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Big supermarkets failing to stock low cost food ranges in smaller stores

supermarkets  Elderly man shopping in a Tesco Express supermarket, London, England, UK. (Photo by: Alex Segre/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Big supermarkets are failing to stock essential items from their value ranges in convenience stores. Photo: Alex Segre/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty (UCG via Getty Images)

The big supermarkets are failing to stock budget ranges in smaller stores, forcing many UK households to rely on travelling to big stores to save money.

Research by consumer body Which? shows that essential budget range items are rarely stocked in smaller stores — even though two thirds (66%) of those on £21,000 or less shop in a convenience store at least once a week.

On average, the biggest supermarket stores had 87% of the products Which? was looking for, or an equivalent product in the same range. Across all four big brands — Asda, Morrisons, Tesco (TSCO.L), Sainsbury’s (SBRY.L) — budget range minced meat, tuna and ketchup had the worst stock on average despite the likelihood that other versions of these products would be much more expensive.

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However, in small Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local and Morrisons Daily convenience stores, the budget line items on Which?’s list were available less than 1% of the time.

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Of the 35 small stores from these three chains visited across the country by Which?’s mystery shoppers, 30 did not have in stock any of the budget range items on the list at all. The remaining five stores only stocked one budget range item from the list each.

Grace, 77, who lives in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, said: "I live in a rural location and no longer drive any distance. I have an order delivered by a leading supermarket about once a month, choosing their cheapest delivery charge, and top up at my local small store. It's the topping up that can be more expensive. I worry about being able to keep to my budget."

Supermarket basic ranges provide a cheaper option to low income households and budgeting families who may not be able to afford more expensive branded or premium foods.

Anita, a 34-year-old mother of two from the Cotswolds, has to factor in the cost of petrol whenever she wants to do a big shop.

She said: "Shopping at the local small supermarket is tricky for my family due to our allergies. I'd like to see supermarkets stock more affordable options for people with allergies, and more budget product ranges in smaller convenience stores."

Which? is calling on supermarket bosses to address the disparity between convenience stores and their larger supermarket counterparts.

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Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy, said: “At a time when millions of people are struggling to put food on the table, it’s shocking that budget range foods are not available to people who can’t get to a large supermarket. Everyone should have access to affordable nutritious food no matter where they live.

“Which? is now calling on supermarket bosses to ensure budget ranges that support a healthy diet are available in convenience stores, especially in areas where people are struggling the most. They must also make it easier for all customers to work out which items offer the best value for money by making sure their pricing is clear and easily comparable.”

Watch: UK inflation: Why are food prices rising so much?

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