Tesco has ditched its drab but cheap Value brand. And it has replaced with... Everyday Value. Some change, you might think. The former plain blue and white prison stripes have disappeared to be replaced by more cheerful, colourful packaging.

Some of the changes are more than skin deep, with some improvement to the products. A significant shift?

Supermarket Sweep - Tips & Advice

Need to know: Savings


Getting a grip

Yes. The previous Value range did much to change the back-to-basics landscape some two decades ago. Some supermarket on-lookers, at the time, were concerned that introducing such a cheep-and-cheerful range would inflict brand damage. Not so.

Supermarket Sweep - Tips & Advice

Need to know: Savings



However, the previous dour packaging has not helped Tesco maintain its sub-brand lately. This Value sector for supermarkets is significant, worth £1bn a year. Throw in Tesco's PR struggles and a decimated share price. So the new changes are an attempt by Tesco to fix an increasingly substantial problem of its own making - value for money.

Tesco has been hurt by accusations it has focused too much on profit-building and expansion and not enough on looking after the customer i.e. offering bottom dollar prices.

Real value

Get past the often grim packaging and supermarket 'Value' ranges do offer good value for money. Look at Morrisons own 'Savers' All Purpose Cleaner. Priced at 25p for 750ml, it's a massive 75% cheaper than Morrisons slightly fancier own-brand 'posh' version.

Scrutinse the ingredients list of many 'Value' supermarket brands and they are, very often, almost identical to much more expensive branded products. And with more colourful packaging from the likes of Tesco and Morrisons, the new versions don't let on how cheap you are. At least, not quite so loudly.

We'll see. So the emphasis on Value is welcome from Tesco, and overdue.

Save money on shopping

  • 1) Know the price of everything you buy
    <p> </p> <p> This takes time, but once you know the cost of a phone call, putting the dryer on, or a bag of potatoes, it enables you to judge far better how much you can afford to consume.</p>
    1) Know the price of everything you buy
  • 2) Shop around
    <p> </p> <p> Once you know the base price, you are in a position to keep your eyes open for a better offer. If you see a discount you can judge for yourself whether it actually constitutes a bargain. For bigger things like utilities it enables you to do a proper price comparison and see if you can cut your bills.</p>
    2) Shop around
  • 3) Trade down
    <p> </p> <p> Don't just assume that the premium range is better, try the every-day brand, or even the basic version and see if you spot the difference. Likewise, consider trading down your supermarket from one of the big players to local markets or discounters like Aldi.</p>
    3) Trade down
  • 4) Plan
    <p> </p> <p> If you plan what you buy to match what you actually cook and eat then not only will you be able to budget far more effectively, but you'll also waste much less and find your money goes further without you having to try.</p>
    4) Plan
  • 5) Think creatively
    <p> If you can't think of a way to get your meat for less, consider a vegetarian day once a week. If you can't find petrol any cheaper, then work on making your driving as efficient as possible. The more you can think of clever alternatives the less you will have to make painful cuts to make ends meet.</p>
    5) Think creatively


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