Anyone else think ASDA has got better recently?
Discussion
I'm no supermarket snob. I use them all apart from Iceland, where appropriate. I am a food snob though (albeit petit borgeouise) and this does mean that most of my yum yums usage is M&S/Waitrose or where applicable by location Booths.
Something I've been noticing recently is that ASDA is getting much, much better. To give a simple example of this, one thing I look at in supermarkets is ready made garlic bread. I'm not sure what Booths is cause I'm not usually in the right bit of the country, but out of the other supermarkets the only ones that are even worth considering (i.e. use butter in at least one product) are Waitrose, M&S, ASDA, and Morrisons. And out of those 4 ASDA comes second (full descending ranking = M&S, ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons). Or similarly I'm currently cooking pork rib eye from ASDA - most supermarkets don't even do pork rib eye. In general
Meanwhile the "news" is all doom and gloom for ASDA. That doesn't fit with my experience frankly so I don't know if I am a canary in the coal mine picking up a massive turn around, or just some sort of abberation. How are you finding it? And if you've not been there in a while, maybe I suggest trying it again?
Sadly at the other end Tesco continues to go to s
t. They just started requiring cash deposits for trolleys in my local ffs, which means I now only use them when strictly necessary.
Something I've been noticing recently is that ASDA is getting much, much better. To give a simple example of this, one thing I look at in supermarkets is ready made garlic bread. I'm not sure what Booths is cause I'm not usually in the right bit of the country, but out of the other supermarkets the only ones that are even worth considering (i.e. use butter in at least one product) are Waitrose, M&S, ASDA, and Morrisons. And out of those 4 ASDA comes second (full descending ranking = M&S, ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons). Or similarly I'm currently cooking pork rib eye from ASDA - most supermarkets don't even do pork rib eye. In general
Meanwhile the "news" is all doom and gloom for ASDA. That doesn't fit with my experience frankly so I don't know if I am a canary in the coal mine picking up a massive turn around, or just some sort of abberation. How are you finding it? And if you've not been there in a while, maybe I suggest trying it again?
Sadly at the other end Tesco continues to go to s
t. They just started requiring cash deposits for trolleys in my local ffs, which means I now only use them when strictly necessary. Somewhatfoolish said:
I'm no supermarket snob. I use them all apart from Iceland, where appropriate. I am a food snob though (albeit petit borgeouise) and this does mean that most of my yum yums usage is M&S/Waitrose or where applicable by location Booths.
Something I've been noticing recently is that ASDA is getting much, much better. To give a simple example of this, one thing I look at in supermarkets is ready made garlic bread. I'm not sure what Booths is cause I'm not usually in the right bit of the country, but out of the other supermarkets the only ones that are even worth considering (i.e. use butter in at least one product) are Waitrose, M&S, ASDA, and Morrisons. And out of those 4 ASDA comes second (full descending ranking = M&S, ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons). Or similarly I'm currently cooking pork rib eye from ASDA - most supermarkets don't even do pork rib eye. In general
Meanwhile the "news" is all doom and gloom for ASDA. That doesn't fit with my experience frankly so I don't know if I am a canary in the coal mine picking up a massive turn around, or just some sort of abberation. How are you finding it? And if you've not been there in a while, maybe I suggest trying it again?
Sadly at the other end Tesco continues to go to st. They just started requiring cash deposits for trolleys in my local ffs, which means I now only use them when strictly necessary.
I've not been to ASDA since 1994, but next time I visit I will let you know... Something I've been noticing recently is that ASDA is getting much, much better. To give a simple example of this, one thing I look at in supermarkets is ready made garlic bread. I'm not sure what Booths is cause I'm not usually in the right bit of the country, but out of the other supermarkets the only ones that are even worth considering (i.e. use butter in at least one product) are Waitrose, M&S, ASDA, and Morrisons. And out of those 4 ASDA comes second (full descending ranking = M&S, ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons). Or similarly I'm currently cooking pork rib eye from ASDA - most supermarkets don't even do pork rib eye. In general
Meanwhile the "news" is all doom and gloom for ASDA. That doesn't fit with my experience frankly so I don't know if I am a canary in the coal mine picking up a massive turn around, or just some sort of abberation. How are you finding it? And if you've not been there in a while, maybe I suggest trying it again?
Sadly at the other end Tesco continues to go to s
t. They just started requiring cash deposits for trolleys in my local ffs, which means I now only use them when strictly necessary. 
I use Asda a lot as I can walk to a medium sized one from our house.
I think it offers the best value for money from all the 'big' supermarkets to be honest. If we had large one (arf, arf) nearby I could quite happily do a full shop there.
I should add we use it for staples really and get things like meat, fish, some vegetables from local butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers however I do occasionally get their steaks and find them more than acceptable.
I think it offers the best value for money from all the 'big' supermarkets to be honest. If we had large one (arf, arf) nearby I could quite happily do a full shop there.
I should add we use it for staples really and get things like meat, fish, some vegetables from local butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers however I do occasionally get their steaks and find them more than acceptable.
I would try Asda but my car automatically heads to Sainsburys! 
Been using mine since the day it opened in 1984. And a Nectar card brings prices down to an acceptable level. I'm going to try the Aldi opposite one day as I keep hearing good reports about them. Anybody care to comment on Aldi generally. Are they any good?
Been using mine since the day it opened in 1984. And a Nectar card brings prices down to an acceptable level. I'm going to try the Aldi opposite one day as I keep hearing good reports about them. Anybody care to comment on Aldi generally. Are they any good?I've been shopping at Asda for over 30 years (used to work for them when i was in 6th form).
IME it's become significantly worse since the Issa Brothers/TDR Capital took over. The shelves are messier, there are fewer staff, more items out of stock. They're clearly following the standard PE model of sweating the assets for every penny but it spoils the shopping experience.
Up until quite recently we'd get a 10% staff discount because one of my kids worked there but since she left I've been more and more tempted to try Lidl and Aldi. However they don't have the same range of branded items.
IME it's become significantly worse since the Issa Brothers/TDR Capital took over. The shelves are messier, there are fewer staff, more items out of stock. They're clearly following the standard PE model of sweating the assets for every penny but it spoils the shopping experience.
Up until quite recently we'd get a 10% staff discount because one of my kids worked there but since she left I've been more and more tempted to try Lidl and Aldi. However they don't have the same range of branded items.
No my local Asda 24 hour is exactly the same as in the past. Recently got their exceptional smoked salmon. A notch below M&S regular smoked salmon, never mind M&S’s Collection premium range. Their fresh produce is a notch below M&S, a similar quality to Aldi (although they carry a wider range) but more expensive.
My main supermarkets are Aldi, M&S. I only go to ASDA for specific branded items like Method kitchen cleaner they don’t sell in the other two places. Can’t see the value there.
My main supermarkets are Aldi, M&S. I only go to ASDA for specific branded items like Method kitchen cleaner they don’t sell in the other two places. Can’t see the value there.
I've got all the main supermarkets local to me, and have shopped in all of them at one time or another.
I find ASDAs extra special range is really good, easily comparable to anything you can find in Waitrose or M&S.
It's been that way for years though. I first spotted it with their extra special jams years ago, I think the extra special meat is now called exceptional or something. Again really nice, but not particularly cheap.
I find ASDAs extra special range is really good, easily comparable to anything you can find in Waitrose or M&S.
It's been that way for years though. I first spotted it with their extra special jams years ago, I think the extra special meat is now called exceptional or something. Again really nice, but not particularly cheap.
wyson said:
No my local Asda 24 hour is exactly the same as in the past. Recently got their exceptional smoked salmon. A notch below M&S regular smoked salmon, never mind M&S’s Collection premium range. Their fresh produce is a notch below M&S, a similar quality to Aldi (although they carry a wider range) but more expensive.
My main supermarkets are Aldi, M&S. I only go to ASDA for specific branded items like Method kitchen cleaner they don’t sell in the other two places. Can’t see the value there.
my view is the same apart from i use M&S and Sainsburys being similar priced but much better quality.My main supermarkets are Aldi, M&S. I only go to ASDA for specific branded items like Method kitchen cleaner they don’t sell in the other two places. Can’t see the value there.
I hit up Asda every now and then for the World Food part of the freezer section. The Punjabi samosas are the real deal, imported from India and properly spicy.
I note from the website they now stock 'Juici' Jamaican patties. Whether these have made it to the wilds of Surrey we shall see.
I note from the website they now stock 'Juici' Jamaican patties. Whether these have made it to the wilds of Surrey we shall see.
I've no loyalty to anyone supermarket and so bounce around them unless after something only one of them sells, which for me means large Tescos, Asda, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Morrisons, and a dedicated M&S food court, plus mid sized Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi and Lidl. Personally I've not seen any improvement in Asda, always liked their odd varieties of 'world foods', never liked how they keep their cheese (only supermarket where I've bought cheese (multiple times) with freezer burns as the storage or fridges are too cold). Agree Tescos are not as good as they used to be, but don;t think they are that bad. Worst for me are Aldi and Morrisons (I like the cold/sandwich meats from Aldi, but the frozen pizzas have gone down hill and I think they are poor at a lot). Today's shop was Lidl.
My 3 regular supermarket shops are
- Asda, local & cheap. My regular shop.
- Ocado, fortnightly delivery for M&S stuff and different / hard to find items.
- Aldi, cheap and sometimes handy.
As much as Asda gets a hard rap, our usual store on the edge of town is always well stocked and not overly rammed with people. Choose your time wisely and you can take a nice leisurely wander around.
I had the misfortune of using the city centre Tesco today to acquire a free parking voucher (£5 spend).
I couldn’t believe the price of some of the items. I ended up putting half the stuff back as it became stupid. Most items about £1-2 more than Asda.
- Asda, local & cheap. My regular shop.
- Ocado, fortnightly delivery for M&S stuff and different / hard to find items.
- Aldi, cheap and sometimes handy.
As much as Asda gets a hard rap, our usual store on the edge of town is always well stocked and not overly rammed with people. Choose your time wisely and you can take a nice leisurely wander around.
I had the misfortune of using the city centre Tesco today to acquire a free parking voucher (£5 spend).
I couldn’t believe the price of some of the items. I ended up putting half the stuff back as it became stupid. Most items about £1-2 more than Asda.
I'd agree. Asda has been ok for some time but seems to have improved a bit more, just as Tesco seem to be heading downill.
Aldi is ok but has a more limited range. Morrisons is ok, some stores better tham others. Sainsbury's is ok but nothing much to show for what are, usually, higher prices.
Aldi is ok but has a more limited range. Morrisons is ok, some stores better tham others. Sainsbury's is ok but nothing much to show for what are, usually, higher prices.
Mobile Chicane said:
I hit up Asda every now and then for the World Food part of the freezer section. The Punjabi samosas are the real deal, imported from India and properly spicy.
I note from the website they now stock 'Juici' Jamaican patties. Whether these have made it to the wilds of Surrey we shall see.
Thanks for letting us know about the patties.I note from the website they now stock 'Juici' Jamaican patties. Whether these have made it to the wilds of Surrey we shall see.
I had these 'fresh' in Jamaica from the Jucci shop that was a bit like Greggs/Mcdonalds. It tasted amazing after a days rum tasting at a plantation.
I have a massive Asda near by so will go investigate next time Im passing.
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