ASDA re-sizing / re-pricing / product removal

igdirect

As a regular customer of ASDA, it's come to my notice that there's a significant change in size / price and presence of many items.

For example, much smaller portions in the store cafe - a bacon roll that used to contain 3 rashers, now contains 2, just about equivalent to a 30% price rise. Instant coffee drinks of all kinds used to be 80p, now you have to pay 90p if it's frothed up into a cappucino - but this is not stated on the menu. I overheard other customers saying how small the fish & chip portions were now, and how dry the fish was. I assume this is because smaller portions dry out quicker under the heat lamps!

Many items have been rebagged in smaller weights and kept at the same price - frozen prawns as an example - 500g for £4 previously, now 386g.

Using the ASDA Price Guarantee with every receipt, I've also noticed that many lines that were more expensive in ASDA (and so attracting a balance refund voucher) are now disappearing from shelves. A good example here is Vics Sinex - a major brand everywhere but now no longer available from my local store at least.

When I asked a manager about this I was told that many policy changes had been ordered by Head Office, but wouldn't say what.

One final thought - is the ASDA Price Guarantee a way for those up top to find out what is losing them money and so remove those items from availability, temporarily or not?

And has anyone else noticed these changes, or is it just my local store? I'd be interested to find out! Anyone from ASDA care to comment?

Velcro_Hotdog

I think you will find that it's not just Asda, but most supermarkets, shops, cafe's. Everyone will be squeezing as much profit as the can out of products to help make ends meet.

Freddie_Snowbits

I have not noticed this, then again, I do not shop at ASDA nor do I eat in the eatery in such monolitic palaces

GlasweJen

Asda cafes are actually an external company! The only food served in asda which is controlled by asda is the stuff that the staff eat in their own (separate) canteen. The staff at the cafe will be able to tell you who they work for so you can direct your feedback straight to source (there are several different companies depending on the area you're in).

Can't comment about the change in weight of prawns because that's not my department but the vicks sinex range is definitely available in my store.

I have noticed that the products that trigger a voucher on the asda guarantee sell fastest as customers will manipulate their basket taking the guarantee into consideration when they do their shop (as is MSE) which may explain low availability in your store. Certainly I've not seen any products being withdrawn because they attract a voucher under asda guarantee. It is worthwhile emailing asda through their website about store availability as they take availability very seriously and I know our store started stocking bitter lemon in cans because we had a customer specifically ask us for them.

stephen77

for bacon roll.

a few things can happen
1) pork price increase - so rather than increase the price they reduce the amount.
2) are the rashers the same. they may have gone two slighltly bigger rashers
3) what are the competition doing? if tesco etc have two rashes for the same price they probably think no point putting in extra.

a lot this is going in a circular motion.
products get cheapend, then quality increase, then cheapend, then quality increase keeps repeating.