Sainsbury's economy products: review

Austin_Allegro_2

Lilibet, I had exactly the same problem at my Sainsbury's in Muswell Hill in London.

At one point they pulled practically all their economy range off the shelves. I asked an assistant 'is that because nobody around here is poor enough to want them?' and he laughed and agreed! They seem to be getting more in now though.

I'd go to Tesco's if I could but the nearest one is a bus ride away, whereas Sainsbury's is walking distance.

student100

Low price white facial tissues, 35p for a box of 150. Very good, quite strong and absorbent, much better value than more expensive tissues and much better quality than Asda's SmartPrice tissues.

Low price Longlife Orange Juice, can't remember the exact price, about 40p/litre. Very good, hard to tell the difference between it and the standard OJ but no resealable flap on the carton.

Low price bread, rubbish. Nasty texture, tastes awful. Go for the fresh insore bakery bread or a reduced price higher quality sliced loaf instead.

Low price pasta, not very good. Takes ages to cook and is either too chewy or a slimy mess. Sainsbury's standard pasta is worth the small extra cost.

LP tinned tomatoes, more water than standard tinned tomatoes but otherwise fine - the price difference probably more than makes up for the watery-ness.

LP Washing up liquid, useless. Need to use masses as it's very watery, and it makes everything very slimy. The higher-priced concentrated standard WUL is much more effective, better value, and smells nice too.

Galtizz

I'd go to Tesco's if I could but the nearest one is a bus ride away, whereas Sainsbury's is walking distance.

I think you'd probably save the bus fare each time. Not sure if you're male or female, but you could buy yourself a stylish shopping trolley (Don't tell 160 but they have a rather snazzy fold away one at Lakeland)

I'm lucky and I have a choice of Sainsburys, Asda or Lidl (There is a Tesco's but it's a bit further away) and I get all of my basics from Lidl and the other stuff from Asda. I think Sainsburys are over priced and I've not been happy with the quality of the things I have tried. THe one that really sticks in my brain is:

Sainsburys economy mince (not sure of the price) Nasty, it was more fat and grissle than meat.

16011996

ooh, thats lovely, thanks galtiz, think i know what i want for xmas. ;D

Austin_Allegro_2

Well I have a bus pass, so the trip to Tesco will only cost me time, not money - might give it a go.

But there's no way I'm carrying a 'wally trolley'! :-*

Caterina

Unfortuantely Sainsburys in Walton on Thames stocks very very little of the economy range, apparently there is just no demand for it in Surrey ::)! Tried telling them I was demanding it but they looked down their noses at me >:(.  Bunch of snobs ;D!!!

Had same problem in Greenwich Peninsula - now I shop at the local farmers' market and only top up at Sainsbury's if no other alternative (local shop etc) available.

Incidentally, Sainsbury's economy self raising flour is absolutely fine, and also the economy citrus (usually satsumas) is lovely.

Caterina

KK

I don't often buy economy brands, but certain things seem to be exactly the same. Economy kidney beans are about 10-11p per tin and exactly the same as others (I buy Sainsburys/Asda or Tesco) as are economy tinned tomatoes which are fine for soups or sauces. I also am a fan of economy bacon as it is often exactly the same as more expensive stuff. I buy economy skimmed milk powder for sauces and when I run out of milk for my milk monster 4 year old! Juices I have been disappointed with as they don't taste as good. As a rule, anything with lots of ingredients is likely to be less nice than a premium brand or own brand. Simple stuff is fine. I am a self-confessed snob and don't like being seen buying economy or reduced goods - who knows why!

rach

my chef friend told me that the main difference with value beans, spaghetti etc is that they are GM foods.

crana9

so what did they make economy products from before GM was invented? ???

crana9

oops, posted too early

it says on Sainsbury's products:

Like all our own brand foods, this product contains no GM ingredients.