People are just realising they can get 5kg of fruit and veg for just £1.50 from major supermarket
PEOPLE are only just realising that they can get a 5kg box of fruit and veg for just £1.50 from one major supermarket.
Lidl shoppers can bag cheap fruit and veg boxes if they know where to look.
The discount supermarket sells bundles of imperfect produce due to be chucked out through its Waste Not scheme and some shoppers have only just clocked onto the scheme.
Posting on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, one shopper was delighted by the find and said her box contained: “A baked potato, plums, satsumas, strawberries, an avocado, carrots, apricots and apples.”
In response, one shopper said: “Wow that’s brilliant well done.”
“I think I need to go to Lidl,” said another.
A third shopper wrote: “My Lidl boxes never looked this good!”
The German retailer started trialling the bargain boxes in 2019 before rolling out the scheme to all its 11,550 stores.
The contents of your bargain box will vary each time as each bundle is put together on the day by Lidl’s in-store “freshness specialists”.
They pick out damaged, discoloured or deteriorated items which are still good to eat.
Produce you might find in the box includes tomatoes, bananas, courgettes, and aubergines.
The items change day-to-day depending on what’s on the shelves, so shoppers can’t pick what goes into each bundle.
But this means customers are at least guaranteed variety in their box, which is great for switching up meals.
Lidl’s website gives its shoppers a helping hand with cooking instructions for items commonly included in the bundles.
How to find them?
The boxes aren’t available all day, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled.
When in stock, the goods will be up for grabs from opening until midday.
After 12pm, the remaining boxes are given to local charities through Lidl’s surplus food programme, Feed it Back.
Where in the store you’ll find your bargain box will vary, so it’s worth asking a staff member if you can’t see them.
But note, availability varies, and not all stores will have them.
Do other supermarkets sell cheap wonky fruit and veg?
Other supermarkets have launched their own wonky veg initiatives to reduce waste and offer customers cheaper produce as well.
Major supermarkets all relaxed quality specifications on some fruit and veg in 2018 to ensure less stock goes to waste.
For example, Asda sells discounted veg boxes for £3.50.
Sainsbury’s shoppers can also buy a £2 box which contains enough fresh veg to feed a family of four for five days.