Too often I leave the supermarket thinking ‘Is that all?’ so I’m always on the lookout for new ways to be smarter with my shopping habits. So when I heard that the former Lidl store on Southall High Street had been replaced by a new Affordable Foods supermarket my attention was grabbed.
Admittedly as a non-Londoner, Southall is not my area, but I was intrigued to venture out to Ealing in the hopes of finding some bargains that wouldn’t break the bank. Arriving in the bustling area around midday, I was happy to see plenty of people milling about, shopping or grabbing some lunch.
With a short walk from the station, I arrived at Affordable Foods. The first thing to notice was blankets, throws and duvets on sale outside the shop on the steps, alongside some gadgets, mobile phones and headphones. Before you set foot in the actual shop you’re met with suitcases, rugs and curtains - not what I was expecting.
After seeing all the hustle and bustle along the rest of the High Street I was surprised to see Affordable Foods virtually empty. Fluorescent lights illuminated the fact there was only two other people in there with me.
Walking through the door I was met with bulk buy offers including 24 packs of tortilla crisps for £3 and 12 Diet Coke cans for £3 which I thought were both pretty good deals – if you were having a party maybe. Whilst scanning the deals something did catch my eye.
Recently the price of Heinz products has shot up with data from The Grocer last year showing the average price increase of 40 per cent year on year of the nation’s favourite tinned cupboard staple. With the average price of a 415g tin of Heinz Beanz costing £1.40 I was pleased to see a tin for just 85p in Affordable Foods and two tins for £1.50. A good result for all bean lovers. Another cupboard staple of mine to make a quick and tasty pasta sauce or add to a curry is tinned tomatoes.
Affordable Foods was selling a tin of Napolina peeled plum tomatoes for 60p which usually go for £1 at most supermarkets. Undoubtedly, you can get Lidl’s cheap brand version for just 37p but if you’re a fan of Napolina, 60p is no wallet-breaker.
Most of the stuff on offer were branded products often in large quantities which might be useful for a business owner or those with very large families to feed. For a regular shopper looking to get their weekly shop all in one place, it might be more convenient to visit your local supermarket with a larger range.
For any of those with four-legged friends, Affordable Foods is selling 3kg large bags of Pedigree adult dog food for £3 and two bags for £5 which is a much cheaper alternative than Pets at Home’s price of £9.99 – a good way to keep your furry friends smiling. And if you like your eggs in the morning, you can get a pack of 30 for £5 or £6 which I was shocked by. I was also surprised by the choice to lay them on a patch of Astro turf but that’s neither here nor there.
This store used to be a Lidl but has very little in common with the German-founded affordable supermarket. With no fresh produce on offer, this is the place to stock up if your cupboards are looking a little bare after the festive season. If you’re after fresh fruit and vegetables I noticed Quality Foods and Mor Foods just round the corner on the high street which seemed very popular on a Thursday afternoon.
As I had no intention of lugging bulk buy options back 11 stops on the Elizabeth line I decided on a small selection of sweet and savoury treats. As a chocolate enthusiast not dissimilar from Willy Wonka, I settled on M&M’s choco eggs, childhood favourite Dolly Mixtures and an unusual crisp choice for my partner who’s a lover of both Guinness and spicy things. My non-nutritious choice of snacks came to a measly price of £2.25 which I was content with.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed with some of the choice in Affordable Foods. I can’t see it being incredibly useful on a regular basis but if you’re catering to a large amount of people, you may think differently to me.
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