Anyone having trouble buying ingredients?

competitionscafe

KatrinaC wrote:

Asda has always been a bit rubbish for ingredients. Any shop which devotes that much shelf space to crisps and biscuits is going to be pushed for space for foodstuffs which require cooking.

My local Tesco is the same - one of the reasons I stopped using it. Unbelievable how much space was/is devoted to junk food and ready meals. The crisps section alone is about 3 times the size of the baking ingredients section!
Would often walk in there and think here I am in a shop full of food and there is nothing I want to eat!

I now use local healthfood shop for lots if ingredients (baking, spices, nuts, dried herbs etc), corner shop/newsagent for fresh herbs (coriander, parsley etc - you get about 5 times as much for £1 as you do in those tiny supermarket packets for 69p!)

Some good internet shops for spices etc too - try http://www.spice-master.com/ for dessicated coconut (and lots of other stuff too at reasonable prices)

shakemeup

They had coconut in Aldi the other day, the only one I found in tesco was an organic one! I love my coconut and cherry cake.

Fivenations

I rarely shop at Tesco as it is out of my way but last time I visited I noticed that the veg freezer contained only own brand vegetables ( I know, fresh is better but they are handy). So much for consumer choice!

A friend asked for help finding something and was told that if a product doesn't sell well after six weeks it is withdrawn fro that shop. Now that's responsible! How are people going to chnge their diet for the better if their choice is limited by the bad shopping habits of others?

( I was after Bird Eye broccoli - best frozen broccoli I have come across - it stays crunchy))

ti1980

Fivenations-frozen is often better than fresh. It is a myth that fresh is better. Especially with a decent brand like Birds Eye who freeze their stuff really quickly after picking/harvesting.

carinska

Lil-me can you give me some recommendations for good websites that you use? I have been thinking more and more lately that that has to be the answer. We have the choice of Tesco or Morrisons round here, and no markets, Asian supermarkets or anything like that.

Thanks!

Anastacia

Our ASDA has a baking aisle and everything you could need (except popping corn - asian supermarlet for that) so it must vary across the country according to what sells i guess. Also plenty of fresh fruit & veg and minimal packaging. I have to say that about 70% of the shop is of no use to me but the fruit & veg has a speedy turnover, the meat is okay and they have the basics for cooking, so i stay with them. Sadly our local veg shop has just closed. It was always really busy despite being in between summerfields & waitrose. They just closed as they we ready to retire. Such a shame that they didnt sell as a going concern as i always thought it was excellent to see them doing so well against the big guys.I guess you can vote with the your feat but it doesnt always make the difference you might hope.

competitionscafe

carinska wrote:

Lil-me can you give me some recommendations for good websites that you use? I have been thinking more and more lately that that has to be the answer. We have the choice of Tesco or Morrisons round here, and no markets, Asian supermarkets or anything like that.

Thanks!

These are all good for spices, etc:

Spice Master
http://www.spice-master.com/

The Spice Shop
http://www.thespiceshop.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
(Also has recipes)

http://www.steenbergs.co.uk/index.php
(Also has recipes)

http://www.seasonedpioneers.co.uk/
(Also has recipes)

http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/sect/F.html

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=54

http://www.thai4uk.com/acatalog/shop.html (Thai)

celyn90

About a year ago I wanted some glycerine added to my online shop. As they couldn't find it, it was substitiuted for a gel air freshener.

I tend to buy dessicated coconut in the Indian supermarket in town. It's cheap and I can buy a decent amount in one go too. It's also good for things like ground almonds, dates and yogurt as well as all the spices and different sorts of flour.

vfairbrass

I shop at one of the biggest Sainsburys in the country and went on a search for jelly yesterday. There seemed to be only one brand (Hartleys) of normal block jelly, one brand of unsweetened and some very sad looking Basic range strawberry flavour. The whole lot took up about one small shelf. Does no one make jelly any more? I realise it's not the most nutritious food but I find it a good way to get fruit into my children if it's disguised in jelly.
Apart from that I find they are good at the full range of homebaking ingredients although they like to put the same ingredients in a range of different places eg dried fruit is with baking ingredients and with lunch box snacks (where it is more expensive). I find this is where shopping online can be useful as you are shown everything in the store which matches your ingredient, with comparison prices. I print off my weekly shop from mysupermarket.com, with pictures and walk round the store with it myself. It is also easy to ask for help from an assistant if you can't find something.
Valerie

AussieLass

I really can't believe what is in the supermarkets here. :eek:

We are staying with rellies and of course I'm buying and cooking for ourselves. At first I thought I would use her cooking ingred - like coconut, flours, spices etc and then I would top up accordingly. But she does absolutely no cooking whatsoever. All her food is frozen or in tins.

So I've had to buy basics as well. But finding them is another story. :rolleyes: It's just not catered for in the supermarkets. I can't believe how much pre - packaged food there is. Me & DH walk up aisles with our mouths open and just gaze in wonder and the most awful thing is how many people buy it. If I only had known I would have thrown in some stuff in my bags.