-Perfect for picnics in the park and alfresco get-togethers this Bank Holiday weekend-
– Available in eight crowd-pleasing flavours –
Morrisons has introduced the ultimate bank holiday staple as it launches a range of own-brand canned cocktails. New this week and for just £1 a can, customers can pick up a tipple of their choice: from classic G&Ts to more exotic Woo Woos.
Gin fans will love the classic botanical flavours of the Gin & Tonic, a steal at almost 50% cheaper than branded alternatives. Or for something more summery, thePink Gin & Tonic is guaranteed to hit the spot with its sweet and fruity flavours. Both are available in diet versions.
Others in the range include a Vodka Lime & Soda and a Rhubarb Gin & Ginger Ale. Customers can even be transported to sunnier climes by picking up a Woo Woo or a Mojito.
With warmer weather just around the corner and restrictions around group gatherings relaxed, the new range is landing in stores at the perfect time.
Jack Coleclough, Spirits Buying Manager at Morrisons said: “This summer will be packed with alfresco get-togethers, the perfect occasion for canned cocktails.
“We’re excited to be introducing our new range for the competitive price of just £1 per can. With eight options available there will be something to please everyone at picnics and parties.”
Morrisons new canned cocktails are available in the following flavours, priced at £1 per 250ml can:
Morrisons Gin & Tonic
Morrisons Gin & Diet Tonic
Morrisons Vodka Lime & Soda
Morrisons Pink Gin & Tonic
Morrisons Pink Gin & Diet Tonic
Morrisons Rhubarb & Ginger Ale
Morrisons Woo Woo Cocktail
Morrisons Mojito Cocktail
Last week, Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 was also crowned the overall winner of the Good Housekeeping Institute English Fizz taste test as well as its best budget buy. The bottle costs just £18 – almost half the price of some of the other wines on test.
Seeing off competitors including Harvey Nichols, Denbies, Waitrose and Aldi the Morrisons bottle scored an impressive 89/100 with the GHI experts describing it as having ‘super smooth bubbles and a touch of honeymaking this a rich and exceptionally easy-drinking drop.’
As we start reuniting with friends and family, the Morrisons award-winning fizz will be the perfect choice to toast to the Great British summer.
Morrisons is taking its doughnut game to a whole new level as it launches brand new flavours of its ever-popular doughnuts. Fans can upgrade their classic jam filling by choosing from three decadent new flavours: Loaded Brownie, When Life Gives You Lemons and Sweet as Candy.
Customers already go mad for Morrisons doughnuts which are freshly made and filled in store each morning. The new additions are topped with flavoured glazes and a range of tempting toppings which taste just as good as they look; from Loaded Brownie for chocoholics, to Sweet as Candy for sweetie fans. What’s more, the doughnuts are great value; costing just £2 for a pack of three.
Caroline Bates, Morrisons Head of Bakery and Cake Shop, said: “We are really proud of our doughnuts and the fact we make them fresh in stores each day. Our customers are always on the lookout for the latest addition, so we can’t wait to see their reaction to these delicious new flavours.”
Sweet-toothed customers will discover lots of other treats as Morrisons launches new cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes. Morrisons range of cookies also now includes a classic white chocolate option; The Best Belgian White Chocolate Cookie.
Morrisons new doughnuts are available in 428 stores, priced at £2 for a pack of three.
The Best Belgian White Chocolate Cookie is available now, priced at £1.50 for a pack of 4, or two packs for £2.
– Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 crowned the best English sparkling wine –
– At just £18, the wine is a fraction of the price of others on the market –
Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 has been named the winner of the Good Housekeeping Institute and Cosmopolitan taste tests. At just £18 a bottle it is notably cheaper than renowned English sparkling brands; making it an affordable choice for a special occasion.
In a week where Morrisons was the most-awarded retailer at the International Wine Challenge, the supermarket has scooped yet another endorsement for its great quality wines. The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 was described by the GHI experts as having ‘Super smooth bubbles and a touch of honeymaking this a rich and exceptionally easy-drinking drop.’
As we start reuniting with friends and family, the winning fizz will be the perfect choice to toast to the Great British summer. Each bottle has been stored in cool cellars for eight years to develop its fine bubbles and intense biscuity flavours which sit alongside a citrussy palate. The ultimate pairing for fish and chips this summer.
Morrisons wins didn’t stop at just wine, with its The Best Gin being ‘Good Housekeeping Institute Taste Approved’ from the Best Supermarket Gin Taste Test.
Mark Jarman, Senior Wine Sourcing Manager at Morrisons said: “Our English Sparkling Brut Vintage has always been popular with customers and wine experts alike, so it’s great to receive this recognition from the Good Housekeeping Institute.
“To be crowned the best in the category when our bottle is one of the cheapest really aligns with our aim to provide great quality at affordable prices.”
Shoppers could be paying almost four times more than they need to for the same branded grocery products at certain times, Which?’s biggest ever supermarket pricing investigation has found.
The consumer champion analysed more than a million prices for 493 branded grocery items at six major supermarkets – Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – throughout 2020.
The investigation revealed not just the pricing secrets that mean shoppers could be paying over the odds for the same products depending on the days they shop, but also the types of grocery products that fluctuate the most when it comes to price, as well as the supermarket that almost always beats its rivals when it comes to the cost of branded groceries
Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee (250g) at Ocado had the most dramatic price difference, as the investigation found shoppers could pay almost four times more for the same product on different days.
It was at its cheapest price of £1.30 for 63 days in 2020, however for more than a third of the year (130 days), it cost an eye-watering £5 – a 284 per cent difference for the same product. Ocado said this price fluctuation was an error that has now been corrected.
The price for Müller yogurts illustrates the so-called “high-low” tactic used by many supermarkets – when prices are dramatically hiked and then slashed at regular intervals.
For example, Müller Light Greek Luscious Lemon yogurts fluctuated substantially at Sainsbury’s during 2020, flipping between £1 and £2.75 – a 175 per cent price difference – at roughly three-week intervals. The same product was also available for £1 or less in at least one of the major supermarkets for about 85 per cent of the year.
Other products that saw significant price variations included Carte D’Or Vanilla Ice Cream and Loyd Grossman Tomato and Basil Sauce at Asda – with prices fluctuating by 133 per cent and 125 per cent respectively.
At Morrisons, shoppers could pick up a bottle of Shloer’s Red Grape Juice Drink for just £1 on a good day, however it cost more than double (£2.25) on other days – representing a 125 per cent increase.
Which? also found there were price variations of 122 per cent for Jordans Country Crisp Four Nut Cereal at Tesco. Shoppers could sometimes pay just £1.35, yet on other days the same pack was more than double the price at £3.
The investigation also analysed pricing at a category level, looking at 19 areas from chocolates to cheese, and found the price for branded cakes and biscuits fluctuated by 48 per cent on average – more than any other category.
In this category, Which? analysed the price of 14 products and found a 10-pack of Cadbury Chocolate Mini Rolls at Asda had the biggest price difference. It cost just £1.20 at its cheapest but was more than double the price at £2.60 on certain days.
Shoppers should also keep a close eye on the price of juices and smoothies, as prices in this category varied by 41 per cent on average. This was followed by cooking sauces (38%), crisps (36%) and cereal (35%).
Across all 19 categories analysed, Asda had the lowest average prices for branded groceries, making it the best option for shoppers who prefer branded items but do not want to pay over the odds.
Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket for branded items in eight categories including energy drinks, ice cream and tea, and Ocado for seven categories including juice drinks, coffee and cheddar.
Almost all the products in the investigation varied in price and could be found discounted at one or more supermarkets at any time. However, a Which? survey found one in five shoppers are confused by grocery promotions and the majority (73%) would prefer consistently low prices.
While Aldi and Lidl were not featured in the investigation as they stock fewer branded goods, they have won legions of customers by focusing on consistently low prices rather than deals and discounts. In Which?’s monthly price analysis, the cheapest supermarket is invariably either Aldi or Lidl.
Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “Our research reveals just how wildly food and drink prices can fluctuate from day to day, meaning people are at risk of massively overpaying for branded groceries depending on when and where they shop.
“We would recommend keeping an eye on the prices of your favourite products and stocking up when they’re discounted to avoid paying over the odds.”
Please see a link below for the average price fluctuation for all 19 categories:
Don’t pay full price – If you regularly buy non-perishable branded groceries such as crisps, cereal and tins of soup, make sure you stock up when they’re discounted and avoid paying full price for them.
Shop around – Although they don’t offer online grocery shopping, Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains, Wilko and others often offer good deals on branded products too. It’s also worth trying own-label alternatives, which can offer great quality at even better prices.
Watch out for pricing tricks – Discounts are great but don’t be manipulated by other pricing tricks. The strawberries may be on offer but what about the price of the upmarket pouring cream temptingly positioned next to it?
Scrutinise price-matching claims – Sainsbury’s and Tesco both shout about their Aldi price-matching schemes, but they actually only cover a limited range of products, so the total cost of your shopping may still be higher than it would be at Aldi.
Take advantage of supermarket loyalty scheme discounts – Lidl Plus and Tesco Clubcard are just two examples of supermarket loyalty schemes offering exclusive discounts to members.
Which? awards various endorsements to supermarkets:
Lidl was awarded Cheapest Supermarket of 2020 – link here.
Waitrose won the Which? Award for Supermarket of the Year in 2020 – link here.
Aldi was named the UK’s favourite in-store supermarket for 2021 in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey – link here.
Sainsbury’s was the highest-scoring online supermarket of 2021 in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey and was also named a Which? Recommended Provider for its online services – link here.
Aldi was awarded the Cheapest Supermarket for April – link here.
An Asda spokesperson said: “We have a long heritage in providing customers with the brands they love at the best possible prices and we’re really pleased the Which? survey found that Asda is the cheapest supermarket for branded products.
“Investing in price to provide even greater value for customers when they shop remains our key strategic priority. In tandem with everyday low prices, we are also focussed on a number of other price investments to deliver great value, including our regular rollbacks and price lock events, where prices are reduced across thousands of food and non-food categories.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We’re committed to offering our customers the best possible quality and value and prices fluctuate up and down for a variety of reasons.
“Our Price Lock and Sainsbury’s Quality Aldi Price Match campaigns ensure customers can feel confident they are getting the best possible prices at Sainsbury’s, while not compromising on quality.”
An Ocado spokesperson said: “Ocado is committed to offering customers the best range, service and value in the market. As part of this commitment, we are proud to offer over 49,000 products – more than any other supermarket.
“Our Value Delivered range offers hundreds of everyday items at low prices. The fluctuation in price for the Lavazza product was due to a technical error and has since been resolved. The regular price is now back in place and is in line with most other major grocery retailers.”
Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose did not provide a comment.
– Morrisons has scooped a silver prize at the International Wine Challenge for its own brand Soave 2020 –
– The £4.25 Italian white also took home a Great Value Award –
– Morrisons The Best Amarone 2017 was awarded a Gold medal –
Morrisons Soave 2020 has triumphed at the annual International Wine Challenge, being awarded an impressive 92 points, a Silver medal and a Great Value White under £8 Award.
This put it ahead of iconic wine of the region, Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico; which, at £30 a bottle is more than six times the price of Morrisons £4.25 offering.
The International Wine Challenge sees thousands of wines from all over the world blind tasted by a panel of experts. The judges’ tasting notes described the wine as ‘Lemon sherbet and cream on rose. Textured, round and soft with great balance and subtle yet lingering flavours on the finish.’
Overall, the supermarket took home one Gold, 20 Silvers, 49 Bronzes and 33 ‘Commended’s.
The Gold was awarded to The Best Amarone 2017 (following a Gold at last year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition), while other highlights included a Silver for The Best Cremant de Limoux which is currently on offer for just £10 down from £12 (until 1st June).
Three brand new additions to the range – The Best Vinho Verde, The Best Gavi di Gavi and The Best Alto Adige Pinot Grigio – won Bronze medals before they even launched in stores.
Mark Jarman, Head of Wine Sourcing at Morrisons said: “At Morrisons we pride ourselves on offering our customers fantastic quality wines for affordable prices.
“The Silver award given to our own-brand Soave exemplifies this; it may have a small price tag, but the judges still appreciated its balance, distinctive nose and lasting finish. We’re delighted that so many of our wines have been recognised at this year’s competition.”
Morrisons Soave 2020 is available in stores and online now for £4.25.
Other award winners include:
Morrisons The Best Cremant de Limoux – £12 (down to £10 until 1st June)
Morrisons The Best Vinho Verde – £8.75 (down to £6 until 13th June)
Morrisons The Best Gavi di Gavi – launching soon
Morrisons The Best Alto Adige Pinot Grigio – launching soon
Morrisons is offering British entrepreneurs a fast-tracked route to a national market through a programme called ‘Growing British Brands’.
The ‘Growing British Brands’ programme will give businesses the potential to sell products in all 497 Morrisons stores as well as listings in other parts of the business including Morrisons.com, Food Boxes and wholesale channels like Amazon.
Morrisons will also offer promotional plans and favourable payment terms to help these businesses scale up.
To support these emerging British businesses, Morrisons has assembled a team of experts to find brands with game-changing, innovative products that need a helping hand to get to the main stage.
The team will offer successful applicants to the programme advice and support covering every aspect of retailing, from production to packaging and marketing and logistics.
Entrepreneurs with products ranging from food and drink to beauty and homewares are being encouraged to apply to the ‘Growing British Brands’ programme by clicking on the ‘Supplying Morrisons’ link at morrisons-corporate.com/suppliers.
This formal programme follows a very strong response to a recent call to arms from Morrisons CEO, David Potts, who encouraged British entrepreneurs with the next big thing to get in touch.
David Potts, Morrisons CEO, said: “There are thousands of people with great ideas, but getting them to market at scale is often a long, risky and complicated process.
“Morrisons started with just one shop over 100 years ago and is now one of Britain’s biggest retailers. We know and understand the entrepreneurial spirit and want to play our full part in helping the next generation of British brands quickly reach national distribution.
“For too long, small businesses have lacked the opportunity and perhaps confidence to scale up a great idea capable of supplying hundreds of stores at serious volumes. We hope that this programme can provide the support, guidance and confidence for great brands with great products to lift their horizons, to think big and to reach new customers all around Great Britain.”
Victoria Prentis MP, Food Minister, said: “Our manifesto was clear that we want people, both at home and abroad, to be lining up to buy British. “The ‘Growing British Brands’ programme will boost small businesses, encouraging them to scale up and reach thousands of potential new customers.
“Our food and drink businesses are renowned for high quality products and standards of animal welfare. They form a core part of our agri-food sector which supports over four million jobs and provides £121 billion to the UK economy. I welcome this announcement by Morrisons to further support entrepreneurs in this vital sector.”
Morrisons launched its Local Foodmakers programme in 2017, and has since launched over 1,300 products from local foodmakers, growers and producers. This new programme aims to uncover those suppliers who have the ability to be stocked in stores nationwide.
MORRISONS SLASHES PRICE OF WHISKY BOX FOR WORLD WHISKY DAY
Celebrate World Whisky Day in style with Morrisons Woodsman Whisky & S’more Box, featuring all customers need for a ‘neat’ night in on Saturday 15th May. Reduced to just £25 from £30, the box offers a great saving on the ingredients and snacks inside, as well as including next-day delivery.
On offer at £25 including delivery, the hamper includes all the ingredients required to make The Woodsman Maple Syrup Old Fashioned, as well as a refreshing Woodsman with Ginger Beer. Woodsman Whisky uses a mix of hand built oak casks and fired scorched bourbon barrels to give a sweet, satisfying taste.
Come rain or shine, whisky lovers will be able to whip up a tipple and snacks from the comfort of their own home; whether wrapped up on the couch or next to the BBQ or fire pit. What’s more, the box offers the perfect gift for any whisky lover.
– Morrisons will be donating 50,000 books to help families in need –
– Customers can also bring unwanted books to Morrisons Little Libraries where children and families can pick up a book for free –
Morrisons has launched a book donation and exchange station for children – the Morrisons Little Library – in its stores across the UK which aims to promote reading and literacy in children, particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Morrisons Little Library was inspired by Canterbury-based children’s author, Rebecca Smith, who approached Morrisons asking for help to tackle the issues surrounding children’s literacy and the lack of availability of books at home.
Morrisons Little Library exchanges will be set up in stores across the UK from this week. Customers can bring along unwanted books to donate and all children, teenagers and parents can pick up a book for free. Books will also be donated through the initiative to local schools and community groups, via Morrisons Community Champions.
David Potts, Morrisons CEO, said: “The past year has been extremely difficult for everyone and we want to help as much as we can. We know that our younger customers love reading but some may not have access to books of their own. That’s why we’re launching the Morrisons Little Library – so every child has the chance to enjoy reading and brighten their future.”
Rebecca Smith said:“To think that there are children who have never enjoyed a bedtime story is heart-breaking. Stories change lives. Every child and every parent should have access to that experience. The Morrisons Little Library provides that potentially life-changing access.”
Research from The Open University, which has been involved in shaping the initiative, shows that reading books helps children to start conversations, spark imagination and support emotional wellbeing.
The National Literacy Trust recently reported that children who own books are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age but that one in 11 disadvantaged children don’t own a single book.
Teresa Cremin, Professor of Education Literacy at The Open University, added, “It’s been great working with Morrisons to help make the Little Library idea a reality. Reading benefits children and young people in so many ways and is especially vital after such a difficult and disruptive year, as it creates a safe space to escape and learn.”
To continue to support children’s literacy, Morrisons has created a new book – Cedric The Seed – and will be publishing 50,000 copies. The book will be distributed nationwide by Morrisons Community Champions to local community groups and schools to ensure they are reaching those who need them most.
Cedric the Seed has been written for Morrisons by Danielle Corrigan from Saddleworth, who began writing children’s books last year whilst she was homeschooling her own children. Danielle began writing positive stories for children to read last year to help them cope with the mental health effects of lockdown.
Inspired by the pandemic and how lives were changed in an instant, the book follows Cedric, a small sunflower seed as he is separated from his family and friends. His journey is full of unexpected adventure, friendship and fun as when Cedric begins to grow, he realises his friends and family were there all along.
The initiative is the latest from Morrisons which aims to make good things happen and bring hope to the nation. Last month, Morrisons gave away over 2.5 million packets of sunflower seeds to customers to grow at home and half a million postcards for people to send messages to their loved ones who they haven’t been able to see due to lockdown.
Morrisons Community Champions have also launched the “Little Sunshine” awards which aim to recognise those who have gone above and beyond to help their community during the pandemic.
Morrisons has launched a mega in-store sale on baby and toddler products. The sale, which is on across the month of May will allow parents to save big on brands including Pampers, Baby Dove, Johnson’s and many more.
Morrisons has also launched a new baby food range under its Nutmeg brand with prices starting at just 50p – a fraction of the cost of similar products from Hipp and Ella’s Kitchen which normally for almost double (90p).
To help parents even further as the nation moves out of lockdown, they can also sign up to the Baby & More Club for additional exclusive offers, helpful tips, members-only freebies and competitions.
And because parents need treats too, Morrisons has further offers on bath and beauty products to unwind and relax.
Refillable container scheme to be reintroduced at counters to reduce single use plastic
Counter deals to celebrate scheme relaunch will include 8oz rump steaks for £2.50 and pork belly for £4/kg
Morrisons is bringing back its refillable container service at its fresh fish and meat counters to reduce the amount of single use plastic packaging used in stores.
Morrisons Butchers, Fishmongers and Deli experts will now ask a customer if they have brought their own container to be refilled, rather than automatically putting products into single use packaging[1].
The initiative is available in all stores and allows customers to bring their own containers to counters, with each purchase being given a sticky label that is then scanned at the tills.
If every Morrisons customer used a refillable container for their counter purchase, it would save 2,000 tonnes of plastic a year. E
lsewhere, Morrisons has also been working to remove 900 tonnes of plastic from its butchers and fishmongers counter packaging a year by introducing new lighter weight recyclable trays.
Cut-price deals across selected meat and fish cuts and deli will be available to celebrate the return of the service. This includes 8oz rump steaks for £2.50 and pork belly for £4 per kilogram. Morrisons will also be selling reusable containers in their Home aisle to encourage customers to use them.
Natasha Cook, Packaging Manager at Morrisons,said: “Reducing plastic in our stores is an important part of our sustainability agenda and it really matters to our customers too.
“The service was very popular with our customers when it was first introduced before lockdown, and we’re pleased to see it return with some great value deals on our fresh, British quality products.”
Morrisons originally introduced the refillable container scheme in 2018 but it has been put on hold during the pandemic.
It is one of a number of in-store initiatives that Morrisons has unveiled to reduce plastic pollution, with other moves including being the first supermarket to ditch plastic carrier bags in favour of paper bags and using traditional paper bags for loose fruit and vegetables.
