Are brands always the best buy?

All aisles of the nation's supermarket shelves contains a huge number of branded products. However, as food prices reach new heights are consumers being forced to choose cheaper options?

With food prices increasing, many people are now choosing own brands. Low and middle income earners are more likely to purchase supermarket own brands. In addition, 48 per cent of those earning between £25,000 and £50,000 said they always purchase a selection of supermarket own label products when shopping.  

However, some brands such as Heinz, Coca cola and Cadbury’s hold such a dominant sway in their market that consumers generally are reluctant to purchase a cheaper alternative.

Trying to keep a froth

Rising chain coffee shops are now leaving Britain’s best loved coffee shops under attack. Reports are now showing that in a decade there could be over 6,000 chain coffee shops in Britain.

Coffee shops are dominating the high street at an alarming rate. According to recent reports there are over 3,600 coffee shop chains spread across the Uk. The cafe culture generates an annual turnover of 2.5bn .Independent stores are struggling with the rent on prime positions, and fighting off stiff competition is proving too much.

Not only do independent coffee shops offer a better atmosphere, it also serves better coffee and a more personal service. On average a cup of coffee in a independent coffee house  can cost around £1.60 whereas in a chain store in can be anywhere from around £2.40 upwards.

Storm in the kitchen

Come dine with me is now spurring brits on to cook more, as the popular tv show is encouraging culinary greatness in the kitchen. Home cooked food is now over taking restaurant sales as brits bid to get cooking again.

Exploding on to our screens in 2005, Come dine with me has made a mass mark on the cooking world. Well known for bitchy contestants, shoddy food and admittedly embarrassingly awful dinner parties, earning itself primetime viewing.

With over 22 series broadcast, pulling in millions of viewers, Come dine with me is now encouraging people to cook at home once more.

Stampede for sushi

Taking over from Gregg’s pasties, Mcdonald’s big Mac and overtaking sales in sandwiches, sushi is now becoming the fast food of choice.

What was once branded as food for the privilege, stores are now stocking sushi high, as demand for the raw fish has doubled over the years and is becoming the snack of the century.

Stores are now latching on to the sushi culture. Boot’s, Tesco’s and Marks and Spencers have moved forwards in the 21st century and now supply sushi packs which is quickly becoming more popular than sandwiches and wraps. Pre A manger started to sell chilled sushi back in 2001, it now sells 25,000 to 30,000 of its ‘sushi deluxe’ boxes a week.

Expanding Waistline

It’s easy to find a fast food chain with many populating shopping centres, service stations and town centres. Fast food joints are continuing to multiply as Britain’s waistband expands along with it.

Labelled as the heaviest country in Europe, Britain’s embarrassing love of fast food is slowly causing long term health problems as Brits opt for convenience over the healthier option.

Recent statistics from GP Practices have shown that one in 20 adults now have diabetes caused from an unhealthy diet. While hospitals have seen a rise of 30% involving people being admitted for obesity related problems.

Let’s not snub pub grub

Many landlords are revamping the traditional pub in favour of modern gastro pubs in a bid for better profits and high class clientele.

Gastro pubs aren’t a new concept. Dating back to the late 1980’s the gastro pub emerged from young chefs buying cheap pubs and churning out high quality food.

With gastro pubs becoming more popular, the traditional pub is slowly diminishing. Favourite pub grubs meals such as sausage and mash and Shepherd’s pie have been swapped for soufflés and skate wings.

Recent reports now show that seven in ten (73%) Britons prefer to eat at a pub compared to 63 per cent who prefer to for a drink. Now as more pubs open up their kitchens, they are now being known for their meals instead of their beers. 

Choices, choices, choices.

Eating out is a great dining experience for many. However, recently many restaurants are offering a limited selection of dishes for vegetarians causing many to shun eating out for home cooking in a bid for more choice.

With an estimated 3.5 million vegetarians in the UK, averaging at around 5% of the population, many vegetarians face the exhausting task of picking a meal from the restaurant menu that often lacks taste and flavour. 

Many chain restaurants disappoint in giving vegetarians a good choice of dishes to choose from. For instance Pizza Express, a well loved pizzeria and Italian restaurant provide customers with a restricted selection of meat free pizza toppings and pasta.