Budget supermarket Aldi has introduced a new ‘bag search’ policy in its UK stores in a bid to stop shoplifting.
The new policy will see security guards required to search all customers’ bags before scanning their items through, with some stores asking customers to put their carriers on to the belt with their shopping to ensure they are empty.
Customers are also being asked to show staff the contents of any full bags they might have with them, or risk being refused service.
An Aldi employee told The Grocerer last week: “We are asking that they allow us to look in the bags to see if they are empty. We have been asking to look in the bags to make sure none of our items are in there.”
“We have also been told that if anyone refuses to show us, we are to refuse the sale, although this has not happened yet in our store.”
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The staff member added that people deciding to walk out may still be checked by security staff as an extra measure against shoplifting if they are suspected of theft.
However, it appears not all staff are feeling comfortable with the new measure with one writing on an Aldi Facebook group: “It’s an awful feeling having to ask customers.”
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Aldi has since told The Mirror that the policy is not a “national policy” but is only being applied to certain individual stores.
It added that the bag check measures are only happening in a small number of its supermarkets and are temporary.
Aldi is not the first supermarket to have introduced such policies, with Sainsbury’s also hitting headlines this year for rolling out receipt barriers in some of its Greater Manchester stores.
In May, shoppers slammed Sainsbury’s after its introduction of exit barriers that can only be opened by scanning a receipt.
Many took to Reddit to slam the new policy, with several claiming it is a ‘pointless waste of money and time’ and others saying they have been left ‘feeling like thieves’.
Stockport County release second drop in retro range as classic ‘Romania’ shirt is revived
Danny Jones
Stockport County FC have released the latest drop in their collection of retro football kits and casualwear, resurrecting the legendary ‘Romania’ shirt as the centrepiece of the new range of old school casualwear.
If you’re a die-hard Hatter, we don’t need to tell what jersey we mean or how iconic it is within the club’s rich heritage.
We are, of course, talking about the 1996/97 third strip that County players and Stockport supporters alike donned in their droves during their historic EFL Cup run.
Teaming with local town centre hotspots SK1 Records and Underbank bar, The Spin Off, for an official launch event, here’s how they debuted it to the public:
It’s anyone’s guess as to which throwback fit they’ll go with next or whether they’ll simply complete the 96/97 revival, but it’s safe to say that both have gone down a treat with the local community.
Revolving around the bright and unforgettable yellow, blue and red jersey itself – the shirt that County had to swap into before they went on to knockout then-established Premier League side Blackburn Rovers away at Ewood Park – the colourway is just as bold as ever.
Here’s a closer look at the second County Classics kit:
It’s no surprise that just like the previous instalment, replicas have been snapped up in no time, as indeed has their current third kit for the 2025/26 campaign, which also pays homage to their history.
Dave Challinor’s side hosts Stevenage Town at Edgeley Park this Saturday, 13 December, before taking on Mansfield away the following weekend – you can expect a fair few Hatters to be wearing the third strip (both the original and the re-issue) at each.
You can see more from this second edition in the County Classic range down below; all of the items are now on sale, and find out how much each piece from the full collection costs HERE.
Featured Images — Stockport County Football Club (supplied)
Shopping
Full list of Christmas opening hours at all UK supermarkets 2025
Emily Sergeant
Tesco, Sainsbury’s Aldi, and M&S are among the supermarkets to adjust opening hours at stores across the UK during the festive period.
As Christmas is fast approaching, most of us will have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important – which tends to leave us running to the shops before 25th.
While some have probably opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services, others still prefer to shop in store.
To help you make sure everything is sorted, we’ve pulled together a list of all the major supermarket opening hours over the festive period, so grab your bags for life and get your shopping list at the ready, because Santa is on his way and he’ll be expecting his annual dose of mince pies.
Here’s a roundup list of supermarket opening hours.
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Tesco
Shoppers are being advised to check the Tesco Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local, as different branches may be operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Tesco store here.
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Sainsbury’s
Just like Tesco, Sainsbury’s will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, as well as being closed on Christmas day, but shoppers are encouraged to head to the retailer’s Store Locator to find out the opening times for their nearest branch.
Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 8am to 8pm (with Local stores open until 10pm)
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 5pm
You can check the opening times for your local Sainsbury’s store here.
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Asda
Following along the same lines as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Asda shoppers are being advised to check the Asda Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local store, as different branches are operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 6am – 7pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 5pm
Check the opening times for your local ASDA store here.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and more have adjusted their opening hours for the festive period / Credit: Tesco
Morrisons
Morrisons is open throughout the festive season, just like its other competitions, and will only closing on Christmas Day, but hours will vary so you’ll need to check the opening times for your local.
Christmas Eve: 6am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: 10am to 5pm
Check the opening times for your local Morrisons store here.
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Aldi
Aldi stores across the UK are set to close of the three major festive bank holidays this year, meaning doors will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours in operation on the days surrounding it.
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Here’s what you need to know:
Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 8am – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
You can find out more about the supermarket’s decision to shut up shop on the three festive bank holidays this year here.
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Lidl
Lidl has released a list of its festive opening hours, and just like Aldi, will also be closing most of its stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, but you’ll want to check Lidl’s website to find out more information.
Just like many other retailers on this list, Co-op’s opening times vary from store to store over the festive period, but the retailer has confirmed it will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – with all branches closed on Christmas Day across the UK as a standard.
Christmas Eve: 7am – 9pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 8am – 9pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 7am – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 9pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 9pm
Shoppers are being urged to check the Co-op Store Finder for the opening hours for their nearest branch here.
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M&S
Once again, M&S is another retailer where festive opening hours differ from store to store, so it’s best to check your local branch specifically, but what we do know is that all stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
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Christmas Eve: 6am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 8am – 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Check the opening times for your local M&S store here.
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Iceland
Anyone hoping to pop to Iceland over the festive period will be met with reduced opening hours, as is to be expected – with all UK stores closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
Georgina Pellant -
8th August 2023 
