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THE COST OF groceries is still on the rise and as a result, some people say they’ve changed their shopping habits.
Daily essentials like butter, for example, have steepened in price, with a pound of Kerrygold costing nearly a fiver in some shops.
A recent study by research company Kantar showed that grocery costs in general have increased by 3% in the past year.
Today we’re asking you, where do you buy the bulk of your groceries?
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I’ll be telling the grandchildren that I remember when Lidl was great value.
@Sean Higgins: I go to whichever soup kitchen has food left! Fair play to Joan for celebrating opening soup kitchens, and fair play to harris and mm for one of the so called richest countries in the world, for still having soup kitchens!!
@Sean Higgins: I think Tesco and Supervalu are carefully driving up the price of groceries for consumers under the cloak off “inflation” and “rising costs” and “global instability”. They have betrayed their customers and have opted instead for greed. Tesco’s ridiculous Clubcard “promotions” are also contributing to inflation by normalizing inflated prices.
I was in Supervalu recently and they were selling a single serving of Pasta Carbonara, 400G, for €6.00 FFS. Pure price gouging.
Aldi and Lidl used to be good value, now that they have market share they are happy to follow the rest and continue the rip off, ignoring any sense of loyalty to customers that supported them.
Dunnes, notions of grandeur these days considering where they came from, some value to be had but also some very high prices for
very ordinary items.
Alas, these companies will keep on price gouging if allowed to, we need to rely on our absent government for protection and you will be a long time waiting for that.
Keep your receipts, compare prices from 3/6 months back and you will start to see a pattern, then use that proof to ask them about the increases.
@Paddy Short: or you could just shop around?
@Paddy Short: Treasure Island is how a former Tesco boss once described this country as.
@Paddy Short: If you want to buy precooked pasta dishes then M&S is the best value – 3 for €12. The same applies to their breaded/battered fish and coated chicken (southern fried, buttermilk, katsu).
Whoever thought that M&S has better value than Dunnes, Tesco, Lidl or Aldi.
@Ann Reddin: and a far better quality of people in M&S as well….no riffraff
@Ann Reddin: Thanks Ann, I’ll check it out, sounds good.
@Fionn – Spot on, and SV and Dunnes have followed on with the gouging that Tesco started, there is no competition anymore, they have realized if they drive up the prices they all do well and it’s much easier than them buying competitively and selling competitively and working hard for their customers.
Circle K is another, always increasing prices, and the other retail chains follow, with no regulation from Gov we are sitting ducks with big € symbols on our backs.
@Paddy Short: SuperValu do two smoked salmon dinners with vegetables, mashed potato and sauce for €10. That’s rather good value considering how much one salmon darn can cost.
Then the time taken to prepare potatoes vegetables make the sauce cook etc.
Of course these meals are convenience and you wouldn’t want to be relying on them all the time but they are quite handy on a busy day.
@Paddy Short: in France Lidl and Aldi got cut presenting the same old price … but reduced the portion. they really take people for 1d1ots
@and the hit’s just keep coming: Odious snob!
@brian o’leary: hard to shop around in a cartel retail environment.
I don’t shop on Dunnes because they’re known for bad management and poor pay. Aldi and lidl have strong worker rights and pay the living wage and are still cheaper than all the rest
@Housing Hunger Games: Dunnes are the best paying supermarket chain out there.
@Housing Hunger Games: I think you are mistaken, my grandson got seasonal work in Dunnes a few years ago and he was earning more than me in a different retail outlet
@Housing Hunger Games: our daughter works for them and they are well treated. Family also get substantial discounts each month on all items. Seems a good place to work from her experience.
@Housing Hunger Games: get a life. Dunnes is a great place to work and shop. Very generous pay and discount for staff
@Housing Hunger Games: sister in law used to work in Dunnes when she was in college, she was paid I think around €15 an hour and more on a Sunday. In addition to that I think her family got significant staff discounts. From what I understand it is one of the best supermarket chains to work for in terms of how staff are treated and then pay offered so I am curious as to where your opinion has come from?
@Housing Hunger Games: I’d have to disagree with you there. Plenty of lidl and aldi stores are tough working environments
I have mates that have worked in both and they both had the same story. Worked to the bone.
The again they might be a bit soft lol
@Housing Hunger Games: this was true a long time ago. Dunnes now seem to have changed their staff training, quality standards, and wage scales, and it is showing
@Housing Hunger Games: Incorrect information. Dunnes employees have good wages and terms of employment in the recent past. Long, long before we heard of ALDI or Lidl entering the country
@Housing Hunger Games: not one person agreeing with you. Could be wrong on this one lad
@Housing Hunger Games: Used to be the case years ago, not the same now.
@Angie Ruane: Had Lidl or Aldi not entered the country there would be no competition at all. Even if they are not your choice of venue, they have helped cut the protectionism that was rampant.
@Hanora Brennan: but are almost there on parity. They are not a discounter anymore, or at least not one in Ireland.
Supervalue and Lidl because they are close. An occasional trip to Dunnes. I wouldn’t describe any of them as good value, the prices just keep going up and up.
Lidl and Aldi fruit and veg doesn’t last too long, I will only buy fruit and veg from a greengrocers
@Mr. Biggins: or what ever swill I shoved in front of you in the mess hall.
@Fergus O’Donnell: whenever you get your head out of the bin
Remember when Lidl and Aldi just set up here around 25 years ago? They barely had lights on! Everything wrapped in pallets on the floor.They didn’t even have baskets,you had to grab an empty box and use that to gather your bits.It was insanely cheap though,I still shop in Lidl.It has caught up with the rest price wise,maybe still a bit cheaper than supervalu
@Johnny King: Don’t remember the no basket thing, but they were bleak and I wouldn’t have eaten most of their products outside fresh fruit and veg. Remember tinned Irish stew being one of them. Their shops have improved appearance wise vastly and their products are the equivalent of stuff you get in the other big shops in the main. Suppose the price rise is the payoff for all this.
Supervalue for the main stuff, meat and veg, pretty much own brand for everything except for coffee, ketchup and mayo, somethings you can compromise on.
Tesco for their own brand fruit and fibre and cordials, the majority of their own brand cereals are quite good actually, far superior over Aldi and Lidl.
Lidl for their cleaning products and cats treats and milk
Last Aldi for nuts, prunes, tortilla wraps and their Greek yogurt / cottage cheeses.
Aldi steak on par with SuperValu 80/90% of the time.
@Fiona Wyse: great to have the time.
@Fiona Wyse: bloody you’d spend more on petrol with all driving around
@Mark Donnelly: you do know that you can walk between supermarkets? I’m just back from being in Dunne’s, Tesco and Lidl for different items. No petrol used.
@Soundy Sound: 20km of walking around Galway city if you want to get all of them in.
@Mark Donnelly: I don’t go to all those shops every week, I wouldn’t have the time myself so I buy in bulk when I can. I’m just merely sharing my observations on what products I think are good in different shops.
@Fiona Wyse: you should be called Wyse Fiona..
@Stiles: My school reports might not have agreed with you!
@Mark Donnelly: my 20 min walk home from work takes me past Tesco and Lidl or If I use a different route home it takes me past Dunnes and Aldi. I vary my shopping according to my needs and what each store excels in like Fiona does. Lidl I use almost daily and get other things from the others if there’s something particular I need/want. Meat mostly from the local butchers and it’s still cheaper, fresher (and locally sourced) than Dunnes or SuperValu. Loyalty on each based only on needs. Save a small fortune which pays for Xmas excesses.
@Yleennoc: Dunnes,Tesco, Lidl and Aldi are all beside each other on the headford road plus a few others like Mr price etc, don’t know where your getting 20kms from maybe SuperValu out in oranmore but the bulk are all walking distance. Galway is compact.
@Fiona Wyse: same approach. It obviously helps that Tesco Dunnes SuperValu Aldi and Lidl all have an outlet less than 2 km from my gaff (plus M&S around 5km away). Definitely not faithful to 1 single brand. They don’t deserve it.
@brian o’leary: Yawn!
@john murray: I redact my last comment
@Soundy Sound: and that comes back to the point on having enough time. Very few people with both parents working, kids at school and activities would have the luxury of time to go from shop to shop for different items. Returning bottles and cans probably added more burden on folk already maxed out on time available.
James Whelan butchers for all meat fabulous butcher, shopping split between Marks and Spencer’s and Avoca veg from local farmers market.
@Rian O’Sullivan: Absolute Horseplay Rian
@Rian O’Sullivan: You wouldn’t be full of BS by any chance, would you?
@James Kelly: elite banter…
@Rian O’Sullivan: james Whelan meat is quality.
@Stephen Heffernan: he’s so full of krapp it spews out onto this page.
@James Kelly: Nope just a question in relation to shopping nothing more.
@Clare Power: Definitely agree fabulous
@Fergus O’Donnell: Silence incel
@Rian O’Sullivan: horseplay wins it for me.
@Rian O’Sullivan: Millionaire??
@Maurice Whelan: Define Millionare
Carrefour
@Temp Stuff: France?
@Thesaltyurchin: not everyone who reads the journal lives in little Ireland
@Shane Cormican: I didn’t for a long time myself, from Google tho I get France and middle east, just wondering thats all. French supermarkets are legit af (from what I remember).
@Temp Stuff: I carry five!!
@Shane Cormican: What are they commenting for, so?
Great to see Lidl employing those with an Intellectual Disability
Every shop has its own offers on each week. Depending on whats needed will dictate where I shop.
You know you’ve made it in life when you can do the weekly shop in only supervalu and not bother to look at any of the prices!
@Dan The Man: Tip – that black plastic packaging on their meats makes it look better than it is esp under cold white light in their stores.
@Dan The Man: I don’t find it that expensive, own brand all the way. I can feed myself and the hubby with dinners and breakfast for easily €50/60 a week. I have a budget of €350 a month for groceries and household bits.
@Fiona Wyse: That sounds about right, especially for a rural area. Maybe a bit more expensive in big towns.
@Nick Vasilakis: I would live and what is described as a very large town in the Northeast so I’m not sure if location really matters?
@Fiona Wyse: Drogheda is a kip
@and the hit’s just keep coming: I don’t live there, Navan worse again ha.
I buy all my groceries in Tesco because it’s convenient to get to from where I live. I wouldn’t be bothered wasting petrol going further than I need to but if Lidl was closer I’d probably shop there instead.
Should be an option to pick more than one. I do my shopping in at least 3 different shops.
Asda still good value
@Shaun Gallagher: It’s spelt Aldi.
@James T.Kirk: No it’s Asda
@Shaun Gallagher: Are you the CEO of Asda?
@Brian Hunt: or Enoch Burke’s mammy?
@Shaun Gallagher: One thing I really miss – that huuuuuge veggie/vegan aisle in the giant Asda’s! Enormous with endless options! Aldi is probably the best stocked on that front over here, but it’s still slim pickings in comparison.
@Shaun Gallagher: yes went up last bank holiday for soft drinks we.are being ripped off here compared to their prices and no returns scamm
Dunnes has the largest market share for Irish retailers.. so obviously the answer will be dunnes …
I have found that my local grocery shop is best value. Prices may be slightly higher, but you only buy what is on your list. Supermarkets entice us to buy things on impulse. Things we don’t need.
A combination of all of them works best for me.
Most essentials are the same price , bread , milk fruit and veg, meat etc but the rest is bought if and when it’s on offer. I get some weird looks when I’m heading out of Dunnes with 5 boxes of corn flakes , 6 jars of beetroot and 4 x 24 pack of toilet rolls in my trolley.
@Peter J H: I just went onto the carrefour website there as someone mentioned it above. Said I’d do a quick comparison on something like chocolate M&M share size bag. Ireland works out at just over €24kg whereas in France it works out at just under €11kg.
@Peter J H: M&Ms! Very good comparison for grocery prices. I’m off to France to live now…
SuperValu for the bulk of my shopping and Aldi for some specific food products that I can’t get elsewhere
Supervalu my ass Superovervalu . . I find supervalu the most expensive. I buy bits here n there in Tesco Lidl or Aldi n Dunnes occasionally
@Martin Kelleher: no particular one because with the swings and roundabouts effect the overload bill remains the same. Tend to avoid Tesco as it’s pricey and the coupons are nowhere near as good as dunnes.
Fruit, veg, meat, bread, Local/independent, Household Tesco. Sometimes Supervalu.
@Thesaltyurchin: some of the household stuff in tescos are great value .
Nolans.
@Melanie Hobbs: butchers?? If so you must have plenty of money!!!
Lidl, Aldi prices very close to the rest of stores with little savings.
Depends on the week and what I need, supervalu, Dunnes or aldi
Primarily Aldi, although they certainly are nowhere near as good value as they used to be. Would go to Tesco and Lidl as well as they are both within walking distance of me. Think SuperValu despite their name are easily the most overpriced of the lot, so never go there. Dunnes just for their bakery section, and M&S when I’m feeling rich.
Bring back butter vouchers!
Recent addition “SHUPPA”.. it’s great too.
@Guru Sharma: used it too. Seems reasonable for last minute stuff.
My mother used to buy most of our groceries from SuperQuinn when it was still around. Now that it’s been bought by SuperValu, whenever I’m back home to visit her, I usually do her shopping in SuperValu. They offer a wide variety of good-quality products for a reasonable price. It’s easy for people to point fingers at supermarket companies for price increases to their groceries but it shows a lack of understanding when it comes to basic economics. Supermarkets don’t set the base cost of goods, they are dictated by suppliers, manufacturers and global markets. The price you see on the shelf reflects a combination of raw material costs, transportation costs, labour costs, energy costs and regulatory burdens. Unlike other industries, supermarkets have razor-thin profit margins (typically 1-3%).
Donnybrook Fair. Less riff-raff (other than RTÉ staff).
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: Those Chilli Lime crisps are off the charts
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: Donnybrook fair is just another Musgrave brand name, hence why a lot of Supervalu shops now have that brand on the shelves.
Supervalu is not for me. Preffered SuperQuinn days. Still fond of the sausages though (oooooh saucy).
Roughly even between Supervalu and Tesco.
They are about the same distance away, but would go to Tesco if was late in the day, since the walk to Supervalu has a unlit path.
Probably go to shops about 4 times a week, and would mostly decide which after checking online price for the high cost items.
I purchased what looked like well priced cod in Lidl, in fairness it was not false advertising. It was the most aptly named swimmer since Jaws. There was a trace element of fish among the breadcrumbs, but like I said, the packaging did say ‘This is a Cod’.
Organic Store, Birr, Co.Offaly
The prices are ridiculous for most things but my issue with Dunnes is that if I want to buy meat, I can’t go in knowing what I want because if I go in looking for say – mince, they’ve none, lamb chops – they’ve none, Chicken Kievs, they’ve none. It’s a case of make up your mind when you get there out of the few options they have
I like to shop around. Super valu, aldi, and a little bit in my local mace.
Lidl and Aldi and SuperValue . Depending on price quality and supply.
A did a big shop in Aldi today and it was €130. I was a bit surprised as usually it’d be around €115.
Tesco for range & price. Supervalu for quality & meat. Lidl for washing & cleaning stuff, Dunnes (big outlets) for layout & cleanliness.
How’s dat!!
I like to shop local for fish, meat and bread. I Don’t think the bakery, fishmongers or butcher are that much more expensive and the quality is far superior than anything you get in a supermarket. I would love to be able to buy my fruit and veg from a greengrocers shop but i dont have the option. Great to talk to local providers about the origin of the food etc. Otherwise its mainly tesco but you have to have a club card. Supervalu near me is smaller than most and quiet expensive
Walmart for everything……Ha! ha!
From Nappies to Ammo
@Maurice Whelan: including banking and paying your taxes
The catch with Dunnes Stores is a 10 off 50 (10-day voucher.) 5 off 25 is a seven-day voucher. Is Weekly shopping is cheaper?
Dunnes Stores. Quality, great value and Irish.
Dunnes but only if I can get my hands on a voucher!
I mix and match.
In a grocery store?
Shops.
Shop local. Buy unusual brands and items in big stores. buy veg, homemade jams and home prepared juice drinks at farmers’ markets. The Dublin Food Co-op is an example of urban support for small scale food producers.
@Alan but as a single person coupons are no good to me coz I don’t do the big shop in one particular supermarket. It’s great for families not so much single ppl those vouchers/ coupons 10 off 50 ubspend etc
In a shop….duhh!
Dunnes for me mostly. Using the vouchers religiously. Trying to get my shopping to as close to €25 or €50 to ensure I get the best percentage discount.
But I go up north a few times a year and stock up on some of the more expensive items up there. Coffees / Wines / Toiletries can frequently be bought up there for prices that are way cheaper than here so I buy months worth and just store them in the shed.
Mercadona
How about none of your business!!
America.
have your say