Re: Groceries
 

Nice that Superstore is now doing its own delivery. The prices are the store/flyer prices (unlike with Instacart - sample chicken at superstore this week $5.05/kg, via Instacart $9.90/kg) and the delivery is $9.95. No tip needed or even allowed.

That fee is about half what I pay to get there and back by taxi. But you don't seem to be able to accumulate the points in the same way or even use points to pay. But that's okay, it gives me a nice balance of going and leaving it to someone else other times.

Re: Groceries
 

A good week for Leg of Lamb. From Thursday.
$5.66/lb at Walmart
$5.99/lb at Sobeys where you can also buy a Pork Loin Crown for $4.99/lb.

Re: Groceries
 

The manager where I work was putting the produce order in today. She quite often tells me the price increases.

Todays shocker was a box of romaine (24) which has already seen a few increases went from $36 last week to $54 this week.

So if you see a price increase at your local favourite eatery, this is what's happening.

Re: Groceries
 

As it's getting close to Halloween, have anybody noticed if the supermarkets are selling the monster cereals like Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry?

Re: Groceries
 

Hope all is well MrOink.

Re: Groceries
 

It's still possible to get some great deals.

Instacart seems to have cancelled Walmart's flyer prices and very often Giant Tiger flyer prices but not this week.

I just bought 6 big boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $12 when Walmart has them 3 for $10 or packs of 7 for $21.
Mushrooms/onions/carrots half the usual cost. Individual Beef/Chicken pies for 88c each. Wong Wing products just over half their usual price and many other things I just didn't need now or even soon.
:thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

Deals this week:
I bought mango coconut milk ice cream for 50 cents a pint. Went back to get some more and the bastards had cleaned out the store. :frown:

I also got a 1 kg bag of dry chickpeas for $4.38 that should keep me in hummus for the next year. :(

Admittedly not available to everyone, I given a whole freshly caught 8 lbs salmon on Thursday so that's a few diners sorted.
No

Re: Groceries
 

I've cancelled Instacart.

Overall I was happy with the service. Paying the monthly subscription was worth it for the reduced individual delivery fees but they no longer do flyer prices at Walmart (that was another advantage in that I didn't have to go there). I have been increasingly using Superstore for delivery. They do flyer prices and the delivery/tip is still cheaper than my return taxi fare.

But Superstore is now offering a subscription based service with no delivery fee and the monthly rate is the same as the regular delivery fee. A weekly shop will be like getting three free deliveries for every one I pay for. :thumbup:

And it's even less paying annually. They'll even give me $50 worth of points for signing up.

It's like they are giving money away.

Re: Groceries
 

This sort of stuff has been available for many years but this is the first time I've seen Walmart advertising it like this.

With the exception of Robinsons. I've not noticed that before. The bottle doesn't say so but it does appear to be SQUASH :thumbup:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...c4837b8cbe.png

Re: Groceries
 

And what is the betting that not all Walmart stores will have this stuff available and seeing there are 8 stores where I live I highly doubt I will be visiting each one to see if they have that stuff in and knowing my luck it will be 1 or none.

Re: Groceries
 

I was back in the UK recently and noticed how cheap groceries are compared to Ontario.
Stuff like fruit and veg, tinned goods, cosmetics, take away food, snacks, dining out - all way cheaper at the moment.
Visited quite a few pubs and had the daily deals for food and drinks, it was hard to spend twenty five quid for a couple at lunchtime.
In London, went for a curry, starters and mains, beers and then a bottle of wine - 125 quid for a group of four.
We are being robbed over here.

Re: Groceries
 

$210 for four? That's cheap?
We left Ontario for the UK in the new year and thought food etc was cheaper when we arrived but when your income in in £ and not $., Hence less, it doesn't seem so cheap. Veggie etc are ok but meat is pricey I think and we rarely eat out.

Re: Groceries
 

And then reinstated it.

I realised that I only need to order from Giant Tiger twice a month and the lower fees from subscribing save more than the subscription cost. So long as Instacart operates GT flyer pricing it's well worth it.

GT has always been a great source for "pantry" and frozen stuff but now that fresh fruit, veg and meat has been added it's pretty good all round.

Interestingly Walmart.ca has now made groceries available for delivery in our area and flyer prices too.

Re: Groceries
 

Not only is Superstore giving Optimum points with on line shopping, they've now introduced the ability to use the points in the on line order which is great.

Almost every week they have a "flash sale" for the last two days of the flyer week and it's often enough to tip the balance in making an order.

They do these great frozen seafood lasagnes (2 big portions, 3 if padded out with something) a bit steep @ $13 but Optimum member price is $5 less. Bonus points also on offer for "in-store" pizzas and also chicken wings that also have a reduced member price.

I put a quick same day order in for $97 for store prices. My receipt shows $77 member price and $15 worth of points.

That's like a $62 spend for $97 worth of food.:thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

Yep the Optimum points are great, we cashed them in at Shoppers Drug Mart for a wireless Nintendo Switch Controller and a game. Shoppers has the best choice for that stuff, I've heard of people using points to buy game consoles from there.

Re: Groceries
 

My MIL used hers for a laptop there a good few years ago.

I've always said Shoppers is underrated. It looks expensive if you buy randomly but many of their offers are as good as anywhere.

But I do it the other way. I have to pay for diabetic test strips and buying when there are bonus points (which seems to be most of the time) I can get about $30 worth of points for my $85 which then gets me about $40 worth of groceries at the supermarket. :thumbup:

Re: Groceries
 

we do the same with Wellwise (the home healthcare bit of Shoppers) - regular supplies for daughter that we could probably find cheaper online if we looked hard enough, but the points tip the balance... if we time it right and put in an order on a "20x the points" promotion day we end up with a bucketload of Optimum points that are then used for a bit of a splurge at the grocery store for when we have houseguests - typically at the deli and butchery counters, for some proper cheese or a decent hunk of beef. Or to help to fill the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, where we're typically feeding about a dozen people with FIL, BIL and family (and, these days, as orten as not an added girlfriend or boyfriend attached to the older youngsters...). Points are definitely the added bonus that keeps us "loyal" to the Shoppers/PC brand.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure we got a WiiU game console for points at Shoppers a few years back, too - or if not totally on points, then for a ridiculously low price by cashing in points towards it.

Re: Groceries
 

It will surprise no one that I'm completely slapdash about points collection, I just wave the card when I'm doing the ordinary shopping but don't target particular goods or days. Nonetheless, there's always enough points to pay for the Christmas grocery shop.

Re: Groceries
 

Well that's better than nothing but it doesn't take much, for example, to notice that President's Choice burgers are $15 for a pack of 8 - which is pretty good value for the quality anyway - if you buy more than one pack (otherwise $17) but that this week they have 5000 points (worth $5) per pack.
If burgers are something you'd normally buy but you don't need any quite yet, why not buy a couple of packs anyway (subject to affording it right now) for $30 and get the points - effectively costing you $20 instead of paying $34 later?

Or coffee pods, the 72 size, typically about $38 but there are plenty of times when there's about $8 in points and $7 off too. Why would you want to spend $38 when you can do it for $23.

There are half a dozen things that will regularly give that sort of deal. Think of the extra money you have for the liquor store. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

If I care about the price of something, I buy it at Costco. If I'm in Loblaws it's because it's convenient. It's no longer convenient if one looks at the prices and points instead of just whizzing down the aisle.

Re: Groceries
 

I know what you mean about spending less time in the supermarket but it takes about 2 minutes to look at a flyer and if something catches your eye - like something half its usual price should do - you can go directly to it in the supermarket without even 'whizzing' down the aisle unnecessarily.

I remain bemused by this idea that Costco is cheaper. Maybe it's just a "here" issue but it's absolutely not cheaper for groceries.

Re: Groceries
 

Cheaper on some stuff here, notably milk, butter ($5.49 costco, $8.49 for same brand at loblaws) and some fruit and veg. Often though one has to buy an enormous bag or box of something fresh for around the same price as a single or smaller bag of fruit/veggies at Loblaw/Sobeys in the knowledge that unless you plan to eat brocolli every night for a week, you will inevitably throw some of it out. Other things - meat, dry goods, can be cheaper but it pays to check unless you are looking for the convenience of the big shop.

Since they moved Costco to a 10 minute drive away as opposed to a 25 minute drive away we go more often - once a week. We also buy gas there as its 5-6 cents cheaper than elsewhere. That's generally worth having if the queue isn't too large!

Re: Groceries
 

The petrol at Costco is an even better deal if you run on premium, as the price delta at Costco is about half of Mobil/ Shell. These days with WFH I don't find myself bothering to queue anymore.

Anyhow I signed it specifically to grumble (obviously)!

This is some next level bullcrap:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...50f4d897bf.jpg
Soup designed in Canada? That's suspect enough on a ski jacket but here, blegh.

Anyhow Hi everyone! 👋

Re: Groceries
 

I've stopped paying much attention to Wholesale Club (part of Superstore/Loblaws) but happened to notice "Commercial Grade" Whole Rib Eye on offer for $9.99/lb (Optimum member price $6.99/lb).
I don't know why they started labelling whole tenderloin as whole rib eye but who cares.

I've often wondered about this commercial grade thing. Googling suggests it's used for ground beef or burgers, stuff like that.
It seems to me that if you were going to use cheaper cuts of meat in that way why not just buy the stuff that's cheaper anyway - like the various 'rounds' and cross ribs that are around $5/lb anyway, especially if there was then commercial grade inside round.

Anyway, the last time I bought a whole one was reduced to $11/lb and that was nearly five years ago, so the $10 seemed pretty good, especially as it's $7/lb for me so I took a chance.

The one that was delivered was even bigger than expected. A 16 pounder for $160 but $112 for me.
It's now been cut up into batches of four steaks and three lumps for non steak use like Stroganoff, curry, whatever.

Except for the size it looks like the others we've had so I'm not expecting to be that disappointed. We'll find out tonight.

We had some ungraded Mexican Prime Rib a few weeks ago which was every bit as good as AA/AAA.

Re: Groceries
 

So...the steak was every bit as good taste wise but it was definitely a little chewier than other tenderloin/rib eye we've had.

I shall try the tenderising hammer for the next ones to see what that does.

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I don't think I ever bought a sausage roll in Greggs - the steak bake was more my 'go to' - but I reckon the ones from Atlantic Superstore (Loblaws too presumably) must be pretty damn close.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...11c6225450.png

Packet of three, $7 from the prepared meals area

Re: Groceries
 

Hell no.

Those things at Superstore are awful. Every sausage roll I've tried in Canada appears to have been made by someone who has never eaten a sausage roll.....

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I didn't know you had Atlantic Superstore out your way :lol:

The pork pies don't work. They rattle :blink:

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Not enough cushioning (jelly)?

Re: Groceries
 

:nod: No jelly at all. But I felt there was more (missing) to it than just that.

Perhaps they could have glued the filling to the bottom and sides. :lol:

Re: Groceries
 

Superstore is Superstore isn't it? Real Canadian, Atlantic, Dominion?

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Yes, but there are some differences especially with baked on site stuff.
(although my "Atlantic" comment was more of a joke given your coast ;))

Re: Groceries
 

Be thankful you are not in Quebec where all dairy is more expensive again 'thanks' to QC protecting it's dairy industry. Last time I checked all the margerine in QC was not allowed to be yellow as people might mistake it for butter! Cannot buy 'Can't believe it's not butter' there.

Re: Groceries
 

NZ leg of lamb at Superstore for two weeks - $4.99/lb.

Yes, that's $4.99 a lb.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...8a0383c2e8.png

Re: Groceries
 

Are they pork? I can only ever find beef ones ready

Re: Groceries
 

Yep.
I think they do beef too in other stores.

Re: Groceries
 

our local Loblaw do Pork sausage rolls, just have to watch the freshness, some of the pastry have freezer burn, I give them 6/10.

if possible, fresh home baked is best, resort to having the wife do her large bake at Christmas of pork sausage rolls into two bite size pcs, she uses 3x 454gr tubes of Maple Leaf sausage meat, with puff pastry. After we've had 6 each, they are batched/frozen, now & then treat, lasts us a couple months.

Re: Groceries
 

I have made my own, though not on that scale! So nice to hear from you - about time I made another batch of those meat and potato pies you gave the recipe for! Hope you’re well.

Re: Groceries
 

For anyone craving the occasional Brit food - chip shop curry sauce mix, Fray Bentos tinned pies, different cup-a-soup options and so on that you might not get at your local stores, you might take a look at Britshop.

I sometimes look at sites like this, having used 2 or 3 over many years, just sticking some things in the cart, seeing what the postage charges are, playing around with it as sometimes taking one item out can make a big dent in the total cost etc and then just seeing if the overall cost is worth it.

I don't recall this one but they have a fixed rate for orders $25 and it's only $15. I only noticed it when my first total wasn't worth it and then when I added something the postage went down. :lol:

If you can order a fair bit it looks like a very good deal.

Re: Groceries
 

Hmmm, Fray Bentos tinned pies - bought a few a couple of years ago - talk about shrinkflation - just a rip off now.