Showing posts with label Morrisons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morrisons. Show all posts

Wednesday 27 December 2023

Trussell Trust reveals new figures on emergency food parcel needs. Learn how you can help

New figures released by the Trussell Trust showed 1.5 million emergency food parcels were provided to people between April and September 2023 by food banks in the charity’s UK-wide network. This is the most parcels the network's ever distributed at this point in the year and represents a 16% increase from the same period in 2022.

Low incomes, especially from social security, debt, health conditions and issues with social security payments such as delays or sanctions were the main reasons people were left with no option but to turn to food banks for help.

A record 540,000 food parcels were provided for over 265,000 children living in families who couldn't afford the essentials. That's an 11% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the continuing rise in need for the support provided by food banks.

The new data also revealed 65% of all the parcels provided by Trussell Trust food banks between April and September this year were for families with children.

Furthermore, the charity has reported an alarming 320,000 people have needed to use a food bank for the first time in the past six months, warning food banks are at ‘breaking point’ as more people in communities across the UK find themselves unable afford the essentials.

The Trussell Trust believe the situation is unlikely to change in the coming months with this stark new data leading them to forecast that food banks in their network will distribute more than a million emergency food parcels between December 2023 and February 2024 – the equivalent of providing a parcel every eight seconds this winter.

Jess Holliday, Deputy CEO at Eastbourne Foodbank said: “At Eastbourne Foodbank, our donations are down even as need remains very high. We are deeply concerned about the alarming rise in the number of children needing our support. 

"Last month, 633 of the food parcels we provided were for children. Day after day, people tell us they simply don’t have enough money to buy the basics. A client told me, ‘I have sold my car. I have sold everything and cut everything out. But that’s still not enough. All I want is enough money to pay the basic bills and have some left to buy my own food.'”

In order to reduce these relentless levels of need, the Trussell Trust is calling on the UK Government to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to build on its work to protect households on the lowest incomes.

Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust said: “These statistics are extremely alarming. An increasing number of children are growing up in families facing hunger, forced to turn to food banks to survive. A generation is growing up believing it’s normal to see a food bank in every community. This isn't right.

“Rising hunger and hardship have devastating consequences for individuals and our communities, damage the nation’s health and hold back our economy. People in work, as well as people who cannot work, are increasingly being pushed into debt and forced to turn to a food bank to survive.

“That’s why the UK Government must build on its work to protect people from increasingly severe hardship and commit to putting an Essentials Guarantee into legislation, to embed in our social security system the widely supported principle that, at a minimum, Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials."

The Trussell Trust is encouraging people to show their support for people facing hardship by signing a petition urging UK political party leaders to support the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee to ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills.

That's Christmas believes that the spirit of Christmas must be with us all year round. So if you can offer any help to your local foodbank, please do so. Even if it's buying a couple of extra items of food during your regular shopping trips and donating these, as everything helps.

Also, supermarkets such as Morrisons and Tesco offer special schemes to help to ensure food gets to people in need, so do look out for these.

To learn more about The Trussell Trust please visit them here:- https://www.trusselltrust.org

Friday 22 December 2023

Baileys crowned as Brits' favourite tipple and Christmas pud pairing

Baileys is declared to be the nation’s favourite festive tipple, with 47% of Brits naming it as their Christmas drink of choice.

The results form part of a survey of over 1,000 people by liquor infused ice cream company LiQ, with Baileys beating the likes of prosecco, mulled wine and seasonal coffees or hot chocolates to take the top spot.

The study also found Christmas pudding to be Brits’ festive dessert of choice, garnering 31% of votes. And, not content with just enjoying the popular Irish cream brand as a drink, over a quarter of respondents stated they prefer Baileys infused cream as their Christmas pudding accompaniment of choice, second only to the traditional option of custard.

The festive survey follows the launch of LiQ’s new range of ice cream pralines which bring together two British Christmas favourites, Baileys and ice cream.

Jorgo Struyve, co-founder of LiQ, said: “Baileys has become synonymous with the festive season for many Brits over recent years, so it wasn't a surprise when it claimed the top spot. It’s become an iconic part of many people’s festive celebrations, whether they prefer to have it poured over some ice while sitting by the fire, a splash in their hot drink or drizzled over their Christmas pudding, there are so many ways to enjoy Baileys. That’s why we couldn’t think of a more perfect combination for our new pralines.

“Our new Baileys ice-cream pralines, offer another exciting way for Brits to enjoy their favourite tipple this Christmas. They can be enjoyed on their own or as an accompaniment to their Christmas pudding or favourite dessert, making them the perfect way to celebrate the festive season.”

The results of LiQ’s festive survey are also backed up by Google data which found searches for Baileys recipes peak around the festive months, with 12,100 searches for Baileys recipes last December, compared to an average of 2,100 searches each month. Last December also marked an increase in searches by 17%, compared to December 2021 which saw 9,900 searches for Baileys recipes, showing Brits still can’t get enough of the creamy and dreamy Irish cream drink.

The bitesize treats are indulgent bites of smooth vanilla ice cream, infused with Baileys and enrobed in crisp Belgian milk chocolate, with an Irish cream heart.

Made to be enjoyed on their own or as a special dessert accompaniment, the ice cream pralines are ready to eat straight from the box for the perfect festive treat.

Launched in 2017 by co-founders Jorgo Struyve and Nicolas Destoop when they were students, the idea for LiQ’s ice cream pralines came from the pair wanting to market an ice cream experience designed for adults. The brand focuses on offering indulgent experiences through its strong partnerships with global alcohol brands like Baileys.

Since its launch, LiQ has enjoyed immense success internationally, with its pralines stocked in over more 6,000 shops across eight countries, cementing the brand as one of the leaders in the alcohol infused ice cream market.

LiQ Baileys pralines are currently available in over 300 Morrisons stores across the nation, as well as all COSTCO stores and via delivery service Ocado.

To learn more about LiQ, including a full list of all Morrisons stores its ice cream pralines will be available at, visit: https://www.liq.cool/en

Incidentally this survey disproves at least one other survey that claimed pudding was on the way out! Perhaps the secret is to serve it with Baileys and some LiQ Pralines? 

And they are available at the Morrisons store nearest to us! That's good to know!

Thursday 21 December 2023

Run, run Rudolph all the way to Morrisons for your free carrots!

Rudolph and all the other hard-working reindeer who haul Santa's sleigh should visit Morrisons stores to pick up their free carrots. Or if they are too busy they can send a human friend to collect them on their behalf.

Morrisons is spreading the festive cheer by giving away over 175,000 wonky carrots across all its supermarkets to help customers prepare for Rudolph’s visit. 

British wonky carrots are oversized or misshapen but still taste absolutely delicious, and these free, festive favourites are available to collect for free from the front of all 496 Morrisons stores between tomorrow, the 22nd until 24th December. 

By giving the carrots away, Morrisons hopes to encourage families to choose wonky vegetables more often to help cur down on food waste as this produce would have otherwise been discarded.

During the festive period, Morrisons carrot sales more than double in the week before Christmas compared to the previous week, showing the Norse tradition of leaving food and drink out for Father Christmas and his reindeer is still as popular as ever.

Andy Todd, Carrot Buyer at Morrisons said: “The spirit of giving is what Christmas is all about, and we’re thrilled to help add a little bit of magic to our customers’ celebrations by giving them a delicious wonky carrot to leave out for Rudolph. Our tasty wonky range helps our British farmers reduce waste and offer customers a delicious alternative at a fraction of the cost, too"

Launched back in 2015, Morrisons Naturally Wonky fruit and vegetables helps to minimise food waste and offers affordable produce to customers. The range includes 24 wonky varieties including potatoes, carrots and parsnips. In the last 12 months, nearly 27,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were sold this way. (I have admit my wife and I are partial to their wonky grapes!)

Tuesday 19 December 2023

Morisons. Where you can do your Christmas shopping and support beating food poverty

Until Christmas Eve, More Card customers will receive 100 points when they purchase and donate a 'Pick Up Pack’ in store. 

Demand for food banks can be especially high at Christmas and that’s why Morrisons Community Champions across the UK work so closely with their local community groups and food banks to help identify and provide the groceries they need the most. 

The pre-packed bags which cost between £1-£5 contain cupboard and household essentials specifically requested by local community groups; like cereal, pasta, sauces, tinned vegetable and toiletries, plus at this time of year festive items such as selection boxes.

Customers can pick up a pack on their way into the store, pay for it at the till and then place the bag in the dedicated donation station. The store's Community Champions will then distribute it to their local food bank.

Morrisons ‘Pick Up Packs’ is in addition to Morrisons surplus food programmes that sees unsold food donated to local groups all year round to help support local families.

Also, Morrisons has brought back its ‘Giving Tree’, which last year was successful in raising over £350,000 for local causes. Customers can pick up a bauble from the tree worth £1, £2 or £5 to donate to a local food bank or community group nominated by their store. Each bauble has a value which can be scanned at the checkout along with the customer's shopping.

Joseph Clark-Bland, Morrisons Community Manager, said: “Food banks are a lifeline for many people in the UK and demand can be especially high at Christmas. That’s why we wanted to make it easier for our customers to donate in whatever way they can, to help those in their local community get the items and support they need.”

The Morrisons Foundation has also launched its annual Christmas Appeal in support of The Trussell Trust. Customers who shop online are able to donate £1, £3, £5 or £10 with the final total match funded. Last year, customers managed to raise over £134,000 for the Trussell Trust through its Christmas Appeal. 

We'll be doing that later this week when we pick up our Christmas meat. Can't decide on turkey or beef this year. Still, our fully qualified and experienced Morrison's butcher will be able to advise us!

www.morrisons.com

Morrisons is the place for your Christmas parties

Morrisons is helping people get into the Christmas spirit without having to break the bank by making its cafés available to book for parties during the festive season.

Groups of between 8 to 20 people will be able to book a space at their local Morrisons café from 27 November to 23 December 2023 by speaking to a café colleague in-store.

Christmas parties at Morrisons offer a pocket-friendly way for people, community groups and businesses looking to celebrate during the festive period.

A Morrisons two or three course festive feast can be enjoyed for £10 for two courses and £12 for three. The menu includes classic dishes like prawn cocktail or tomato soup for starters, a Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings and a traditional Christmas pudding with cream or custard and chocolate fudge cake for desserts. 

Vegans and vegetarian diners need not worry as Morrisons has catered for these dietary requirements, with a pumpkin and cranberry roast served with seasonal vegetables available.

To add to the celebrations, all tables will be dressed with tablecloths, crackers and a free mince pie served after your meal  – because no Christmas party is complete without one. 

Chris Strong, Café Buying Manager at Morrisons, commented: “Our cafés are popular meeting spots for many groups, so it’s only right that we make them available for Christmas parties during the festive season to help spread some cheer. The menu offers delicious food fit for any Christmas gathering at a pocket friendly price so that as many of our customers as possible can join the celebrations. There’s even a free mince pie to enjoy on us!”

2-courses for £10 or 3-courses for £12, menu includes: 

Starters:

Prawn Cocktail

Prawns in a seafood sauce on crispy salad, with buttered wholemeal bread.

Tomato & Basil Soup

Served with a Market Street bread roll and butter.

Mozzarella Dippers and Cranberry Dip

Sticks of mozzarella coated in breadcrumbs served with a cranberry dip.

Mains:

Classic Christmas Dinner

Succulent turkey, roast potatoes, mash potato, pigs in blankets, sage & onion stuffing ball, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Veggie Christmas Dinner

Pumpkin & cranberry roast, roast potatoes, sage & onion stuffing ball, mash potato, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables, sprouts, Yorkshire pudding, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Vegan Christmas Dinner

Pumpkin & cranberry roast, roast potatoes, sage & onion stuffing ball, seasonal vegetables, sprouts, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Desserts:  

Christmas Pudding 

Christmas pudding served with fresh cream or custard.

Starry Night Chocolate Fudge Cake with Cream

Served warm with cream.

Zesty Lemon and Mascarpone Cheesecake 

For more information on Morrisons Cafés, visit: https://my.morrisons.com/morrisons-cafe/ 

Christmas Parties at Morrisons Cafés, Ts&Cs:

Bookings are available in all Morrisons cafés from now until Monday 23rd December 2023 and require at least 7 days notice.

Parties from 8 up to 20 people can make a reservation by speaking to a café colleague.

To make a booking, guests will need to provide: lead name for booking, contact number, date and time of visit, food orders in advance and a non-refundable deposit of £2 per person.

Group parties will be permitted to use the café at any time of day including between 12pm - 4pm (12pm - 2pm in selected stores).

Drink purchases are not included and meals cannot be exchanged for an alternative café menu item.

Thursday 30 November 2023

Want to know which UK supermarket has the cheapest vegan Christmas dinner? Adventrum has the answer for you

The festive season is very much upon us, and the most prepared Brits out there will have already started planning for the big day and everything that comes with it, from the presents to the parties, and most importantly, the Christmas dinner.

With so many components to put together, it can be hard to know where the best one-stop shop is to get all your Christmas dinner ingredients. Particularly, if you are vegetarian, or are catering for a vegetarian.

While cutting expensive meat items such as pigs and blankets and a turkey crown can certainly help to cut costs, there remains a need to plan a budget, and sometimes it's less obvious how much veggie-friendly supplements will cost.

Thankfully, Adventrum has crunched the numbers and costed up the price of a veggie-friendly Christmas dinner at six of the UK’s top supermarkets. 

1. Aldi - £28.20

2. Tesco - £32.84

3. Asda - £33.22

4. Morrisons - £33.71

5. Sainsbury’s - £34.60

6. Waitrose - £53.24

There’s probably no surprise that Aldi comes in as the cheapest supermarket for a vegetarian Christmas dinner, with the total cost of the full meal being a mere £28.20. The cheapest vegetarian Christmas dinner component at Aldi is the 15-pack of Yorkshire Puddings priced at only £0.46.

In second place is Tesco, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner came in at £32.84. For chocolate lovers, Tesco is the cheapest supermarket to pick up a Cadbury’s selection box, as they cost £1.50 with a Clubcard membership.

Not far behind in third place is Asda, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner costs approximately £33.22. However, the Quorn Vegetarian Roast was cheaper at Asda than any other supermarket at just £3.00.

Morrisons placed fourth with a full cost of £33.71. However, this supermarket had one of the most expensive turkey crowns (£31.47), meaning the biggest savings are on offer for meat-eaters switching to the vegetarian option this Christmas.

Sainsbury’s placed fifth, as a vegetarian Christmas dinner from this supermarket was found to cost an estimated £34.60. 

Finally, Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket by some distance at £53.24. A big factor in Waitrose being so much more expensive was the vegetarian turkey supplement costing a massive £16.00. But it must be said that one surprise bargain to be found is that Maris Piper potatoes are 5p cheaper at Waitrose (£1.65) than they are at Aldi (£1.70).

The study used a Quorn Vegetarian Roast as the turkey supplement at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. For Aldi and Waitrose, the home-brand products that most closely resembled the Quorn Vegetarian Roast were used, as the Quorn product was unavailable. 

That's Christmas would like to thank Adventrum for sharing their research data with us. You can check out Adventrum at https://adventrum.com

(Image courtesy of MM from Pixabay)


 

Thursday 2 November 2023

Feliz Navi-dog: Morrisons unveils biggest supermarket festive pet range

With over half (57%) of British households owning a pet, animal companions are an integral part of Christmas festivities for much of us. Morrisons is making sure Christmas 2023 is the ulti-mutt celebration for pets as it unveils its biggest festive pet range to date.

Comprising almost 30 products, pet owners can pick up advent calendars, Christmas dinners, jumpers and more so our furry friends don’t miss out on the festive fun. With prices starting from only £1.49, there’s a pocket-friendly treat for every pet owner to purchase.

For those looking to share the Christmas countdown with their pets, shoppers can grab the Morrisons Pawsome Meaty Christmas Dog Treat Advent Calendar and Morrisons Purrfect Meaty Christmas Cat Treat Advent Calendar, both £3.99, filled with tasty treats for pets to enjoy on each day.

Customers can also kit their pets out in the finest festive wear with the Gifts for Pets Dog Festive Jumper (£4.99) and Gifts For Pets Reindeer Headband for Dogs & Cats (£2.99).

For a delicious Christmas Eve treat, pups can chow down on Morrisons Rudi Reindeer Iced Dog Cookies (£3.99), adorably shaped like a festive reindeer. 10% of sales from the Rudi range go to charity partner Together for Short Lives, giving shoppers even more reasons to pick up the tasty treats.

Pets don’t need to miss out on the big day itself either, as the range boasts all of the ingredients needed for a paw-sitively delicious pooch-friendly Christmas dinner. Customers can choose from Morrisons Turkey and Bacon Hot Dogs for Dogs (£1.99), Morrisons Sausages in either Christmas Dinner or Pork & Apple Stuffing Flavour for Dogs (£1.99), Morrison Pigs in Blankets for Dogs (£2.99), and of course Morrisons Mince Pies for Dogs (£2.99) to top it all off.

The range also includes plenty of treats purr-fect for stocking fillers, like the Morrisons Merry Poochmas Rawhide alternative Chew sticks (£1.99), available in the shape of Christmas trees, or Gingerbread people. 

Cats can tuck into the Morrisons Tasty Tuna Meowy Christmas Cat Sticks or Morrisons Delicious Duck Christmas Quackers Cat Treats, just £1.49 each, and there are pet safe crackers for both cats and dogs (£2.49) to enjoy.

Andy Whiteman, Product Developer at Morrisons, said: “Santa Paws is certainly coming to Morrisons this year as we introduce our biggest and best Christmas pet range. We know pets are an important part of so many families, so now shoppers can pick up everything they need to share the celebrations with their cuddly companions, without breaking the bank.”

Click here to view the full Morrisons Christmas pet range available in-store and online https://groceries.morrisons.com/browse/christmas-189206/gift-shop-189357/gifts-for-pets-189356

For more information on the wider Morrisons Christmas range, visit our website here https://groceries.morrisons.com/browse/christmas-189206

Saturday 14 October 2023

Morrisons Christmas delivery slots will be released soon

Morrisons delivery slots will be released on October 18, giving customers the chance to plan ahead for the busy festive period. 

Customers with a Morrisons Delivery Pass can then secure their preferred Christmas delivery slot between the 20th and 24th December with a minimum spend of just £25. This exclusive early access opportunity allows Delivery Pass customers the guarantee of a seamless, stress-free online shopping experience during the year's busiest season.

The Morrisons Delivery Pass provides shoppers with the flexibility to shop online as frequently as they like, without incurring any delivery charges on every order. Delivery passes can be purchased on the Morrisons website and customers can choose from two options:

The anytime (seven-day) pass

or the midweek (Tuesday-Thursday) pass

Subscriptions are available for one month (£5 midweek / £8 anytime), six months (£25 midweek / £45 anytime), or a full year (£40 midweek / £70 anytime) and by signing up  to a Delivery Pass, customers can not only secure their Christmas delivery slots but also unlock year-round convenience.

Customers without a Morrisons Delivery Pass will be able to book their Christmas slots from October 25th. 

Joseph Sutton, the Online & Convenience Director at Morrisons, said: "We're delighted to announce our Christmas delivery slots, providing our customers with an early opportunity to plan and prepare for the festive season. At Morrisons, we understand the importance of convenience during this special time of year and our Delivery Pass options ensure that shoppers have the flexibility to choose a plan that suits their needs.”

morrisons.com

Morrisons launches search for 3,500 extra Christmas colleagues

Morrisons is looking for 3,500 extra colleagues to work in its stores, food manufacturing sites and logistics operations nationally to help meet increased demand over the busy Christmas period.

The wide range of roles available offer plenty of flexibility and with no prior experience necessary, there should be something for everyone. 

Morrisons is seeking applicants who are friendly and willing to help and all new colleagues will benefit from a 15% staff discount card as well as a 10% discount card for a friend or family member. 

As Morrisons gears up for the festive rush, it's seeking out people to join the business in temporary jobs ranging from customer assistants to home delivery drivers and production and warehouse operatives.  In previous years, many of the colleagues who joined in temporary roles have gone on to find permanent positions within Morrisons.

Clare Grainger, People Director at Morrisons, said: “Christmas is one of our busiest periods and we’re looking for an additional 3,500 people to join our talented teams.  These new colleagues will play a crucial role in creating and delivering the products our customers need to help make their celebrations special.  There are lots of great opportunities on offer across the UK with both temporary and permanent roles in our stores, manufacturing and logistics sites.”

To apply please visit: https://www.morrisons.jobs/christmas-at-morrisons

Incidentally, my parents both worked at Morisons in full time staff positions and were very happy working there.

Thursday 14 September 2023

Morrisons helps its customers stock up for Christmas for less!

Morrisons More Card customers can grab a tub of Pringles for just £1.25 (that's 44% off).

This special offer is available in-store and online from today until 19th September nationwide.

Morrisons has reduced the price of cult favourite crisps, Pringles, by a handsome 44% to help savoury snack loving customers stock up for nights in and for Christmas and New Year festive party season snacks.

More Card holders can pop the lid on a tube of Pringles Sharing Crisps (185g) for just £1.25 (£2.25 RRP), with the offer available across a wide selection of the popular flavours including Original, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, and Texas BBQ Sauce.

This bargain offer is absolutely perfect for shoppers who are looking out for effortlessly easy party snacks, or to enjoy while on the sofa catching up on the latest episode of a favourite TV drama, More Card customers can relax, put their feet up and enjoy these sharable snacks for less. Customers can also stock up ahead of the festive season.

Says Phoebe Splain, who has the (in my opinion!) absolutely stunning job of Buying Manager Crisps at Morrisons: “At Morrisons, we're always keeping an eye out for more ways to help our customers spread the cost of their favourites, and this great offer is one they’ll need to be quick not to miss! Whether you’re after an easy crowd pleaser to bring out at a party or to simply enjoy snacking on in front of the telly, you can’t beat popping the lid on a tube of Pringles!”

The offer is available until 19th September in-store and online nationwide, while stocks last.

For more information visit: https://groceries.morrisons.com

I think my wife and I will be watching the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol (our favourite version of this classic festive film) whilst munching our way through these bargain Pringles!

Saturday 29 October 2011

From You to me! A teddy to eat, a teddy to keep!

From You to Me have come up with the perfect Chirstmas gift this year: Two Tatty Teddy's in a box. One made from exquisite Belgian chocolate, the other a delightfully cuddly Tatty Teddy that you can keep for ever!

Both bears feature the special blue nose beloved of Tatty Teddy fans the world over and they come in a delightful presentation pack with an illustration of Tatty Teddy with a Christmas stocking! It's unbearably cute! (Sorry!)

The special presentation packs are priced at a modest £6.99 and are available from selected Morrison stores, nationwide.

It makes an ideal present for a mum, a daughter, a sister or a dear friend. It's certainly something that will be a beloved and treasured gift for many, many years to come. Because everyone loves Tatty Teddy!