Although convenience items may save people time, they can cost almost three times more – and a new study has revealed the many items where you can land a cash-saving bargain
Shoppers can save a packet if they cut out foods already chopped and prepared, research shows.
Although convenience items may save people time, they can cost almost three times more. Everyday foods including cheese, chicken and carrots are cheaper from major retailers than diced or filleted options. In M&S, five chicken thigh fillets without bones cost £5.75 â £3.10 more than the same item with bones.
Sainsbury’s 250g pack of smoked bacon lardons costs £1 more than the same amount of meat that has just been sliced. Sky-high grocery price inflation has slowed to its lowest level in a year, dropping to 12.2% in the four weeks to September 3. Analysts Kantar, which carried out the study, said many people still worry about rising food costs, matched only by concerns about energy bills.
Consumer expert Martyn James added: “Most shoppers won’t be aware of quite how much they are being overcharged. The more the food is fiddled with, prepared or wrapped up in packaging, the more you’ll pay. As this research shows, we all need to check out each and every price label in the supermarket and ask, âIs this worth the money?'”