ranch steak, 10 oz $6 Mixed greens, 2 oz $0.70 Caesar dressing, 1.5 oz $0.45 Croutons, 2 oz $1.00 Parmesan cheese, 3 tbs $1.50 Balsamic glaze, 5 tsp $0.80 Total: $13.17 Per serving: $6.59 EveryPlate is also about the same as buying groceries EveryPlate meal kits clocked in at $5.40 per serving when ingredients were purchased at the store. That's just a hair cheaper than the service, making it a great value if you're trying to save time and energy. David Watsky/CNET EveryPlate's two meal kits cost $4.98 and $5.82 when purchased a la carte at the grocery store, which averages out to $5.40. That's just 60 cents less than the per-serving price of EveryPlate's meal kits, which cost $6 per serving no matter which plan you choose. Add the $10 shipping cost per box and the meal kit cost creeps up a bit, but it's still around the same price as buying all the groceries yourself. EveryPlate's meal kit menus don't feature much in the way of steak or seafood so you can expect more budget-friendly proteins such as chicken, ground beef and pork chops. EveryPlate meals are also easy to make and satisfying, making it our top pick best cheap meal kit service. EveryPlate vs buying the groceries Cherry meatballs with zucchini and garlic mashed potatoes Ingredients: Cost: Potatoes, 12 oz $1.50 White bread, 2 slices $0.50 Zucchini, 1 $2 Ground beef, 8 oz $3.50 Cherry jam, 1 oz $0.85 Garlic powder $0.10 Sour cream, 4 oz $1 Soy sauce, 1 oz $0.50 Total $9.95 Per serving $4.98 Smothered pork chops with potatoes and carrots Ingredients: Cost: Carrots, 12 oz $1.50 Potatoes, 12 oz $1.50 Yellow onion, 1 $1 Scallions, 2 $0.50 Boneless pork chops, 10 oz $4.93 Chicken stock concentrate $1 Cayenne pepper $0.25 Sour cream, 4 oz $1 Total $11.63 Per serving $5.82 To get the most out of your meal delivery, see my guide to hacking a meal delivery subscription in 2025.
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Takealot and Pick n Pay increase pickup points across South Africa
Takealot and Pick n Pay are rolling out more convenient pickup points in Pick n Pay supermarkets as a growing number of South Africans collect their Takealot orders while doing their grocery shopping. What began with just two pilot locations in 2023 has expanded to 30 Takealot pickup points in Pick n Pays across the country. Plans are already underway to increase this number to 36 by the end of 2025, covering the length and breadth of South Africa's cities and towns. Shoppers from Greenstone Mall to Gonubie are embracing the simplicity of collecting their online orders while running their errands. Between February and May this year, collections at Pick n Pay-based Takealot pickup points doubled. The service now processes over 14,000 collections per month, with more than 45,000 unique customers having used it to date. Karla Levick, chief marketing officer at Takealot, says the appeal lies in how seamlessly it fits into people's everyday routines. 'You don't have to wait at home for a delivery or go out of your way. Simply collect your order when it suits you. That's the kind of practical convenience South Africans want,' she said. Takealot pickup points are located inside select Pick n Pay stores, near the customer service kiosks. Shoppers simply select a participating Pick n Pay store during checkout, wait for a collection notification, and then pop in during regular trading hours to collect. Most orders qualify for collection, with the exception of bulkier items. Interestingly, a pattern is emerging in the types of products being collected. Health and wellness items are among the most popular, especially vitamins, skincare, and women's health products. This trend reflects the customer profile of Pick n Pay stores and shows how the pickup point model is catering to real everyday needs. For Pick n Pay, it's another way to make shopping more convenient, while adding value to the communities they serve. 'We're seeing our stores evolve into hubs where customers can do more than just shop for fresh foods, groceries, and general merchandise,' says Katherine Madley, chief marketing officer at Pick n Pay. 'Whether it's buying airtime from Pick n Pay Mobile, settling a bill or collecting an online order, we're helping customers tick more things off their to-do lists in one stop.' This collaboration between two proudly South African brands is built on listening to what customers need and acting on it. As demand grows and habits shift, Takealot and Pick n Pay are offering a retail experience that is simple, local, and designed for real life. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
