Supermarkets? Which one does the best vegetables?
Discussion
I’m a avid Waitrose and M&S shopper for all things food, to me the quality can’t be beaten, especially the veg which seems to last forever and always a good organic selection to chose from.
My problem is this week I seem to have spent £85 on a delivery and have very little to show for it, so I am thinking about trying somewhere else for my weekly shop, I know people rave about lidl and Aldi, but is the quality and longevity there? Do they sell organic stuff?
I occasionally use the local Asda and find the meat to be completely naff, but can’t comment on the longevity of the vegetables as I tend to just pick up what I’ve forgotten and use it that night.
Can people please rate the other supermarkets for quality and freshness and selection, price isn’t so much of a driver for me but I am starting to think waitrose especially is getting a bit much.
In my town there’s a Aldi (funnily enough it was a Waitrose before and a Asda, but I’m also close to a Tesco and a Lidl, aswell as a few farm shops (selection not as good I imagine?)
Is Aldi really that good?
My problem is this week I seem to have spent £85 on a delivery and have very little to show for it, so I am thinking about trying somewhere else for my weekly shop, I know people rave about lidl and Aldi, but is the quality and longevity there? Do they sell organic stuff?
I occasionally use the local Asda and find the meat to be completely naff, but can’t comment on the longevity of the vegetables as I tend to just pick up what I’ve forgotten and use it that night.
Can people please rate the other supermarkets for quality and freshness and selection, price isn’t so much of a driver for me but I am starting to think waitrose especially is getting a bit much.
In my town there’s a Aldi (funnily enough it was a Waitrose before and a Asda, but I’m also close to a Tesco and a Lidl, aswell as a few farm shops (selection not as good I imagine?)
Is Aldi really that good?
IMO, based purely upon local experience, for fruit & veg, I’d rate the supermarkets as follows, (based upon price and quality);
Asda: It’s been a few years since I’ve been as we don’t have one local to us any more, but their fruit, veg and flowers always used to be decent quality and decent prices.
Aldi: Usually quite good, but they can seem to struggle to get certain products, (they were out of stock of tomatoes for weeks), and very occasionally the quality can be a bit poor. Good value for money though.
Tesco: Almost always poor to crap and always expensive.
Sainsburys; Same as Tesco only more expensive.
I can’t comment on Morrisons, Lidl and Waitrose as we don’t have any stores local to us. When I have shopped at Lidl their bakery products are very, very good, (if that helps?).
Asda: It’s been a few years since I’ve been as we don’t have one local to us any more, but their fruit, veg and flowers always used to be decent quality and decent prices.
Aldi: Usually quite good, but they can seem to struggle to get certain products, (they were out of stock of tomatoes for weeks), and very occasionally the quality can be a bit poor. Good value for money though.
Tesco: Almost always poor to crap and always expensive.
Sainsburys; Same as Tesco only more expensive.
I can’t comment on Morrisons, Lidl and Waitrose as we don’t have any stores local to us. When I have shopped at Lidl their bakery products are very, very good, (if that helps?).
My experiences:
Aldi - very poor. Too many items bulk only and items go off extremely quickly.
Asda - never had an issue though with a large Asda I find their selection and variation to be surprisingly small.
Lidl - ok - not a large range, but not too bad, never had the problems (so far) with their produce going off very quickly, HOWEVER, I have noticed for much of their stuff they are no cheaper than the mainstream supermarkets.
M&S - too little loose, I do not like pre-packed. Also over priced. Not had a problem with anything I've bought there though, however seriously over-rated.
Morrisons - used to be superb for selection before they got in to financial trouble, however I did find what I bought went off quickly. Now poor selection, but good prices.
Sainsbury - decent selection, decent prices, not had an issue with them.
Tesco - large selection in the near by 'hypermaket', surprisingly decent selection at the normal sized store the other side of me. Normal prices, never had an issue. Also the best if I want loose, especially just 1 or 2 items.
Waitrose - expensive, average quality, and my local one has the fruit and veg over chilled so I have bought veg before with ice crystals....
If I'm in town I buy from the green grocer in the local market, far cheaper than any of the supermarkets, virtually everything is individual and not pre-wrapped/sealed away. Otherwise I tend to buy what I need when I need from which ever supermarket I'm going to, and I do flit round between them having no loyalty. Only exception is Aldi, which due to previous experiences, I avoid for fruit and veg, however there is a Lidl almost across the road, which I tend to hit in the same shopping spree.
My views based on my personal experiences.
Aldi - very poor. Too many items bulk only and items go off extremely quickly.
Asda - never had an issue though with a large Asda I find their selection and variation to be surprisingly small.
Lidl - ok - not a large range, but not too bad, never had the problems (so far) with their produce going off very quickly, HOWEVER, I have noticed for much of their stuff they are no cheaper than the mainstream supermarkets.
M&S - too little loose, I do not like pre-packed. Also over priced. Not had a problem with anything I've bought there though, however seriously over-rated.
Morrisons - used to be superb for selection before they got in to financial trouble, however I did find what I bought went off quickly. Now poor selection, but good prices.
Sainsbury - decent selection, decent prices, not had an issue with them.
Tesco - large selection in the near by 'hypermaket', surprisingly decent selection at the normal sized store the other side of me. Normal prices, never had an issue. Also the best if I want loose, especially just 1 or 2 items.
Waitrose - expensive, average quality, and my local one has the fruit and veg over chilled so I have bought veg before with ice crystals....
If I'm in town I buy from the green grocer in the local market, far cheaper than any of the supermarkets, virtually everything is individual and not pre-wrapped/sealed away. Otherwise I tend to buy what I need when I need from which ever supermarket I'm going to, and I do flit round between them having no loyalty. Only exception is Aldi, which due to previous experiences, I avoid for fruit and veg, however there is a Lidl almost across the road, which I tend to hit in the same shopping spree.
My views based on my personal experiences.
Lidl's fruit and veg has always had dubious shelf life but now it's getting to be a joke.
Peppers,satsumas,potatoes all going rotten on the shelf,bananas already ripe,it's got so bad I'm going elsewhere next week.
Sainsbury's were much better although I haven't been there in a couple of years
Peppers,satsumas,potatoes all going rotten on the shelf,bananas already ripe,it's got so bad I'm going elsewhere next week.
Sainsbury's were much better although I haven't been there in a couple of years
Interesting topic as I tend to use most of them at times. Gave up with M&S and Waitrose when they got stupidly expensive for fruit and veg that turned out to be no different to others.
For shelf life issues, I wouldn't use Aldi or Lidl for fresh produce (though other stocks are often good).
Morrisons is ok but sometimes a bit lacking in variety and Sainsbury's is another that seems to charge more for little benefit.
More often than not I've looked at Tesco, but ended up using Asda as there is a good range and plenty of loose items to take my pick.
For shelf life issues, I wouldn't use Aldi or Lidl for fresh produce (though other stocks are often good).
Morrisons is ok but sometimes a bit lacking in variety and Sainsbury's is another that seems to charge more for little benefit.
More often than not I've looked at Tesco, but ended up using Asda as there is a good range and plenty of loose items to take my pick.
NorthDave said:
I'm quite a fan of Morrisons. I "think" food is a bit more local and they have a wonky range which is a bit cheaper.
Worth a try?
I’ve always been impressed when looking in Morrisons at the veg, I like the wonky stuff, think that’s a really good idea personally, although there isn’t one near me, I may try them for online deliveryWorth a try?
Speaking of online, I used to use ocado a while back but not sure if they’re any good for veg?
I personally think Waitrose is the best quality and most consistent.
M&S over-priced and over-packaged.
The Big Four much of a muchness. Variety and quality all seem to have taken a nosedive post Brexit.
Lidl is awful. I suspect that fruit and vegetables aren't refrigerated through the supply chain and therefore spoil more quickly.
M&S over-priced and over-packaged.
The Big Four much of a muchness. Variety and quality all seem to have taken a nosedive post Brexit.
Lidl is awful. I suspect that fruit and vegetables aren't refrigerated through the supply chain and therefore spoil more quickly.
We've tried them all
We found Asda hit and miss, Diddledy Dee(lidl and aldi) both woeful with stuff not edible after just a couple of days, Tesco so so
We've now decided to stick to M & S as they have the range and is generally good quality with a decent shelf life, worth the extra couple of quid
We found Asda hit and miss, Diddledy Dee(lidl and aldi) both woeful with stuff not edible after just a couple of days, Tesco so so
We've now decided to stick to M & S as they have the range and is generally good quality with a decent shelf life, worth the extra couple of quid
105.4 said:
There seems to be quite some noticeable regional variations going on here.
For us, Tesco, no matter which one of their three big local(ish) stores we go to have always been garbage for fruit and veg.
Aldi has usually been pretty good.
I think a lot of it is down to brand allegiance and perception. Most super market veg is dubious and doesn't last. Wish I had the ability to grow more stuff on my allotment. Like for like its better than any supermarket by a long shot. Best bet is where ever you buy is to by home grown if you can in season. I struggle with the concept of Kenyan runner beans or Peruvian asparagus in the winter, just crazy! For us, Tesco, no matter which one of their three big local(ish) stores we go to have always been garbage for fruit and veg.
Aldi has usually been pretty good.
I normal use Morrison’s which is quite decent. But sometimes go to a tesco extra for other reasons, and happen to have to buy a bit of fruit and veg in there. And it’s pretty terror on the whole cos it’s much more expensive and has very short dates.
Sainsbury’s was the worst of the lot, really terrible dates plus poor quality (bruised up apples etc) and expensive. It was really bad, I was thinking they must have supply issues.
ASDA ok.
Lidl decent.
(NW London), I agree regional variations must be at play here.
Sainsbury’s was the worst of the lot, really terrible dates plus poor quality (bruised up apples etc) and expensive. It was really bad, I was thinking they must have supply issues.
ASDA ok.
Lidl decent.
(NW London), I agree regional variations must be at play here.
Picked up some peppers onions and mushrooms for my mince yesterday in Lidl’s, awful selection and they all taste a bit off, I can’t put my finger on it but all their fruit and veg has been rough lately.
Bought some strawberries last week and even my 6 year old wouldn’t eat them, they were just odd!
Bought some strawberries last week and even my 6 year old wouldn’t eat them, they were just odd!
Gooose said:
Picked up some peppers onions and mushrooms for my mince yesterday in Lidl’s, awful selection and they all taste a bit off, I can’t put my finger on it but all their fruit and veg has been rough lately.
Bought some strawberries last week and even my 6 year old wouldn’t eat them, they were just odd!
I will second this.Bought some strawberries last week and even my 6 year old wouldn’t eat them, they were just odd!
We did our weekly shop in Lidl on Saturday morning, bought various fruit and veg. Yesterday we chucked away the flat peaches which were furry, despite being in our very efficient fridge, The San Marzano tomatoes look a bit iffy as well.
We had the strawberries and they just had no taste. Strawberries should be bright to dark red, not a deep shade of orange. The other strange thing is that you couldn't pull the green stalk out.
The red onions have been rubbish lately and the white onions have been rotten inside.
Personally it varies wherever you go, though having said all that have never encountered stuff in M&S that is on the point of being inedible, or even beyond it, which has been experienced with all the others at one time or another. Again personally suspect the quality of individual store management and staff is a bigger influence than which chain.
Mostly these days just pop into farm shop, however that's at the expense of high prices and choice more directed towards local produce in season so less variety. Some would see that as a positive. Quality of potatoes is streets ahead of the supermarkets.
Mostly these days just pop into farm shop, however that's at the expense of high prices and choice more directed towards local produce in season so less variety. Some would see that as a positive. Quality of potatoes is streets ahead of the supermarkets.
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