ASDA Smartprice 500g Pasta Shapes (Penne?) 19p

1carminestocky

Couldn't see this posted anywhere. Saw this today in my local store, reduced from 48p. At 48p it was approx half price compared to 'branded' pasta/penne, but this reduction to 19p makes it approx 20% of the price of 'branded'. Seems fine to me.

sheepchick

i buy these too! they are fine, cant see a difference to the normal pasta at all, especially when you cover them in sauce anyway

jezza2412

19p is the usual price isn't it? I've been buying at that price at Asda for ages. The equivalents at Tesco (Value) and Sainsburys (Basics) are also 19p.

I can't tell the difference between the three brands. And compared to higher price offerings, the only difference I can see is that they're slightly more prone to breaking during boiling and the water seems slightly more 'starchy' after.

But seeing as the only ingredient is durum wheat, the same as higher price pasta, does anyone know what the actual difference is, and why the huge price discrepancy?

misseypootle

these are also around 19p in Netto and have been for months

1carminestocky

jezza2412 wrote: »

1) 19p is the usual price isn't it? I've been buying at that price at Asda for ages. The equivalents at Tesco (Value) and Sainsburys (Basics) are also 19p.

I can't tell the difference between the three brands. And compared to higher price offerings, the only difference I can see is that they're slightly more prone to breaking during boiling and the water seems slightly more 'starchy' after.

2) But seeing as the only ingredient is durum wheat, the same as higher price pasta, does anyone know what the actual difference is, and why the huge price discrepancy?

1) I was just going on the SEL which stated previously 48p. It' the first time i've bought them so no idea how long they've been 19p.

2). Marketing, pure and simple. I drive a Seat Toledo 1.9TDI which is, effectively, an Audi A4/VW Bora (the interior trim is exactly the same as the A4, even). Made in the same factory as the VW Bora but cost £000s less. Brand/badge snobbery is a costly exrecise.

real1314

jezza2412 wrote: »

19p is the usual price isn't it? I've been buying at that price at Asda for ages. The equivalents at Tesco (Value) and Sainsburys (Basics) are also 19p.

I can't tell the difference between the three brands. And compared to higher price offerings, the only difference I can see is that they're slightly more prone to breaking during boiling and the water seems slightly more 'starchy' after.

But seeing as the only ingredient is durum wheat, the same as higher price pasta, does anyone know what the actual difference is, and why the huge price discrepancy?

Re-read the ingredients: Durum wheat and "soft wheat", not just durum wheat. It's right there on the front of the pack.
How much difference that really makes is another thing though.

RustyFlange

1carminestocky wrote: »

1) I was just going on the SEL which stated previously 48p. It' the first time i've bought them so no idea how long they've been 19p.

2). Marketing, pure and simple. I drive a Seat Toledo 1.9TDI which is, effectively, an Audi A4/VW Bora (the interior trim is exactly the same as the A4, even). Made in the same factory as the VW Bora but cost £000s less. Brand/badge snobbery is a costly exrecise.

The are worth picking up, tastes exactly like pasta which costs 5 times the amount in my opinion.

Oh and they were 19p last year ... think 14p previous to this but obviously everything is going up in price. As far as I know they have never been 48p

Completely agree with the marketing though. You can buy a ford fiesta, and pay lots for it, or you can buy a Mazda (think it was the 121) it is exactly the same car apart from the trim and badges and yet the mazda was a canny lot cheaper!