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’.
Brand new market to ‘bring a new lease of life to Chinatown’ in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A brand new market is set to launch in Manchester this weekend, promising to inject life into the city centre’s Chinatown district.
The Market’s Dragon Market will be taking over the Faulkner Street car park with a range of street food traders, plus loads of local artists and makers.
The market has been created in partnership with Manchester City Council to ‘bring a new lease of life to Chinatown‘.
The mastermind behind Dragon Market is April Kennedy, founder of Vanoffee (and creator of those viral coffee-filled doughnuts), who says it will remind people that ‘Chinatown isn’t to be forgotten about’.
It’s hoped that the project will rejuvenate the area and increase footfall, with an attractive line-up of food and drink stalls as well as other local businesses.
Already lined up for the launch event this weekend will be Birchwood Pizza, Vanoffee, Sunrise Patisserie (with mountains of pastel de natas), The Vakery vegan bakes, and a street food stall specialising in Thai food.
There’ll also be local brands like Wreaths by Florals by Ayla, Erica Pham Art, Double T’s Rum, MellowApricotStudio, and loads more.
There’ll even be a mobile barbershop on site thanks to JiGGi.
A new market is launching in Chinatown in Manchester this weekA new market is launching in Chinatown in Manchester this week. Credit: Supplied
And the Dragon Market will be fully licensed, with boozy hot chocolates and mulled wines aplenty.
Announcing the news, they wrote: “We’re bringing a new lease of life to Chinatown with the Dragon Market! Get ready for exclusive traders serving up delicious food ranging from wood-fired pizzas to Thai, with plenty more to get your taste buds going.
“The Dragon Market also features local artists, candlemakers, brewers, distillers, barbers and baristas!
“Set up by April Kennedy, founder of Vanoffee and Manchester City Council, this market is here to remind you Chinatown isn’t to be forgotten about.”
Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50%
Emily Sergeant
Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50%, and they’re now available to get your hands on for a limited time only.
With December officially here, and the festive season nearing closer by the day, most UK supermarkets are rolling out deals left, right, and centre to help shoppers save a few pennies during ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ as the cost of living crisis continues – and it seems like Tesco is absolutely no different.
That’s because the retailer has decided to knock a whopping £12 off the regular price of one-litre bottles of one of the best-loved Christmas tipples.
Fans of the classic Irish cream liqueur drink will probably want to run not walk to their nearest Tesco to stock up on Baileys ready for the big day to arrive, as big bottles of the festive favourite have been reduced from £22 right down to just £10, and are now available to fill your basket with.
Tesco has slashed the price of one-litre bottles of Baileys by more than 50% / Credit: The Manc Group
But… there’s a bit of a catch (isn’t there always?)
Not only is the over half-price offer only available for a very limited time, and due to expire at the end of next week, but shoppers will only be able to buy the one-litre bottles at the impressive £10 price if they’re Tesco Clubcard customers.
You were probably expecting that’d be the case, right? The supermarket – which is well-known for the savings it offers via is loyalty card scheme all year round – is giving Clubcard users up until Monday 11 December to nip to their nearest branch or head online to the Tesco website and buy as many bottles of Bailey’s as they fancy.
Fans of the classic Irish cream liqueur drink can stock up now / Credit: Tesco PLC
As part of the supermarket’s commitment to “keep prices low” until the end of the year, stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and even tin foil have all seen their prices slashed as the retailer aims to help those struggling to cover costs.
Georgina Pellant -
8th August 2023 
