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Shopping

M&S is selling Salt & Pepper Squid

Seasoned seafood for summer.

The Manc - 24th June 2021

If you’re the kind of person who thinks salt & pepper seasoning can turn any average dish into something absolutely out of this world – it might be worth a trip to M&S sometime soon.

The retailer has added a product to its shelves which seems to have struck a chord on social media – particularly among those who love sprinkling takeaway spice over every possible type of food.

Customers have clapped eyes on Salt & Pepper Squid in M&S’ frozen seafood section – and it’s already generating a bit of a buzz on bargains pages online.

These seasoned rings are being sold in 340g bags – each covered in batter with a “zing of lemon”.

They’re ready to bang in the oven and should come out crispy and golden in as little as 14 minutes – making them ideal additions to any food platters you might be putting on over the summer.

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The recommendation is to serve the squid with garlic aioli and lemon wedges, as well as a bit of fresh salad on the side.

Fancy giving it a go?

Salt & Pepper Squid is available to order online – with packets going for £4 a pop via Ocado.

Shopping

Tesco confirms it will review ‘unfair’ Clubcard rule after shopper complaints

Tesco is said to be ‘actively reviewing’ one of the rules of its Clubcard loyalty scheme.

Following shopper complaints and long-term campaigning by consumer champion Which?, Tesco has announced that it will be looking into the rule that prevents shoppers under 18 years of age from signing up to its popular Clubcard loyalty scheme.

Which? research found that shoppers must be 18 or over to join loyalty schemes at Tesco, and other major supermarket chains like Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose, whereas at the at Co-op, you only need to be 16.

And then at the Co-op again, and also Sainsbury’s, if you’re added to a parent or guardian’s account, you can be even younger.

Meanwhile, over at popular high street drugstore chains Boots and Superdrug, you only need to be 13 to sign up to their popular loyalty schemes.

Tesco has confirmed it will review its ‘unfair’ Clubcard rule after shopper complaints / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This discrepancy is why Which? has been urging supermarkets to lift ‘unfair’ restrictions on who can sign up to their loyalty schemes, saying it has ‘repeatedly called’ for action after revealing that millions of people are excluded from accessing lower prices at some of the UK’s biggest retailers due to age, address, or digital access requirements.

Tesco has said in a statement that it is ‘actively reviewing’ Tesco Clubcard with the intention of making it available to under-18s ‘this year’.

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According to Which?, Tesco has been rather ‘vague’ on exactly when the change for under-18 shoppers might come into effect, but says customers who don’t have a Clubcard can still find value using its Aldi Price Match and Everyday Low Prices schemes.

“Which? research shows that the savings from Tesco Clubcard can be really significant, which is why access to them matters so much for shoppers trying to make ends meet,” commented Reena Sewraz, who is the Retail Editor at Which?.

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“We’ve been putting pressure on Tesco for years now over its unfair policy of excluding young people, many of whom are struggling with the cost of living, so we’re glad [the supermarket] has listened.

“This is a big step in the right direction, provided it moves quickly to fully implement these changes.”

Featured Image – Tesco plc

Shopping

Asda launches red shopping baskets in stores to help singles meet the love of their life

Asda red Valentine's baskets

Asda has decided to launch red baskets in stores to help single shoppers meet the love of their life.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that dating in the modern world isn’t easy, right?

According to new Asda research, 94% of Brits say modern-day dating is hard to navigate, but what’s also clear is that face-to-face interactions still hold a special place – with a resounding 87% of people saying it’s better to meet someone in real life than on a dating app.

In fact, 77% of singles saying they’re not currently active on a dating app at all, and to top it all off, 64% say they fancy someone at their local supermarket.

So, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner now, Asda has decided to take matters into its own hands by placing special red baskets in select stores, giving singles a simple way to signal they’re open to a chat while picking up bread, browsing the bakery, or grabbing a few treats.

🏃 going asda to meet my husband pic.twitter.com/a7kuiPdLTX
— jamie mclean (@jamiemcln) February 11, 2026

Unfortunately for us Mancs, the baskets will only appear in Leicester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, as this is where the research revealed people are most actively looking for love.

While the supermarket admits there’s no one ‘right’ way to meet someone, its research does suggest that 62% of couples who met face-to-face describe themselves as being ‘extremely happy’, compared with 51% of those who met online.

And that sense of connection goes beyond romance too, as among those couples who met in real life, 71% of them say they ‘trust their partner 100%’, while 66% describe their relationship as a ‘deep friendship’.

“We know people are craving real-life connections, but we also know our customers are busy and don’t always have the time to put themselves out there,” a spokesperson for Asda admitted.

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“That’s why we’re turning the weekly shop into the ultimate meet-cute. These red baskets are a fun, light-hearted way to help people connect while they’re already doing their everyday shop – a simple, playful nudge to start a chat and maybe even spark a little romance.”

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