Latest news with #supermarket
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- Business
- The Independent
Asda fined £640,000 for selling over 100 out-of-date food items
Asda has been fined £640,000 for selling out-of-date food at two of its stores in Cardiff, Wales. Trading Standards officers discovered 115 expired items, some more than two weeks past their use-by date, at the Leckwith and Pentwyn branches. The supermarket faced four charges after food safety officers conducted multiple visits throughout 2024. During one inspection at the Leckwith store on 17 January, 36 out-of-date items were found, including five tubs of spicy mayo dip that had expired seven days prior. A visit to the Pentwyn store in the Cardiff Gate retail park on March 25 found 25 outdated items, while another visit to the store a month later found 48 items, including some that were 12 days out of date. A second visit to the Leckwith store on May 8 found a further six out of date items. Asda was given a fine of £640,000 and ordered to pay £15,115 in costs and a £2,000 surcharge. Asda said the prosecution related to food safety breaches that took place last year, when a different date code checking process was in use. An updated process that had been in place since November 24 involved daily manual checks on all short-life products and twice-weekly checks on every long-life product. An Asda spokesman said: "We regret that out-of-date food was found on sale at two of our Cardiff stores last year and accept that our usual high standards were not upheld. "Since then, we have introduced a new date code checking process across all our stores, whereby every short-life product is checked daily so that customers can always buy the freshest products."
The Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- The Sun
British supermarket giant with over 1,200 locations announces ‘devastating' closure of store with 50 jobs at risk
A SUPERMARKET giant has announced a "devastating" store closure - putting 50 jobs at risk. The popular chain confirmed that it proposes to shut its shop doors due to a rent increase that would make the store no longer "viable commercially", Barking and Dagenham Post reports. 2 Jobs at risk as supermarket announces closure The current lease ends in September. This closure of Asda's store in Anchor Retail Park, Stepney Green could impact 50 of its employees. The news has been described as "devastating" by GMB union. GMB region officer Keith Dixon told Barking and Dagenham Post: "This is devastating news for the shop staff, many of whom have worked at Asda for years. "We have many GMB members in this store and they are understandably concerned about their jobs." He added: "We hope that the majority may be able to move to neighbouring stores, but if that is not possible there could be job losses." Mr Dixon also explained that this closure will be a massive blow to the community who have used the store since its opening nearly 10 years ago. GMB are attending ongoing consultation meetings in the hopes of securing positions at other locations for these employees. Mr Dixon explained that those who do not wish to move stores will unfortunately face redundancy. Costa Coffee Shuts Whitstable Branch: What Shop Closures Mean for UK High Streets Asda issues statement An Asda spokesperson said: 'We are currently consulting with colleagues regarding the proposed closure of our Stepney Green supermarket. "The lease on the premises is due to expire in September, and unfortunately, the new terms proposed by the landlord include a significant rent increase, which would make the store financially unviable. "Our priority throughout this process is to support our colleagues, and wherever possible, we will look to redeploy them to other roles within Asda. 'We also understand that customers will be disappointed by this decision if it goes ahead, but we would like to reassure them that they can still get their favourite products and great value at our nearby Isle of Dogs superstore.' Supermarket closures in 2025 Asda is not the only major retailer facing store closures. The Sun reported last month that a number of Co-op branches are at risk of shutting their doors. The popular high street store could be closing 34 locations after facing financial struggles. Morrisons also shuttered 16 of its stores in April this year as the retailer continues to make cuts. Residents took to Facebook to express their disappointment, with one writing: "It's such a shame." Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline. The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. 2
The Sun
an hour ago
- General
- The Sun
My 3-year-old screamed at the top of her lungs in Tesco & a ‘Karen' told her off – but people say I'm ‘raising a brat'
A MOTHER has revealed that her daughter screamed and cried at the top of her lungs on a recent shopping trip to Tesco. Not only did 'everyone stare', making Abigail Evans feel 'super embarrassed,' but an older woman got involved and told the three-year-old off. 2 2 Fuming at the ' Karen,' Abigail filmed herself sitting in her car, eager to know what others would have done in the situation. The mother explained her recent Tesco ordeal in more detail and acknowledged that she, her cousin, and their two daughters had gone to the supermarket on a Saturday to grab a few bits for their dinner. She explained: 'It was a hot day, the girls playing around as kids do in supermarkets, Ivana was very emotional, she was tired and I'm not making any excuses for her because she was being a bit of a cowbag.' Abigail admitted that she and her cousin were taking a while to decide what food to buy, which saw her daughter Ivana get increasingly impatient. The young children 'played around' in the aisles and the content creator recognised that the supermarket was 'really busy.' But things quickly erupted, as Abigail shared: 'We were just talking about trying to get something and the girls must have backed up into someone's trolley.' After frustrating the nearby shopper, Abigail confirmed that she 'lost her patience' and told the girls to 'stand by her' and stop getting 'on people's nerves.' However, despite this, things appeared to get even worse, as Abigail shared: 'With Ivana, her thing at the moment is to stand there and scream at the top of her lungs and cry and I mean high pitch scream.' Abigail 'left her for a few minutes' and then asked her to 'stop screaming' because she would 'hurt people's ears.' Having said that, Abigail added: 'She carried on, she didn't even take any notice as to what I was saying and next thing you know, I hear this voice - 'stop that right now' and I turn around and some woman, she was probably 70 maybe, she's pointing her finger at Ivana [saying] 'stop that right now' in her face.' I was a teen mum - staff wouldn't let me get my kid's ears pierced, it's insane Abigail admitted she was 'a bit taken aback' and was in a 'state of shock' by the older woman, who she called a 'crazy Karen.' The mother explained that the angry woman attempted to justify her actions and acknowledged that the screaming was hurting her autistic daughter's ears. With Ivana, her thing at the moment is to stand there and scream at the top of her lungs and cry Abigail Evans While Abigail understood that people can be 'noise sensitive,' she told the woman: 'We're sorry that she might be being a bit too loud, but you could remove yourself from the aisle until she calms down if it's an issue for your daughter.' She then recognised that the daughter was 'a fully grown adult.' Overwhelmed by the situation, Abigail described the ordeal as 'crazy' and joked that it was 'very entertaining.' Different parenting styles explained There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below: Authoritarian Parenting What some might describe as "regimental" or "strict" parenting. Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline. Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter. When it comes to rules, you believe it's "my way or the highway". Permissive Parenting Often referred to as "soft parenting" or "yes mums/dads". Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there's a serious problem. They're quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of "kids will be kids". Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures. Authoritative Parenting Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions. With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children's feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge. They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments. Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention. They don't set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing. Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don't devote much time or energy to meeting children's basic needs. Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it's not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child's physical or emotional needs consistently. Big divide And it appears that the recent events, which were posted on TikTok under the username @ abigailrosee25, have left social media users totally divided, as the clip has quickly racked up 75,500 views and 1,396 likes, with many flocking to the comments to share their thoughts. One person said: 'Tell me you're raising a brat without telling me you're raising a brat. A stern look from my mother would have been enough to know my place when I was young! Public places are not for your bratty kids entertainment.' Another added: 'Personally I would have removed my child from the shop and NOT expected others to move out of the aisle when it was your child that clearly had the issue and was causing issues for other people.' A third commented: 'If your child is screaming at the top of lungs and you just leave her to do it then you need to update your parenting. Just because you have learned to tune it out, it doesn't mean everyone has to listen to it.' Whilst someone else agreed: 'I'm on the woman's side. If you won't parent, someone has to.' How to stop temper tantrums Find out why the tantrum is happening: There are many reasons your child may have a tantrum, it could be as simple as them being tired or hungry. They could also be feeling jealous, or just need attention and love. Find a distraction: If you think your child is starting a tantrum, finding something to distract them with straight away can help. This could be a toy, or something you see out the window, like a dog or a flower. Be prepared when you're out shopping: A parents know, many tantrums happen in shops and it can be hard to keep your cool. Keeping shopping trips as short as possible can help, as well as involving your child in the shopping by talking about what you need and letting them help you. But at the same time, others were shocked that a stranger snapped at Abigail's daughter, as one mother wrote: 'No one should be telling anyone else's child off!! And there's no excuse for it! If she had a problem she should have spoken to you about it or walked off!' A second chimed in: 'I would have lost my head if someone shouted at my child, that woman has no idea on your child's situation either!' Someone else agreed: 'A stranger could NEVER! If my child was screaming or not, absolutely not their place to step in. Sounds like you handled that extremely well with a toddler and a very rude stranger.' Not only this, but another snapped: 'Absolutely not, it's none of their business!'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Supermarket building being sold for £1.5million ahead of new store opening
A SUPERMARKET building has gone on the market for £1.5million ahead of a new store opening next year. Aldi has put its current supermarket in Whitehaven up for sale as building works get under way for its improved store on land at Preston Street, which was previously used as a temporary car park. The new supermarket will replace the existing store built 30 years ago. The company had explored a number of options to deliver an improved experience at the existing site and extended the building in 2007. However, the site's constraints had limited further opportunities to extend. The relocated Aldi food store will 'provide a much-improved shopping experience' for residents including wider aisles, customer toilets and self-check-out till options. Existing staff will be relocated to the new store and the scheme will create 10 new jobs. The current Aldi store, is being marketed by Lamb & Swift Commercial in Bolton, and is looking for offers in excess of £1.5million. The building is described as benefiting from an 'extremely prominent main road position' on the edge of the town centre, with 118 Shared car parking spaces. A spokesperson from Aldi said: 'As we work to deliver an improved store in Whitehaven, we're now marketing our existing store for use by another operator, with occupancy offered during Q1 2026, to tie in with the completion of our new store on Preston Street.' Aldi is also building a new store on land at East Road, in Egremont, which was formerly occupied by a petrol station, workshop and car dealership. The Whitehaven store is expected to be open by the beginning of next year and the Egremont store should be complete by mid-2026. Aldi estimates the new stores will generate £14 million for the local economy and create a total of 50 new jobs across both sites.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
From crunchy chaat and yoghurt to spicy peanut butter: Ravinder Bhogal's recipes for alternative potato salads
We are a family of potato lovers, so a summer salad made of tender spuds bound together with something creamy, something acidic and a handful of herbs is a perennial favourite. While I would never throw a classic out of bed, every now andd then I like to swerve the mayonnaise and do something a little more exuberant. Today's potato salads are a riot of texture and flavour, and pack a serious punch. They are satisfying enough on their own, but serve them at your next barbecue and you are bound to please the potato pleasure-seekers in your life. You can find nylon sev in good Indian supermarkets or online, but if you can't get hold of any, fistfuls of your favourite bombay mix will do just fine. Prep 10 min Cook 30 min Serves 4 For the date and tamarind chutney5 tbsp tamarind paste 4 medjool dates, pitted1 heaped tbsp soft brown sugar½ tsp ground cinnamon½ tsp chilli powder, or to taste1 tsp cumin, toasted and coarsely ground1 tsp chaat masalaBlack salt (kala namak), to taste (optional) For the salad500g jersey royals Sea salt and black pepper400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed 200g natural yoghurt1 handful nylon sev, or good-quality bombay mix or sev mamra1 small red onion, peeled and cut into very thin rings1 handful finely chopped corianderSeeds from ½ pomegranate First make the quick chutney. Put the tamarind paste, dates and 300ml water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the dates are tender. Take off the heat, leave to cool, then puree. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, chilli, cumin, chaat masala and kala namak, if using. The chutney should have a thick, pouring consistency a bit like ketchup, so add more water if required. Cover and refrigerate until needed. Chop the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, then boil in salted water until tender. Drain, leave to cool completely, then arrange the potatoes on a platter. Scatter over the drained chickpeas, season with sea salt and pepper, and mix. Drizzle over the date and tamarind chutney, dollop on the yoghurt here and there and top with the sev, onion rings, coriander and pomegranate seeds. Serve at once. The spicy peanut sauce is very adaptable. If you prefer, use any nut or seed butter, such as cashew, almond, sunflower or even tahini instead. It also works poured over noodles and crunchy vegetables for a tasty lunch. Prep 15 min Cook 15 min Serves 4 For the peanut dressing1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped 100g smooth peanut butter30g palm sugar, or light brown sugar1-2 red chilliesJuice of 2 limes 2 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp tamarind paste For the salad1 tbsp sesame oil 500g new potatoes, halved and boiled until tender1 handful picked coriander leaves 100g radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 banana shallot, peeled and sliced into very fine rings2 tbsp pickled jalapeños40g salted peanuts, roughly crushed Put all the dressing ingredients in a blender and blitz smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning, making sure the acidity of the lime sings through, then set aside until needed; before serving, add a little water to loosen, if need be, especially if you've kept it in the fridge. Now for the salad. Heat the sesame oil in a large frying pan and, once it's hot, put in the potatoes cut side down in a single layer and cook for about five minutes, until crisp and dark golden brown. Spread the peanut butter dressing on a platter, then top with the hot potatoes. Scatter over the picked coriander, sliced radishes, shallots, chillies and peanuts, and serve immediately. Golden chips straight out of the oven, cool whipped tofu and tongue-tingling homemade chilli oil all get along famously in this tasty ménage à trois. Prep 10 minDrain 30 min Cook 1 hr Serves 4-6 300g silken tofu A few drops of sesame oilJuice of ½ lime Sea salt 900g oven fries For the chilli oil5 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped3 tbsp crispy shallots (optional)80g gochugaru, or other mild chilli flakes1 tbsp sesame seeds 2 tsp roughly crushed Sichuan peppercorns5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly sliced1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 125ml avocado oil, or other neutral oil 2 tbsp light soy sauce 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar 1 tsp sugar To garnish6 spring onions, trimmed, whites and greens sliced thinly on the diagonal Put the tofu on a rack, cover with kitchen paper and place a weight on it for half an hour to extract some of the excess liquid. Break up the tofu, put in a food processor with the sesame oil, lime juice and some sea salt, and blend smooth. Bake the oven fries according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, make the chilli oil. Combine the garlic, shallots, if using, chilli flakes, sesame seeds and peppercorns in a heatproof bowl. Put the ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise in a small saucepan, pour over the oil, then set over a medium heat and cook until the oil has almost reached smoking point and the spices and ginger are sizzling. Carefully pour the oil through a sieve into the heatproof bowl (discard the aromatic solids) and stir well. Once the chilli oil has cooled a little, stir in the soy, vinegar and sugar, until the latter dissolves. Spread the tofu on a platter, scatter the hot chips on top, then spoon over chilli oil to taste. Scatter over spring onions and serve straight away.
