The little known supermarket secret that can drive down the price of all your essentials
YOU might easily bypass the world food aisle, expecting to find random snacks, rarely-used spices and Caribbean drinks.
But we can reveal there are also some everyday staples at a fraction of their cost in the regular aisles.
We visited four of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains and found items such as rice, chopped tinned tomatoes, olives and noodles all cheaper on the world food aisles than other similar items.
In one branch of Tesco, we discovered a pack of Udon noodles was 60p cheaper in the world food aisle – and a microwave rice cost 25p less.
In Morrisons, a pot of jerk seasoning was 90p cheaper despite being double the size.
Consumer expert Martyn James says checking out the foreign food section could soon see savings add up.
“The only time a round-the-world trip can save you a packet is in the world food aisles of the supermarket,” he says.
“Often tucked away at the back of the store, or far away from the tills, there are extraordinary bargains to be had with most kitchen essentials.
“With money getting tighter, it makes sense to make this part of the supermarket your first stop.”
Our investigation comes after research revealed food prices have risen by around 28 per cent since 2019.
So a browse around could save you cash. Here’s our pick of the store cupboard essentials you can bag for less – with goods from the world food aisle pictured on the right.
Microwave rice: Tesco
- Pack saving: 25p
- Saving per 100g: 6p
Udon noodles: Tesco
- Pack saving: 60p
- Saving per 100g: 32.9p
Red lentils: Sainsbury’s
- Pack saving: 50p
- Saving per 100g: 5p
Chopped tomatoes: Sainsbury’s
- Pack saving: 35p
- Saving per 100g: 8.8p
Garlic paste: Sainsbury’s
- Pack saving: 30p
- Saving per 100g: £1.21
Chickpeas: Sainsbury’s
- Pack saving: 35p
- Saving per 100g: 8.7p
Lime pickle: Asda
- Pack saving: 10p
- Saving per 100g: 54.7p
Ground cumin: Asda
- Pack saving: 1p
- Saving per 100g: £1.45
Instant noodles: Asda
- Pack saving: 45p
- Saving per 100g: 68p
Coconut milk: Morrisons
- Pack saving: £1.50
- Saving per 100g: 38p
Olives: Morrisons
- Pack saving: 80p
- Saving per 100g: 39p
Jerk seasoning: Morrisons
- Pack saving: 90p
- Saving per 100g: £2.80