In honour of Veganuary a time of year when vegan lovers can share the joys of all things vegan, Need2Know Books are looking for the best mouth-watering vegan recipes from members of the public.
Using a range of aromatic ingredients alongside a variety of vegan staples the hunt is on to find the best of the best in vegan cooking. So, if you fancy trying your hands at a bit of creative vegan culinary enter Need2Know Books’ Vegan Recipe Challenge.
There are lots of free giveaways for the best eight entries with the top two winners winning a free copy of the Essential Guide to Vegan Cooking and Food for Health, a must have guide on how to get optimal nutrition from food. A selection of the best original vegan recipe entries will be given a chance to be featured in a fully illustrated colour cookbook published by Need2Know Books.
Ian Walton, the director of Need2Know Books says: “We want vegan food lovers to explore new ways of cooking vegan food. Using a variety of flavours and textures the challenge is to create an original culinary masterpiece that is simple to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
“So, whether you want to put a new spin on brown rice and lentils, or butternut squash with pumpkin seeds, creating something new is the challenge.”
Need2Know Books publishes a variety of essential guides that cover issues concerning health, mental health, fitness and diet. A range of essential guides are available that give dietary advice and guidance on children’s nutrition, weight loss, and food for health. All Need2Know Books highlight important ‘essential things to know’ written in easy to read language without unnecessary and confusing jargon.
Covid has certainly changed our home habits with many of us spending more time in the kitchen experimenting with new foods and flavours. Research has found that cooking at home has increased by 40% since the first lockdown in March 2020.
The love of vegan cooking has been growing in the last few years. Recent data revealed the number of vegans in the UK now exceeds three-and-a-half million, or 7% of the population. These figures indicate that veganism has seen a 700% growth in the UK in the last two years.
In the United States a similar pattern can be seen. A new study has revealed that the number of Americans following plant-based diets is up nearly 9.6 million over the last 15 years. This is a 300% increase and nearly 3 percent of the population in the United States are following a vegan diet.
Kelly Fairchild, a global business development manager from Ipsos Retail Performance said: “Plant-based diets are fast becoming mainstream, but the change hasn’t been a steady one.
“Recent years have seen rapid adoption of vegan diets and more meat-free products making their way onto shelves. As the dialog around veganism shifts from one of animal welfare, to wider concerns around climate change and personal health, we are seeing more and more people adopt this once minority dietary preference.”
The growing love affair with vegan eating and living is affecting all of our lives and can no longer be ignored. As more meat free products become available from the big chain supermarkets the opportunity to experiment with exciting new dishes will inevitably continue to grow.
To enter Need2Know Books’ Vegan Recipe Challenge send your recipe and a picture of your best dish. Remember to personalise it with a catchy title and a good quality photo. Shortlisted recipes will be featured on the company’s social media channels. Recipes need to be clearly written with appropriate ingredients, measurements and cooking time. All sorts of recipes will be considered from tasty dinner meals, to exotic breads, and yummy desserts.
Eight winners will be chosen in total with six given a book of their choice from Need2Know Books’ extensive book catalogue. The top two winners will receive a free copy of The Essential Guideto Vegan Cooking and Food for Health. The best entries will be eligible to feature in a new fully illustrated cookbook published by Need2Know Books.
The number of people following a vegan diet has risen in recent years and this month, many people are challenging themselves with ‘Veganuary’. A vegan diet contains only plant-based foods, such as grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. It is generally accepted that a vegan diet can offer benefits for the environment, animal welfare and your health.
The benefits of the vegan diet for your heart depends on which foods you choose and what else you do with your lifestyle. People who cut animal foods out of their diets tend to benefit from more fruit, veg and fibre and less saturated fat, with favourable blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Why not try out some of our Vegan inspired Healthy Heart Tips:
Rapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts, green leafy vegetables and soya products contain omega-3 fat which, when swapped for foods high in saturated fat, like fatty meats and cheese, could help to protect your heart and arteries. To cut down on animal fats, why not try swapping minced beef in your recipes for lentils, beans or chickpeas.
Look for reinforcements
To make sure your body isn’t missing out on essential nutrients, a vegan diet needs to be well-planned and you might need to top up on some vitamins. This time of year when sunlight exposure is limited, everyone in the UK should consider taking a vitamin D supplement.
This is especially important if you’re cutting out animal products. You’ll also need to supplement on vitamin B12 as you can’t get this from plant-based foods. Check food labels for the word ‘fortified’- most vegan spreads, breakfast cereals and soya products have vitamin D, calcium and B12 added to them.
The vegan diet isn’t the be all and end all to good health, but taking a leaf out of the vegan way could set you off in the right direction when it comes to heart health.
So why not give it a go, start with one meal a day or one day a week and see how you like it.
Whilst many of our cupboards are overflowing with leftover bottles of Christmas booze, it’s understandable if you don’t fancy drinking the dregs – but there’s no excuse to throw it out!
With Burns Night around the corner, why not put your booze to good use and create an alcohol-infused feast to get the celebrations rolling?
Not everyone has skills like Mary Berry or James Martin, which is why the team over at The Bottle Club have rallied together five quick and easy recipes which will perfectly accompany a Burns Night feast, allowing you to indulge in some delicious boozy calories.
Typsy Laird
This simply boozy Scottish trifle is the perfect pud for a Burns Night dinner and isn’t called Typsy Laird for nothing. For those who haveleftover Christmas sherry, this is how to use it. Be warned, this sweet is not suitable for children!
This dessert can be generously doused in Sherry andDrambuie (a Scotch whisky liqueur infused with heather honey, herbs and spices), accompanied by custard and raspberries. You can adjust quantities of the individual ingredients based on your trifle dish and personal tastes, but making the custard from scratch is key, and it’s easier than you may think.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Serves 8
Ingredients:
Base:
340 grams sponge or pound cake
140ml Sherry
60ml Drambuie
230 grams raspberry jam
finely grated rind of a fresh, organic lemon
6 ladyfingers
Custard:
4 egg yolks
60ml milk
3 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Top:
250ml cream
1 or 2 tbsp Drambuie
Method:
Break the sponge cake into pieces and place on the bottom of a trifle bowl (or individual bowls).
Place the Sherry and Drambuie in a measuring jug. Heat the jam slightly and add a little of the liquor to make it a bit runny. Pour the jam over the cake evenly.
Add the crushed biscuits on top of the jam and sprinkle the lemon rind over the biscuits.
Next, pour the liquor over the top of the crushed biscuits. Leave to soak.
Make the custard by putting it into a bowl to cool a little, stirring constantly, before adding to the top of the trifle base. Cover and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours).
Finish by whipping cream and add 1 or 2 tablespoons of Drambuie. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream onto the top of the trifle. Decorate with almonds, raspberries and mint leaves.
If you loved chicken before, you’ll certainly love it once infused with some bubbly booze- prosecco and chicken is such a wonderful combination. This isn’t a typical dish on a Burns night menu, but similar to Scottish Deviled Chicken and perfect for those who don’t fancy haggis.
This dish is simply rustic-style chicken served with stir-fried vegetables and a simple green salad, but the key to this dish is the flavoursome sauce, made with butter, rosemary, onions, chicken stock and of course, Prosecco.
Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
5 cloves of garlic
1 medium onion
250 ml of prosecco
450 grams boneless chicken
10 tbsp chicken stog
1 sprig rosemary
1 large courgette (chopped)
1 large carrot (chopped)
1 cup button mushrooms
Method:
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter to a deep pan. When the butter has melted, add chicken and saute until cooked through. Set aside on a plate.
Add garlic and onions, lower the heat to medium and cook for five minutes until onions have softened.
Add your prosecco and stir well to glaze the bottom of the pan, bringing to the boil. Add the chicken and lower to simmer, covering the pan to cook for 10 minutes.
Remove rosemary and transfer onion mixture to a blender, add remaining two tablespoons chicken stock and puree until smooth. Set aside.
In another pan, add remaining olive oil, zucchini, carrots and mushrooms and cook on medium/high heat for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender but still have a crunch. Add salt and pepper seasoning.
Pop all ingredients into a large bowl, toss well and serve.
As strange as it may sound, chocolate haggis is actually pretty tasty and perfect for those who are a bit squeamish about eating the real thing and more importantly, the perfect chance to splash away all that leftover whisky from Christmas
This haggis- for those who don’t like haggis- is essentially shortbread and whisky fridge cake, ideally served with ice cream ‘tatties’ and orange jelly ‘neeps’. The end result, a seriously rich and boozy easy to make no-bake fridge cake.
Image: Food Quine
Preparation time: 20 mins
Serves 4
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Scotch Whisky (splash the good stuff!)
50g Sultanas
100g Butter
100g Cocoa Powder
1 Free Range Egg
100g Caster Sugar
150g Shortbread
50g Mixed Nuts, chopped
Icing Sugar to dust
Method:
Put the sultanas and whisky into a small bowl and leave to soak whilst you prepare the remaining ingredients
Melt the butter in a saucepan, then sieve in the cocoa powder and stir until you have a smooth paste
In a separate bowl, whisk the sugar and egg together until pale and creamy
Place the shortbread in a zip lock bag and bash it with a rolling pin. You want a mixture of chunks and crumbs
Combine the chocolate mixture with the sugar/egg mix and stir in the shortbread, chopped mixed nuts and the whisky soaked sultanas, plus any remaining whisky
Layout a double thickness of cling film and tip the chocolate mixture out onto it forming a haggis shape
Roll up and continue to manipulate into shape tying a knot at each end of the cling film
Chill in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight to harden
Remove the cling film, slice and serve alongside a wee dram
These boozy breakfast buns are a comforting sweet yet salty treat and can be enjoyed any time of the day. Scots are always partial to a splash of rum, so these buns are the perfect way to soak up any leftover at the back of the cupboard.
Fluffy, light and tender, hot cross buns with rum-soaked currants are a treat any time of year but make holidays feel extra special, best served slightly toasted with a smear of salted butter, washed down with a nice warm brew- or a hot toddy.
Boil 300ml of milk on a low heat and in a separate pan, place 50g of butter over low heat until melted. Add warmed milk and melted butter into a bowl, mix and leave to cool until mixture reaches room temperature.
Separately, mix 500g of flour, 1 tsp of salt, 75g of caster sugar and 1sp of baking powder into a bowl.
Pour in the warm milk and butter mixture and add 1 beaten egg. Add in a splash of spiced rum, and combine the ingredients to form a sticky dough and place onto a floured surface.
Knead until the mixture becomes smooth and then place the dough into a flour-covered bowl, leave to rise for 1 hour until the mixture has doubled in size.
Once the dough has risen, place the mixture back onto a floured surface and tip in 75g of sultanas, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon and knead this into the dough.
Divide the dough into 16 squares and on a floured surface, roll these squares into balls.
Line these balls onto a baking tray and cover with a damp tea towel to allow the balls to prove for an additional hour until they have doubled in size.
Add 5 tbsp of water, 1 tbsp at a time, to 75g of plain flour to make the paste, then pipe two lines across the top of the buns to make a cross on each, using a piping bag or a spoon.
Place the hot cross buns in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes and set aside to cool on a wire rack once fully golden.
On the coast, long summer days are often spent fishing salmon in the fast-running local rivers. Whisky-cured salmon is a Scottish favourite, served on a large wooden board with a range of accompaniments: oatcakes, thinly sliced pumpernickel bread, small bowls of assorted homemade pickles, crème fraîche, and lots of lemon wedges.
Line a baking tray and rinse the salmon under cold water and pat dry. In a bowl, mix together the salt, sugar, peppercorns, and juniper berries. Sprinkle half the salt mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread one bunch of dill on top.
Lay the salmon skin-side down on the dill and drizzle with the whisky. Cover with the remaining dill, and top with the rest of the salt mixture.
Wrap the salmon in a tight plastic wrap and refrigerate for 48 hours.
When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap from the salmon. Using the back of a knife scrape the cure mixture off the fish and lay on a large wooden board. To serve, thinly slice the salmon into diagonal strips leaving the skin behind.
The Bottle Club tips for cooking with whisky: “The flavours of a single malt Scotch whisky, for example, are derived from malted barley fermentation, the distillation process and maturation in oak casks over several years, which makes it ideal to boost a wide variety of flavours in foods”
Everything you need to feed a family up to six for a little over £3
Aldi are now selling some of the nation’s favourite dishes to help customers celebrate Burns Night on a budget.
With prices starting at just 99p, Aldi’s Burns Night range has something to suit everyone, whether they are cooking a big feast for their household or celebrating the big day solo on the sofa.
Aldi has partnered with some of its top local suppliers, including Simon Howie, McIntosh of Strathmore and We hae meat, to bring the best of Scotland’s larder to your Burns table.
Customers can pick up everything they need for a traditional Burns supper, including haggis, neeps and tatties to feed a family up to six for only £3.12.
Comfortably feeding two to three adults, Aldi’s best-selling Macaulay’s Haggis (454g) is available in store every day and customers can choose from the traditional meat option or a delicious vegetarian alternative for only 99p (offer available 14th – 25th Feb). Also available in store is the popular Specially Selected Chieftain Haggis (£2.69, 908g), the perfect centrepiece for any Burns Night table, and feeds up to six hungry mouths.
Aldi’s weekly Super 6 deal on fresh vegetables includes Maris Piper Potatoes (79p, 2.5kg) and Swede (35p each), to make the all-important tatties and neeps to accompany your haggis.
For anyone looking for a modern twist to a traditional Burns supper, Aldi’s Specially Selected Haggis En Croute (£3.49, 470g) has returned to stores after flying off the shelves last year. There’s also Jumbo Haggis Pigs in Blankets (£2.29, 400g)from Ayrshire butcher We hae meat, Simon Howie Haggis Bon Bons (£1.99, 240g) and Haggis Olives (£2.99, 400g), Bells Steak & Haggis Pies (99p, 2 pack), and a Haggis Pakora Platter (£2.79, 350g).
If you would prefer to put your feet up and have a delicious Burns Supper prepared for you, why not try Aldi’s McIntosh of Strathmore Burns Box (£3.49, 900g) meal kit for two, complete with everything you and your partner need to celebrate Scotland’s national poet without lifting a finger (apart from popping it in the microwave)!
Finally, no Burns Night would be complete without a dram of Scotch and customers can choose from a range of high-quality Scottish Malt whiskies, including Aldi’s award winning Highland Black 8-Year-Old Scotch Whisky (£14.00, 70cl) and Glen Marnoch Islay, Speyside and Highland Single Malt Whiskies (£16.49, 70cl).
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “From hearty family meals to delicious haggis dishes with a modern twist, Aldi’s 2021 Burns Night range offers customers the whole package when it comes to creating the ultimate Burns Supper.
“With celebrations having to be a bit different this year, it’s all the more important that we have things to look forward to and enjoy, and there’s nothing better than delicious, comforting Scottish produce to get into the spirit of Burns.”
Aldi’s Scottish Burns Night range is available from all 96 Scottish Aldi stores. You can find your nearest Aldi store here.
The Full Burns Night range includes:
MacAulay’s Haggis (99p, 454g)
MacAulay’s Vegetarian Haggis (99p, 454g)
Specially Selected Chieftain Haggis (£2.69, 908g)
Specially Selected Haggis En Croute (£3.49, 470g)
Simon Howie Gluten Free Haggis (£1.99, 454g)
Simon Howie Haggis Olives (£2.99, 400g)
Simon Howie Haggis Bon Bons (£1.99, 240g)
Bells Steak & Haggis Pies (99p, 2 pack)
Bells Steak & Haggis Pie (£2.99, 400g)
McIntosh of Strathmore Burns Box (meal kit for two) (£3.49, 900g)
Lauchlan Burn Skinny Haggis Olives (£2.79, 350g)
MacSween Whisky Cream Sauce (£1.19, 150g)
Mash Direct Mashed Neeps & Tatties (£1.89, 750g)
McIntosh of Strathmore Vegetarian Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (99p, 340g)
– Food to come from Morrisons food-making sites, distribution centres and suppliers –
– Morrisons will work with food redistribution charity The Bread and Butter Thing to reach 30,000 families in 100 locations –
Morrisons is extending its work with leading food redistribution charity The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), to provide great quality food for thousands of families in the UK, while at the same time significantly reducing food waste in its food making operations and supply chain around the UK.
Food factories are the second highest source of food waste after households, according to the food waste charity WRAP. This typically happens because of overproduction, imperfections, mis-labelling or because the food runs out of shelf life.
During 2021, Morrisons plans to redistribute surplus food to 30,000 families in need through TBBT. Morrisons partnership with TBBT was set up in 2016 and has so far provided 2m meals to its members.
The food – amounting to another 800 tonnes or 2 million meals a year – will come from a range of Morrisons food-making sites, distribution centres, and UK suppliers. The range of products donated will include fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, prepared food and bread.
TBBT will redistribute it to families in need of healthy and nutritious meals. Its research found 80 per cent of adults who received food from TBBT are skipping meals themselves to feed their families1.
So far, the partnership has enabled TBBT to double its reach from its Greater Manchester origins. A second TBBT warehouse opened in County Durham in November 2020, new vans will take the fleet to 10, and over 50 hubs are expected to be operational across the North of England by mid 2021. Morrisons support will enable the charity to expand nationally to 100 locations by the start of 2022.
Steven Butts, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Morrisons, said: “Reducing food waste is important to our customers, colleagues and shareholders.
“We’ve made very strong progress in reducing waste in our supermarkets over many years. But there is still more to do behind the scenes and this extension of our partnership with TBBT will mean that they can do even more for families around the UK while at the same time helping us further reduce wasted food.”
Mark Game, CEO TBBT, said:“We’ve all faced enormous challenges this year and we could not have done it without Morrisons’ continued support and the heroic efforts of its team to keep its surplus food coming to us in addition to feeding the nation during this tumultuous time.
“I’m enormously grateful to Morrisons and all its staff for helping us to keep our members fed with quality, nutritious food which, for a whole variety of reasons, couldn’t be sold.
“We work in some of the UK’s most deprived communities. The financial savings for people using our service are significant, people eat better quality and a bigger variety of food, and we save tonnes of surplus edible food from going to waste.
“It’s a win/win solution for everyone. Morrisons have been a major supporter since our launch in 2016, and I’m excited that this new, extended partnership will enable us to grow nationwide.”
Morrisons has pledged to reduce operational food waste by 50% by 2030. To date the supermarket has launched the biggest Wonky fruit and veg range, has donated surplus food from every store, and offers boxes of veg, bakery and deli items for just £3.09 via the Too Good to Go App. Since 2015 Morrisons stores have also given surplus food to local good causes – totalling 3.5 tonnes last year.
Morrisons has 18 of its own food making sites – preparing meat, fruit, veg, fish, bakery and fresh food products, plus six distribution centres. The supermarket is the largest fresh food manufacturer in the UK, and makes more than half of the fresh food sold in its stores.
New minimum hourly rates for Store Assistants of £9.55 nationally, rising to £10.57
All Scottish store colleagues to receive hourly pay increases
New minimum hourly pay exceeds the Living Wage Foundation’s latest recommended pay rates
Aldi is one of the only supermarkets to offer paid breaks, which means its colleagues remain the best-paid in the sector
Aldi is recruiting for 335 new store colleagues in Scotland in 2021
Aldi has recognised the amazing contribution of its store colleagues by giving them a New Year’s pay rise and increasing its minimum hourly rates from 1 February 2021.
All of Aldi’s 1,500 Scottish Store Assistant colleagues will benefit from the pay rise, with Aldi paying a minimum hourly rate of £9.55, up from £9.40.
The new rates of pay are also boosted by the fact Aldi is still one of the only UK supermarkets to pay for breaks taken during shifts, which means Aldi colleagues remain the best-paid in the sector. When paid breaks are included, Aldi’s minimum hourly pay rate for store colleagues, based on an average six-hour shift, will be £10.11*.
These changes mean that Aldi store colleagues across Scotland will earn a minimum of £0.83 more per hour than the current National Living Wage.
The pay rise follows bonuses that were awarded to store colleagues in April and December 2020, in recognition of their efforts throughout the pandemic.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Aldi UK and Ireland said: “I want to express my sincere thanks to every single Aldi colleague, who stepped up when it mattered and helped us succeed in our most important mission of all – feeding the nation.
“That is down to our people. Their outstanding efforts have ensured that our customers continue to have access to fresh affordable food, every single day. It has never been more important to ensure that our colleagues are rewarded fully for their immense contribution during a challenging period for everyone.”
This year will see Aldi open its 100th Scottish store in Scotland. Currently, the retailer has 96 Scottish stores stocking some of the finest and best value locally sourced food and drink.
This year it will invest a further £20 million in four new stores, which include Hermiston Gait in Edinburgh, Thornybank Industrial Estate in Dalkeith, Portlethen Retail Park in Aberdeen and J24 Retail Park in Govan, while a new store in Gateside Commerce Park, Haddington will open to replace the existing store.
To support this growth, Aldi is recruiting 335 store-level positions in Scotland this year. For the latest vacancies, please visit https://www.aldirecruitment.co.uk/.
Range also includes Vegan broccoli and cauliflower crisps perfect for Veganuary and naturally sweetened soda from iconic Scottish company, Bon Accord
All products available as Specialbuys while stocks last
Aldi has launched a range of delicious new products that have been developed and manufactured in Scotland following the supermarket’s search for the country’s Next Top Product.
Working in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, Aldi’s search to uncover exciting new products was relaunched early last year as part of the supermarket’s support of local suppliers and their commitment to increase the range of Scottish products sold in store.
Previous winners and now long-term suppliers of Aldi include Inverness-based Cobbs Bakery and Orkney’s Argo’s bakery. After winning the competition for their Orkney Caramel Shortbread, Argo’s Bakery went on to win Own Label Product of the Year at the 2017 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards and Bakery Product of the Year at the 2018 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
Fans of Scotland’s other national drink can pick up a pack of Iron Brew flavoured Jelly Babies (99p, 200g), developed by Greenock-based Golden Casket.
Health-conscious consumers trying Veganuary can pick up a packet of broccoli crisps (69p, 22g / £1.29, 78g) with Cheese or Sour Cream & Chive from Aldi’s new Fife-based supplier, Grower’s Garden. Available in snack size, or as a sharing bag, these are made using their own farm-fresh vegetables grown in the East of Scotland. These gluten-free and vegan-friendly crisps are broccoli like you have never had it before!
Or why not try Aldi’s new gluten-free and vegan-friendly Cauliflower Crisps in snackable or shareable bags (69p, 22g / £1.29, 80g). Created by Kilmarnock-based Nudie Snacks using wonky looking cauliflowers that would otherwise not be used, customers can choose from Cheese & Caramelised Onion or Katsu Curry flavour.
To wash everything down Aldi customers can now choose from a range of naturally sweetened soft drinks from iconic Scottish company, Bon Accord.
Founded in Arbroath in 1903, Bon Accord was a much-loved brand across Scotland until it closed its operations in 2000. After 16 years, the Great-Great-Granddaughter of one of its founders reimagined the brand and brought it back with a range of juices that have been naturally sweetened with coconut nectar and real fruit juice.
Choose from Cream Soda, Rhubarb Soda, Pink Grapefruit Soda, or Ginger Beer (£1.29, 275ml).
Also launched this week is a range of Scottish Savoury Biscuits baked to perfection by Turriff-based supplier, McKenzie Biscuits.
These light savoury biscuits are made from a unique and award-winning recipe developed by the McKenzie family at their bakery in North East Scotland, and customers can choose from two delicious flavours: Plain, or Rosemary. Or why not try their Oat & Honey Biscuits (99p, 150g), perfect with a cup of tea on a cold January afternoon.
For anyone with a sweet tooth there’s new Confectious Fudge flavoured with Strawberry and Lemonade Gin (£1.29, 150g) created by Aldi’s long-term supplier, Aldomak.
Scotland Food & Drink Chief Executive James Withers commented: “It’s great to see these fantastic new products from some exceptional Scottish companies launching in Aldi today.
“Last year was incredibly tough for the food and drink industry and 2021 will continue to be challenging, so I’d encourage everyone to look out for these outstanding new products when they next visit their local Aldi and help support these incredible suppliers.”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We’re committed to supporting independent Scottish suppliers and bringing their quality products to our stores.
“It was a privilege to judge Aldi’s Next Top Product search last year and I’m excited that our customers in Scotland can now try these delicious new products, knowing that they are backing Scottish suppliers when they shop at Aldi.”
Aldi’s ‘Next Top Products’ are now available from all 96 Scottish stores while stocks last. You can find your nearest Aldi store here.
Shoppers hunting for the best deals often head to Aldi to pay as little as possible for their weekly shop – but the supermarket is now making groceries even more affordable.
All of Aldi’s 912 UK stores will soon mark down perishable products such as bread, meat and fruit and vegetables by 75% before stores close on their last day of life.
Aldi currently reduces the price of some products on their best-before or use-by dates, but is now offering bigger discounts, which are marked with a red sticker.
The move will give savvy customers a bargain while cutting waste, as Aldi works towards a target of halving food waste by 2030.
The time that items are reduced will vary by store, and all products will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi, said: “Aldi is already known for its low prices, but these discounts will help some shoppers to cut their grocery bills even further – all while helping us reduce food waste.
“Customers should look out for the red stickers when shopping at Aldi, but shoppers need to be quick as I’m sure the products will prove popular.”
Lidl has narrowly beaten Aldi to be named the cheapest supermarket of 2020, according to Which? analysis.
The consumer champion tracked the price of 45 popular branded and own-label products such as Hovis bread, Knorr stock cubes and free-range eggs in eight major supermarkets for at least 100 days between January and December 2020.
In a year when saving money became more important than ever for many households, Which? calculated the average price of each item over the year and the total average cost of all 45 items in the trolley. Lidl was the cheapest, with the basket costing £42.67 on average.
Aldi, where the same basket of items cost £43.01 on average, was the second cheapest – with just 34p separating the German rivals
In recent years, Aldi and Lidl have significantly grown their market share in the UK, but this is the first time they have been included in Which?’s annual study, which now includes own-label items as well as branded ones.
Asda was the third-cheapest supermarket with the same basket of items costing £48.71 on average, however this is still over £5 more than Aldi and Lidl.
Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket in 2020. The average cost of the 45 items on Which?’s shopping list was £68.69, around 60 per cent (£26.02) more than a similar shop at Lidl.
Which? found there were stark price differences between popular own-label products at Waitrose and Lidl. For example, Waitrose’s own-label cooked and peeled cold water prawns would set customers back £4.60 on average, however the equivalent at Lidl only cost £1.99.
Waitrose’s own-label six pack of very large free-range eggs would cost customers £2.47 on average, whereas a similar product is almost half the price – £1.27 – at Lidl.
Ocado was the second most expensive supermarket of 2020 (£66.83), while Sainsbury’s was the third-priciest retailer (£56.38). Asda (£48.71), Morrisons (£53.61) and Tesco (£53.30), as well as the discounters, all came in cheaper.
The pandemic caused a huge upheaval for supermarkets in 2020, as they had to adapt quickly to supply issues caused by panic buying, staff absences in stores and further up the supply chain, and expanding online delivery services.
Neither Aldi nor Lidl offer a full delivery service and would have struggled to compete with supermarkets who ramped up their delivery service at the start of the pandemic, however Aldi offered food parcels for home delivery to help vulnerable people get essential goods.
Natalie Hitchins, Head of Home Products and Services at Which?, said: ““Many households have been under financial pressure due to the pandemic, so getting value for money on their weekly shop has become more important than ever.
“Our analysis shows that customers do not have pay over the odds for their groceries.
“Customers looking to save money this new year and cut down on the cost of their weekly shop should consider shopping around for the best prices.”
Supermarket
Average cost of trolley (45 items)
Lidl
£42.67
Aldi
£43.01
Asda
£48.71
Tesco
£53.30
Morrisons
£53.61
Sainsbury’s
£56.38
Ocado
£66.83
Waitrose
£68.69
Which? also conducts a monthly price analysis for all the major supermarkets. In 2020 Aldi was the cheapest supermarket for six out of the eight months it was included in the price analysis, whereas Lidl was the cheapest supermarket twice.
However, Lidl narrowly beat Aldi to be crowned cheapest supermarket of the year as the methodologies differed. For the monthly price analysis, Which? tracks the price of a range of products, which vary each month, and uses an average to find the cheapest supermarket for the month.
To determine the cheapest supermarket of the year, Which? tracked a selection of 45 items available for at least 100 days in 2020 and added the individual averages.
– All supermarket colleagues to receive at least £10 an hour from April –
– First major UK supermarket to reach key pay milestone –
Morrisons is today announcing a new pay deal for its store colleagues, becoming the first UK supermarket group to guarantee pay of at least £10 an hour.
The new deal will start in April and will mean a significant pay increase for nearly 96,000 Morrisons colleagues. For the majority of colleagues the pay increase is approximately 9%.
Morrisons minimum hourly pay currently stands at £9.20 an hour***. Today’s announcement means that since 2015, Morrisons pay has increased by over 46%.
Three quarters of the costs of the increase will be met by direct payroll investment and a quarter by changing the discretionary annual colleague bonus scheme. Having listened hard to colleagues, they said they would prefer to have a guaranteed amount in their hourly rate and receive it more regularly. So, the annual budget for the discretionary bonus scheme is being rolled into colleagues’ hourly rate, which is paid every four weeks.
David Potts, Morrisons CEO, said: “It’s great to be able to say that in the UK from April this year, if you work at Morrisons supermarkets, you will earn at least £10 an hour. It’s a symbolic and important milestone that represents another step in rewarding the incredibly important work that our colleagues do up and down the country.
“Over the last year we have seen renewed and widespread appreciation in the UK for our colleagues who have had an incredibly tough 2020, working tirelessly so Britain could eat well and shop safely throughout the pandemic. Morrisons colleagues have earned their status as key workers, and this pay increase, many times over.”
Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw National Officer, said: “The new consolidated hourly rate is now the leading rate of the major supermarkets, which is paid every hour and removes the uncertainty of a bonus payment.
“It is a big step forward, shows that Morrisons is prepared to invest in the staff to help grow the business and I hope that the deal is supported by our members in the ballot.
“It’s been a tough time for food retail staff who have worked throughout the pandemic in difficult circumstances. They provide the essential service of keeping the nation fed and deserve our support, respect and appreciation. Most of all they deserve decent pay and this offer is a welcome boost.”
The pay deal announced today is subject to a ballot opening on 27 January 2021.
