This Black Friday week, Morrisons has slashed the price of a 1L bottle of Baileys in-stores to just £9.99, the cheapest price in a UK supermarket.
The spirit will set you back £20 at Sainsbury’s, but Morrisons customers can now pick up a bottle in-store for less than half that price. They will have to act quickly though; the deal is only available in Morrisons stores until the end of the week.
This week, Morrisons is also offering A THIRD OFF all bottles of champagne in stores and online including bottles of Veuve Clicquot Vintage Champagne and Bollinger Rose Champagne which usually retail for £50 each, saving customers £17.
Included in the third off deal is the Adrien Chopin Brut Champagne, which is exclusively stocked in Morrisons and has been crowned ‘Best Champagne for Christmas’ by independent consumer group Which?. The award-winning fizz will cost just £12 a bottle until Sunday.
Morrisons customers will also be able to save big on brands such as Bollinger, Moët, Taittinger and Lanson.
Morrisons is also offering half-price Rump Steaks from the Market Street Butcher counter. Normally £15 per kilo, the premium cut will be available for just £7.50 per kilo – that’s £1.71 for an 8oz steak.
2.3kg crates of sweet clementine’s will also be on offer for just £2.50. Normally retailing at £2.06 per kilo that’s a saving of over 47 percent.
To help customers avoid crowds, the offers are available now in-store until Sunday 29th November. Morrisons third off champagne offer will also be available online.
Shoppers in Edinburgh can now have their favourite Aldi products delivered to their door in as little as 20 minutes as part of a new partnership with Deliveroo.
The Cameron Toll Aldi store is amongst the first in Scotland to trial the new service, which will offer local residents a selection of almost 400 Aldi products at their fingertips via the Deliveroo app. This will include a range of essential items, such as bread, milk and fresh produce, which will be picked and packed by Aldi colleagues for delivery by Deliveroo’s network of riders.
The new on-demand service has been introduced to offer customers greater flexibility and access to affordable Aldi groceries.
The trial was initially launched at eight stores in England in May, and is now being extended to almost 130 stores across the UK, including in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Perth.
Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “The new trial with Deliveroo will provide more customers in Edinburgh with access to great quality food at Aldi’s unbeatable prices.
“This is an exciting venture for Aldi which provides a new way to serve our customers during these challenging times.”
With more people staying at home during the working day, due to COVID-19, the temptation to reach into the snack cupboard and graze on less healthy food, such as crisps, biscuits, chocolate, sweets and cake, may be high. Regularly snacking on foods that are high in energy (calories), fat, sugar and salt can increase your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Here’s some simple tips for making healthier snacking choices at home:
Read the labels
When buying packaged snack foods, check the nutrition label on the pack and aim to choose foods that have:
6g or more of fibre per 100g
5g or less of total sugars per 100g
3g or less of fat per 100g
1.5g or less of saturated fat (saturates) per 100g
0.35g or less of salt per 100g
As the weather gets cooler, you could start your day with a comforting bowl of warm porridge. Rather than adding sugar, honey, jam or syrup to your porridge, you could try adding fruit, such as berries, chopped apple or sliced banana and a sprinkling of chopped nuts, seeds or cinnamon.
The Do’s of Snacking
Remove the temptation to snack on foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt by keeping them out of your home. Empty your cupboards of chocolate, crisps, biscuits, cakes and sugary drinks and replace them with healthier options
Include a variety of different snack foods in your diet. Choose a range of healthy foods to snack on, such as portions of fruit, raw vegetable sticks, low-fat dips and spreads, wholemeal toast, unsalted nuts, low-fat yoghurts, 30g portions of reduced fat cheese and wholegrain crackers or oatcakes
Choose snacks that contain at least one of your 5 a day. Fill your fruit bowl with your favourite fruits and keep plenty of veg in the fridge
Choose a portion of fresh fruit to snack on, such as an apple, banana, orange or a handful of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or grapes
Choose vegetable sticks, such as carrot, celery, peppers, cucumber or sugar snap peas with low-fat dips, such as hummous
Limit fruit juices to no more than 150ml a day as they can be high in sugar
Choose snacks that are high in fibre. Wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal toast and crackers, as well as fruit and vegetables, are high in fibre, which is good for keeping your heart healthy. Choose packaged snack foods that contain at least 6g of fibre per 100g
Make your own popcorn at home, without adding salt or sugary toppings. This can be a healthier snack for all the family and a fun one to involve the kids with.
The Don’ts of Snacking
Avoid grazing
When you are distracted with work or the TV, or when you are feeling bored, it can be tempting to graze in the absence of hunger. If you regularly graze, try setting specific times when you will allow yourself to eat a healthy snack. For example, you could set an alarm for 10:00am and 3:00pm to enjoy a healthy snack in between your meals.
Try to avoid overdoing it
Less healthy snacks, such as crisps, chocolate bars, sweets, biscuits, and cakes. Avoid cheap supermarket offers on less healthy food options, as they can tempt you into buying (and eating) more than you need.
Occasional treats
For an occasional treat, choose foods that are individually wrapped, such as a small chocolate bar or a small packet of crisps, rather than larger sharing packs.
Limit less healthy snacks
Try no more than two or three portions each week. Portion (serving) size is often given at the back of packaging and this information can help you to limit the amount you are eating.
A coveted Which? Best Buy has been awarded to a great value own-label champagne from Morrisons, proving that you can get your hands on a top-class festive fizz for under £20.
In a blind tasting of supermarket own-label (or exclusive), and top-selling big-name non-vintage champagnes priced up to £36, the Which? panel of experts awarded the highest score of 82 per cent to Morrison’s Adrien Chopin Brut Champagne.
Retailing at only £18, this Which? Best Buy was described as “golden champagne with stewed apple aromas, rich flavours and a hint of sweetness” winning the adoration of experts to become this year’s top-scorer.
Narrowly missing out on the top spot but awarded a Which? Best Buy in its own right was Waitrose’s Brut Champagne which fizzed into second place with a score of 79 percent. The Which? expert panel commended its “ripe red apples and apple blossom” character that makes it an ideal party fizz.
In joint third place but not quite achieving Which? Best Buy status was Moet & Chandon’s Imperial Brut Champagne, earning a score of 78 percent. It was described as a pleasure to drink due to its “candied notes, mellow aromas, crisp acidity, and a cashew-nut finish”. However, one expert called it a “little bland”, which might disappoint at £36.
Also rated a solid 78 per cent score was Sainsbury’s Landric Champagne Brut at £25. It only narrowly missed out on Best Buy status, pleasing experts with its “lemon acidity and toasty, nutty aftertaste”. However, its lone critic felt it was short of fruit with a slightly bitter finish.
At the bottom of the table and summed up as “wishy washy” by one panelist was Aldi’s Philizot et Fils Organic Champagne, which only managed a 67 per cent rating.
Harry Rose, Editor of Which? Magazine, said:“Your Christmas might be a bit more low key this year, but there is no reason to scrimp on the bubbly and we’re delighted that you can enjoy this season’s best fizz for only £18.
“Whether you opt for outstanding champagne at a great price or fancy paying a little more for a premium brand, our expert picks will make sure that whatever you’re doing this year, it won’t lack any sparkle.”
Also tested:
Lidl Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut (74% £12.50); Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut (74% £13); Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Blanc de Noirs Champagne (74% £21); M&S Louis Vertay Brut Champagne (74% £17); M&S Delacourt Brut Champagne (74% £20); Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne (73% £20); Asda Extra Special Louis Bernard Premier Cru (73% £21); Veuve Cliquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne (73% £35); LANSON LE BLACK LABEL BRUT (72% £33); Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne (71% £24); Co-op Les Pionniers Champagne (71% £19); Asda Henri Cachet Champagne Brut (68% £13.50); Morrisons The Best Premier Cru Champagne (68% £21); Aldi Philizot et Fils Organic Champagne (67% £27)
The Which? panel of experts:
We consulted five of the country’s top wine experts to score this year’s offerings in our blind taste test: Charles Metcalfe – Speaker, author, and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge; Kathryn McWhirter – Wine expert and co-author (with Charles) of The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal; Oz Clarke – Wine writer, television presenter and broadcaster; Sam Caporn – Master of Wine, freelance consultant and winner of the Madame Bollinger Medal for Excellence in Tasting; Peter McCombie – Master of Wine, restaurant wine consultant, speaker, writer and critic.
Lovers of Italian food and culture, who have been starved of their favourite restaurants or travel because of the pandemic restrictions, are getting a chance to sample and learn about the delights of Italy – without having to leave their homes.
Two celebration events to showcase the food of Sicily – including a rare opportunity for a select group of people to take part in a live cook-a-long with one of Italy’s top chefs – have been planned as Scotland’s contribution to the World Week of Italian Cuisine.
World Week of Italian Cuisine (November 23-29), now in its fifth year, is an initiative started by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to promote the country’s high-quality cuisine around the world.
It aims to boost food and wine tourism, particularly to regions little-known outside Italy, following the spirit of Pellegrino Artusi who 130 years ago published “La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene” [Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well] which gathered and united the regional culinary traditions of the Bel Paese.
To mark the week, the Italian Consulate General, Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh and the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK – in collaboration with Alma and Ambasciatori del Gusto – have organised events themed around how the Mediterranean diet can boost the body’s immune system.
The opening event of the week (A Sicilian Dinner) will see an invited audience of food writers and bloggers take part in a Sicilian-food themed live cookery webinar from Italy with leading chef Carlo Maria Ricci, an ambassador with the acclaimed Italian ALMA cook school in Parma (La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana) – with the menu actually being delivered to their homes to allow them to sample the exact dishes.
Giovanna Eusebi and chef Sebastian Wereski from Eusebi Deli restaurant in Glasgow and Sabrina Damiani, who runs Edinburgh-based Damiani Sicilian Fine Dining, have been recruited to make the Chef Ricci’s dishes before arranging for them to delivered to each of the writer’s home. They will be present on the webinar to answer any questions.
This event will also be screened live over the internet to allow as wide an audience as possible to watch the demonstration and pick up tips.
The closing event (Cooking in Sicily) – in partnership with Ambasciatori del Gusto (the Italian Association of Ambassadors of Taste – whose members focus on enhancing Italian food and wine heritage) will involve 30 people winning the chance to cook a specially designed menu in their own kitchens through a cookery demonstration beamed live from Sicily with leading chef Bonetta dell’Oglio (above).
The lucky home cooks will also have the chance to ask questions to Palermo-born Chef dell’Oglio who has won widespread praise for her innovative cooking which celebrates her Sicilian heritage and her passion for showcasing organic agriculture and the benefits of healthy eating. There will also be a wine pairing presentation from Mariella Caputo from Ambasciatori del Gusto.
The participants will be judged on their dishes with the winner scooping a luxury Italian food hampers from sponsors Pastificio dei Campi and Berlucchi Wines. Details of how to enter the competition will be made available on social media channels of Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh and Italian Chamber of Commerce in Scotland.
The event will also be screened live over the internet to allow other Italian cooking enthusiasts to watch and make the menu.
Fabio Monaco, Consul General of Italy to Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “While the Covid-19 restrictions have upset our usual planning for the World Week of Italian Cuisine, we wanted to ensure that people still had the chance to enjoy and celebrate the amazing food of Italy.
“We think we have brought some clever thinking to overcome the challenges to bring a taste and education of Italy once more – without anyone having to leave their homes.
“While travel to Italy remains complicated for now, we hope these events will continue to inspire people to learn more of our culture and those of our wide range of different territories – and better still to plan a visit when we can do so easily.”
The food and drink sector is getting £5 million to help its recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19) and prepare for Brexit.
A new joint industry and government plan containing more than 50 actions has been developed to assist in stimulating demand for produce in key markets and supporting businesses to capitalise on consumer demand.
The plan aims to mitigate and reverse the damage caused by both the pandemic and the lack of clarity regarding Brexit and aid the industry’s progression to be greener and more resilient.
It also builds on the work of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership in delivering Ambition 2030, the shared vision for the future of Scotland’s food and drink sector. The industry is expected to contribute £3 million of private sector funding to support delivery of the plan through to 2023.
The food and drink sector has been one of the areas hardest hit by COVID-19, with industry forecasts predicting up to £3 billion in revenue lost this year alone, and the lack of clarity regarding a Brexit deal will amplify those challenges.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “The food and drink industry is one of the true success stories of Scotland’s economy, with exports worth a record £6.7 billion in 2019. Across the country, particularly in many of our rural areas, the sector creates highly paid, highly skilled jobs and contributes directly to the public purse in taxes.
“Food and drink businesses have shown remarkable resilience and innovation in responding to the pandemic, from finding new routes to market themselves or in the actions they have taken to support their workforce and keep food on our tables. However, in addition to the many challenges presented by COVID-19, we now need to prepare for the disruption and uncertainty the end of the Brexit transition period will bring in just six weeks’ time.
“This funding commitment will enable Scotland Food & Drink and industry partners to come together to work on fairer, greener and sustainable solutions to the challenges that lie ahead. Scotland is home to much of the world’s greatest produce and we must do all we can to protect and promote it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp-S7E0-bXs
Scotland Food & Drink CEO James Withers said: “2020 has been a year like no other. The trauma wreaked by COVID-19 has affected all of us and following that earthquake comes the next great disrupter: Brexit. But despite this volatile and uncertain world, Scotland’s food and drink sector remains resilient and full of talented and dedicated people that will help drive the recovery.
“The plan announced today brings together industry and the Scottish Government in an agreed strategy of tangible action to stimulate demand in domestic and international markets. It also supports businesses to take advantage of opportunities, recover from COVID-19 and, as far as is possible, navigate Brexit.
“This is a time for action and we’re delighted to have the backing of the Scottish Government and the industry for the work that will start now.”
Which? has announced that not one, but two mince pies have landed its coveted Which? Best Buy in festive food blind consumer taste tests, with both Asda and Iceland coming top.
Asda Extra Special Mince Pies (£1.75 for six/29p per pie) certainly lived up to their name this year and were awarded a 73 per cent rating, scoring well for overall flavour, texture and appearance. Which?’s panel noted the “crisp” and “buttery” pastry and the intricate design, with one panelist saying it would “lure them in”.
Iceland’s Luxury All Butter Mince Pies (£1.89 for six/31p per pie) were rated just as highly for their taste, aroma and texture, and also coming in with a rating of 73 per cent. One panelist told Which? these pies “tasted like a more expensive product”.
Tesco Finest All Butter Mince Pies (£1.75 for six/29p per pie) missed out on a Best Buy with a 72 per cent rating, as while these pies delivered and the pastry was described as “melt in the mouth” by one taster, a few panellists were not keen on the firmer filling.
M&S Collection mince pies (£2.50 for six/41p per pie) were some of the pricier pies included in the taste tests, but these had some of the best pastry on test, as well as scoring well for flavour. It received a not-too-shabby rating of 71 per cent.
When it came to the bottom of the table, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mince Pies (£2 for six/33p per pie) came out the worst in the taste tests with a rating of only 58 per cent. Some panelists told Which? these were “claggy” and tasted “stale” and “overcooked”.
Morrisons The Best Mince Pies (£2 for six/33p per pie) were also somewhat of a disappointment, managing a score of just 64 per cent, with more than half the panel describing these as “too dark”.
Harry Rose, Editor of Which? Magazine, said:“Nothing tastes more festive than a delicious warm and crumbly mince pie straight from the oven, and while this year Christmas might be a little different, we want to make sure that at least your mince pies don’t disappoint.”
– Blue Light Card holders eligible for 10% discount on their shopping – – Available to those in the Emergency Services, Care Workers and Armed Forces
Morrisons has announced it is offering those in the Emergency Services, Care Workers and Armed Forces who hold a Blue Light Card a 10% discount on their shopping in stores nationwide.
The move follows on from the 10% discount offered by Morrisons to NHS and School Staff across the country.
The Blue Light Card is a recognised national scheme which provides card holders with a range of discounts from large national retailers to local businesses including holidays, days out and insurance.
The Morrisons discount, which is valid till after Christmas, is a thank you to the thousands of key workers including Social Care Workers who have gone above and beyond their usual roles to provide care and support to the British public throughout the Coronavirus pandemic this year.
Blue Light Card holders will also be able to participate in a dedicated shopping hour alongside NHS workers and School staff from 6am-7am (Mon-Sat) before Morrisons stores open to other customers.
David Potts, Morrisons Chief Executivesaid: “Our emergency services, social care sector and armed forces have worked tirelessly this year to provide support to the many people who need it across the UK, often in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
“This discount is a thank you for all that they have done and continue to do for us all.”
Tom Dalby, CEO of Blue Light Card, commented on the partnership: “We are thrilled to partner with Morrisons in saying thank you to those who have been working on the front line during these difficult few months.
“Morrisons is a well-loved fresh food brand for many and offering a Blue Light Card discount will make a huge difference to our members. I hope that this partnership will make the Christmas food shop that little bit easier for those who go the furthest for us.”
Card holders can claim the 10% discount on their groceries by presenting their Blue Light ID card at the till in any of Morrisons 498 stores nationwide.
– Same-day delivery services available via Amazon and Deliveroo –
– Dedicated Telesales line and Doorstep Delivery Service available for those who are self-isolating, the elderly and vulnerable customers –
– Morrisons stores are operating with normal opening hours in line with Government restrictions –
To continue serving customers during the pandemic, Morrisons has introduced a number of different ways to purchase food in addition to their usual online delivery service.
Morrisons stores remain open as usual (typically Mon–Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 10am-4pm) and are following Government advice where relevant, however, for those that don’t want to shop in store, there are plenty of other options including a Doorstep Delivery service for self-isolating, elderly and vulnerable shoppers, same-day deliveries with Amazon and Deliveroo for quick and convenient shopping.
In addition, there is a selection of Food Boxes available online, which will be delivered next day if ordered before 3pm, as well as click & collect and regular online delivery service with slots available on morrisons.com.
Doorstep Delivery Service
Vulnerable, elderly and self-isolating customers including students can order their shopping on the Doorstep Delivery service via a telesales line by calling 0345 611 6111. They can choose from a range of groceries and their order will be delivered the next day by a Morrisons store colleague and paid for, on their doorstep, via a mobile chip and pin device.
Via Amazon
Customers can access Morrisons shopping either through Morrisons on Amazon (an Amazon.co.uk service) and the Morrisons Store on Amazon Prime Now (accessible via the Prime Now site and app) provides Prime members with a way of getting free-of-charge same-day grocery delivery.
Orders are placed on Amazon, before being picked in store by Morrisons employees and packed in a dedicated area. From there, the shopping is collected by Amazon Flex Delivery Partners and delivered to the customer within a two-hour delivery window on the same day.
Via Deliveroo
Morrisons has partnered with Deliveroo at more than 130 stores across the UK – covering one in four households (6.8 million). Customers can order from over 200 essential household items, including meat, plant-based substitutes, fruit, vegetables and household essentials, for on-demand delivery in as little as 30 minutes.
All deliveries are contact-free to ensure safety, with Deliveroo riders leaving the deliveries at customers’ doors to collect, minimising person-to-person contact.
Food Boxes
In March, Morrisons launched a nationwide food box service and has since expanded the range to over 25 choices including cupboard essentials, vegan essentials, gluten-free essentials, meat and fish options, wine boxes and party boxes. All prices listed on Morrisons food boxes website https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/ include next day (if ordered before 3pm) or nominated day delivery. You can even save with a subscription on selected boxes.
Click & Collect
Morrisons has expanded its Click & Collect service to 280 locations nationwide. Customers can simply complete a Morrisons.com order online and then collect from store, contact-free, at a time that suits them best.
The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has published its report into legislation proposed by Labour MSP Neil Bibby to govern the relationship between tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses.
The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill is being backed by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, which is calling on the Scottish Government and all parties in the Scottish Parliament to vote for the legislation when it is debated later this month.
Licensees in Scotland are currently exempt from regulations that are in place across the rest of Great Britain which stop large pub companies from taking more than is fair or sustainable from pub profits by forcing licensees to buy their beer from them rather than on the open market.
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Parliament Committee’s report, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: “CAMRA is calling on Business Minister Jamie Hepburn and the Scottish Government to do the right thing and give their backing to the Tied Pubs Bill when it is debated later this month.
“This Bill will create, in law, a powerful pubs code to guarantee tied pub tenants are treated fairly and can earn a decent living.
“Scottish Government support for this legislation would be very warmly welcomed by both consumers and the licenced trade as a positive move to help pubs, publicans and pub-goers, after weeks and months of harsh restrictions which are devastating the industry.
“Just a few weeks ago Heineken’s pub arm, Star Pubs and Bars, were fined £2 million by England and Wales’ Pubs Code Adjudicator for serious and repeated breaches of the pubs code. But despite being headquartered in Edinburgh, their Scottish tenants don’t have similar protections to stop pub companies taking more than is fair or sustainable from tied licensees’ profits or make it harder to sell a range of locally-brewed products in their pubs.
“The Scottish Government must now take this opportunity to change the law so that tied pub tenants here have the same protections as those south of the border.”
