Aldi has launched its summer Scottish Beer Festival with a fun quiz, designed to help customers find the best Scottish craft beer to suit their personality.
Aldi’s summer Scottish Beer Festival launches on Thursday 29th July across all 96 stores in Scotland and will showcase 30 unique craft beers from 14 of the best local craft breweries, with prices starting at just £1.49.
From fruity IPAs to crisp Lagers and hoppy Pale Ales, there is something to suit every palate. For Aldi’s ‘Cool Character’ a simple Lager or Pilsner would be the go to brew, such as Bellfield’s Bhoemian Pilsner or Genius Brewing’s Gen!us Craft Lager.
For the ‘Hipster’, Aldi suggests Barney’s Beer’s Cranberry Margarita or Hidden Lane Brewery’s RS Raspberry Saison. Meanwhile, for the ‘Adventure Seeker’ there is nothing quite like a Scottish crafted IPA or Pale Ale to round off the day, and customers can choose from a range of brews including Stewart Brewing’s Island Getaway, Loch Lomond Brewery’s Too Orangey For Crows, or Six° North’s Slipstream IPA.
Finally, Aldi’s ‘Strong, Mysterious Soul’ can choose from a range of stouts and ginger beers, including Loch Lomond Brewery’s Mocha Doodle DHU and Glasgow Beer Works Jaggery Imperial Stout.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland said:“Our summer Scottish Beer Festival has launched at exactly the right time, giving Scots the chance to sip on cold, refreshing beer during a rare spell of good weather.
“To mark this, we wanted to do something a bit different, and have created a fun quiz which helps people explore the range and find the right craft beer for them.
“We are all naturally drawn to the products we are most familiar with, and while it might not be an exact science, our ‘Which Brew Are You’ quiz will allow customers to discover new tastes and flavour profiles. Every beer we have in stock is of an exceptionally high quality and is sourced locally from top breweries, so no matter your choice, you won’t be disappointed.
“We are committed to supporting the Scottish craft beer industry and are exceptionally proud of the relationships we have established with local breweries. As we look to the future, we will remain committed to our suppliers and will continue to grow our partnerships.”
Aldi’s summer Scottish Beer Festival launches in stores across Scotland tomorrow (Thursday 29th July).
– Morrisons has more rapid charging points for electric vehicles than any UK supermarket –
– Electric cars are charged six times more quickly than standard charging points used at other supermarkets –
– Morrisons will expand to a further 100 locations in the next twelve months –
– Its charging network has already saved 2,000 tonnes of carbon to date –
Morrisons is expanding the UK’s largest supermarket network of ‘next generation’ rapid electric charging points for electric vehicles, allowing customers to charge the majority of cars from flat to full battery in under 45 minutes.
Over the next twelve months Morrisons will add an additional 100 rapid chargers to its network. Having recently installed its 200th GeniePoint rapid charge point, Morrisons has also saved 2,000 tonnes of carbon along the way. The network now provides full coverage in both England and Wales, spanning from Redruth in the tip of Cornwall to Amble in the North East of England. A roll out in Scotland will begin this month.
Morrisons ‘next generation’ rapid chargers can charge an electric car up to six times quicker than standard charging points used by other supermarkets.
They will enable customers to charge their car up even during a short shopping trip or a quick visit to a Morrisons Cafe. A typical 30-40 minute charge will give drivers up to 100 miles of travel range. Over the course of the summer, Morrisons is expecting to serve over half a million kilowatt hours of green energy, as more families travel during their summer holidays in the UK.
Morrisons partnership with EQUANS means that customers will never be more than 50 miles from a rapid charger. The GeniePoint charging points have been located around the perimeter of Morrisons car parks to ensure they are available to those who need them and not obstructed by other customers.
Andrew Ball, Fuel & Services Manager of Morrisons, said: “We know customers don’t want to spend hours waiting for their cars to charge, which is why we’ve made the decision to install the next generation of rapid chargers.
“It’s important that we continue to offer our customers the convenience of charging their EVs as they shop or eat with us. This summer, whether they’re hitting the coast or visiting the beautiful countryside, customers can take comfort in knowing they are always close to one of our charging points.”
All of the electricity used for charging will come from zero-carbon energy sources like wind and solar.
Recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that there are more than 450,000 EVs on UK roads, of which approximately 50% are battery operated vehicles*.
Demand for reliable, rapid electric vehicle charging facilities is growing and drivers want to see chargers situated at convenient locations where their vehicles can be charged whilst they carry on with their day-to-day activities.
Morrisons customers can register to use the GeniePoint chargers via the web app www.geniepoint.co.uk, which is free to join. There is no monthly fee and drivers only pay for the electricity they use which costs 35-39p per kW hour. Customers can also pay for a charge via the GeniePoint App, available from the App Store or Google Play, or by RFID card.
– ‘Net Regeneration Scheme’ has seen fisherman in the South West recycle 100 tonnes of old fishing gear –
– Morrisons is the only supermarket to support a programme tackling‘ghost fishing gear’ marine litter in British waters –
Morrisons has extended its partnership with Odyssey Innovation for another year to continue tackling ‘ghost fishing gear’ and to help save British coastal wildlife and habitats.
Over the last four years Morrisons has worked with Odyssey Innovation, a company that recovers and recycles waste marine plastic, to found and run the Net Regeneration Scheme which has seen fishermen in the South West responsibly recycle 100 tonnes of waste fishing gear to date.
Morrisons is the first and only supermarket to back a scheme which aims to tackle ghost fishing gear in British waters. Working with Odyssey Innovation – and in collaboration with Exeter City Council, Plymouth University and Seafish – Morrisons has helped to install waste skips at 10 ports across the South West to help fishermen to recycle unwanted or unusable gear.
‘Ghost fishing gear’ includes any abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear, which often goes unseen. It is one of the deadliest wastes for sea wildlife, accounting for 10 per cent of global marine litter. The United Nations expects the amount of plastic in oceans to treble in the next 20 years.
Odyssey Innovation’s Net Regeneration Scheme is the only one in the UK to offer free recycling of all types of fishing nets. It includes polyethylene trawl, nylon and other plastic generated by the fishing industry.
Everything that can be recycled in the UK is done so, with specialist companies in Europe recycling problematic materials. The scheme covers the cost of transporting gear and the full recycling loop, with some plastic waste being turned into sea kayaks.
The programme also helps to reduce CO2 by putting recycled plastic back into the economy, which has a significant CO2 saving over using new virgin plastic.
Joe Prosho, Aquaculture Manager at Morrisons, said: “Morrisons is one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of fresh British fish with our own fishing business in the South West and we are determined to play our full part in cleaning up the oceans to preserve marine life and protect the planet.
“We want to continue our partnership with Odyssey Innovation by supporting the Net Regeneration Scheme to contribute to reducing old fishing gear that is a problem for so much wildlife.”
Rob Thompson, Director at Odyssey Innovation, said: “The Net Regeneration Scheme has only been made possible through collaboration and through it, we work closely with the fishing communities, conservation groups, universities and government bodies.
“Working with Morrisons on this project has been an essential part of creating a collaborative scheme that benefits everyone involved. Getting the support from a big British fish supplier to help us, and others, tackle a problem that is growing in our seas, has the added benefit of giving consumers confidence that the seafood they are consuming has been sourced in the most sustainable way.
“Discarded and unwanted fishing gear that is left in the seas can do real damage to our sea wildlife and the Net Regeneration Scheme supports the fishing industry to become the best possible custodians of the sea.”
Morrisons has committed to a 50% reduction across its own-brand primary plastic packaging by 2025. Initiatives introduced over the last 12 months will remove 9,000 tonnes of unnecessary or problematic plastic each year. Over 83% of Morrisons own-brand plastic packaging is now able to be recycled.
In 2019 Morrisons was voted the most environmentally responsible company in the UK for its work on plastics reduction at the Responsible Business Awards, run by HRH The Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community Network.
– Morrisons is launching reusable glass milk bottles to cut plastic and reduce CO2 emissions –
– The trial is a partnership with local dairy farmers –
– The ‘long life’ bottles last for decades without signs of wear and tear –
Morrisons is launching a glass milk bottle trial as part of its drive to reduce plastic and bring back traditional packaging.
The glass milk bottles hold a pint[1] of milk and are priced at 90p. They are available in seven trial stores across Kent and four stores around Sheffield. They are delivered directly to Morrisons supermarkets by local dairy farms and once returned are collected and sanitised and can be reused for ten years or more.
The introduction of traditional glass milk bottles is expected to remove 40,000 plastic bottles from these Morrisons stores per year as well as reduce CO2 emissions – as delivery from local suppliers means milk covers shorter distances.
Natasha Cook, Packaging Manager,from Morrisons said: “We want to help our customers live their lives with less plastic. Reusing glass milk bottles is an easy leap for many people to make because they remember that this was how milk used to arrive on the doorstep.
” We’re currently talking to other local dairies and hope to be able to roll out glass milk bottles across the country.”
Steve Hynd, Policy Manager, from City to Sea said:“Milk is a prime example of a product that could and should be swapped from single-use plastic bottles to planet friendly reusable bottles.
“It is great to see Morrisons pioneering the process of delivering milk in reusable bottles in supermarket stores. We know this move is popular, with 3 out of 4 people telling us they want more refill options in shops as a way of tackling plastic pollution. This is Morrisons doing not only what’s right for the planet but also what their customers are telling us they want to see.”
Morrisons has committed to a 50% reduction across its own-brand primary plastic packaging by 2025. Initiatives introduced over the last 12 months will remove 9,000 tonnes of unnecessary or problematic plastic each year. Over 83%of Morrisons own-brand plastic packaging is now able to be recycled.
In 2019 Morrisons was voted the most environmentally responsible company in the UK for its work on plastics reduction at the Responsible Business Awards, run by HRH The Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community Network.
Morrisons has launched a limited-edition ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ so customers can grab a slice of the action during Euro 2020.
The 14” pizza combines flavour favourites from four footballing giants, with Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy all coming together to make one pizza perfect to watch the group stages with.
Divided into quarters, Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ is topped with frankfurters and red onion, chorizo and chargrilled peppers, mozzarella and pesto, and spicy peri peri chicken.
So, no matter if you’re rooting for Ronaldo, supporting Sane or cheering for Jorginho there’s no worrying about your loyalties as the Morrisons pizza combines the best bits from every country.
With the British weather warming up and restrictions around group gatherings relaxed, the new pizza is landing in-store at the perfect time for Euro 2020 parties and is being released ahead of England, Wales and Scotland’s first games in the tournament.
Priced at just £3.89, Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ is a fraction of the price of limited-edition pizzas at high street pizza restaurants. It will be hand-made by Morrisons Market Street experts in counters nationwide from Thursday 10 June.
Leanne Cory, Pizza Buyer at Morrisons,said: “With so much excitement for the Euros, we wanted to give customers the ultimate opportunity to tuck into the best flavours of Europe, whilst enjoying the match.”
Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ has the following countries’ flavours:
Germany – Frankfurter sausage, red onion and mustard
Spain – Chorizo and chargrilled peppers
Italy – Mozzarella, pesto and tomato
Portugal – Spicy piri piri chicken
It is available from Morrisons Pizza Counters until Sunday 11 July and costs £3.89.
The winner of Aldi’s Supermarket Sweep in Livingston has raised an amazing £698.36 for a local foodbank while picking up the same value in Aldi favourites for herself.
After a year hiatus, Aldi’s hugely popular Supermarket Sweep returned to Scotland and lucky shopper Lindsay Smith, who was chosen as the winner of an in-store competition, took part in the five-minute trolley dash for charity on Sunday 6th June.
As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Lindsay successfully found the three Scottish products on her shopping list so Aldi doubled the total value of her haul and donated the lump sum to her nominated charity, Polbeth Community Hub.
Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Lindsay Smith, said: “Aldi Supermarket Sweep was an amazing experience that I will never ever forget, all the staff were brilliant and I’d like to thank them all. I am particularly delighted with the amount they kindly donated to my nominated food bank, I feel so happy and proud to be able to give something back to such a great cause.
“Polbeth Community Hub is at the heart of our village and they pulled out all the stops during the pandemic, delivering food parcels to all those isolating or shielding, and continuing services like counselling and advice sessions online wherever they could.”
Jane Cooper, Community Development Worker from Polbeth Community Hub, said: “We are extremely grateful to both Lindsay and Aldi for the kind nomination and wonderful donation that will be put to great use helping the community during times of need.
“We appreciate the support of our local Aldi and the kindness shown in what has being a very trying year for all.”
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said:“The Aldi Supermarket Sweep is a firm favourite across the country and we are so pleased to be able to bring it back after a year hiatus.
“Congratulations to Lindsay who managed to raise an incredible £698.36 for Polbeth Community Hub and take home a trolley full of Aldi goodies for herself.”
The Supermarket Sweep was run in line with current COVID-19 guidelines and all safety precautions, including social distancing, were adhered to.
-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.
