Copyright walesonline
During your weekly grocery run, there's one aisle you'll never bypass: the meat section. From succulent chicken breasts to flawlessly marbled steaks, the choices are limitless. Each supermarket offers its own blend of cuts, marinades, plant-based alternatives and ready-to-cook options, but not all provide the same quality, value for money , or a selection of everyday essentials and special indulgences. I'm fortunate to reside near five supermarkets , which makes deciding where to shop both thrilling and daunting. Eager to discover which store truly excels in the meat department, I visited Lidl, Morrisons , Sainsbury's , Marks & Spencer , and Asda to compare their offerings. Some chains impressed with freshness and variety, while others left me stunned and let down - but which one emerged victorious? Being a devoted customer at a supermarket is not only about the standard of the food and the prices, but also the shopping experience. I have a fondness for Sainsbury's due to its fantastic range and quality, and it has been my preferred supermarket for years, despite having numerous alternatives (although I may be biased, having spent four years as an employee). However, stepping into the meat aisle was a letdown. I was met by a large security camera in the centre, which tracked my every move on the screen. As I perused the usual meat selection of sausages, chicken, pork, beef and lamb, I then spotted something that utterly shocked me. All the steaks now have security tags, a change from my visit just a week ago. While I understand this is to deter shoplifting, it's a stark reminder of the cost-of-living crisis. It's always a bit disheartening to see everyday items like cheese, meat, and baby formula being tagged, as you'd typically only expect this for pricier goods such as alcohol, clothing, and perfume. Steak might be considered a luxury, but even the £5 thin-cut sirloin steak was adorned with a glaring yellow tag. This prompted a sense of mistrust and unease among shoppers, and it personally put me off buying a steak. Aside from that, Sainsbury's offers a good range of meats, with excellent promotional deals available through their Nectar scheme. A medium whole chicken was originally priced at £5.35, but with Nectar, it costs just £2.67. The supermarket also keeps customers informed about price matching with other stores. For instance, a 500g packet of 5% fat beef mince is priced at £5.19 but has been price-matched with Aldi. However, due to their intrusive surveillance system, I had to give my favourite store a low rating for their meat aisle. Marks & Spencer holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, but their meat aisle isn't one of them. I usually visit the store for their fresh produce, unique snack selection, and when I fancy treating myself to their delicious yet pricey bakery (find out more here, where M&S ranked on my bakery list). Browsing their meat section, I found myself rather let down. There genuinely wasn't much on offer; the selection was limited, and most products weren't worth their asking price. An M&S Oakham Gold Medium Whole Chicken was priced at £7.25, while 500g of M&S Select Farms British Beef Mince 5% Fat was priced at £6.75. Nevertheless, I did appreciate the distinctiveness of some of their products, such as their slow-cooked selection and premium cut meats, which you simply cannot find in most supermarkets. The shopping experience in the store was far more agreeable than in Sainsbury's. I pondered whether it was down to my area's standing that Sainsbury's had chosen to security tag its steaks, yet the considerably more upmarket M&S had no tags on its selection, including a £45 wagyu steak. Morrisons proves an excellent option for your weekly shopping trip. It provides an extensive selection of meats at reasonable prices. A 10-pack of thick pork sausages costs £4.25, while a 12-pack of pork chipolatas costs £3. Bacon is also budget-friendly; with Morrisons' savers collection, you can purchase 300g of smoked back bacon for £1.45. A medium whole chicken will set you back £5.50, whilst 500g of British steak mince 5% fat will run to £5.29. My neighbourhood store also boasts a butcher, so if you're dissatisfied with the range, you can request a superior cut of meat. A spokesperson from the supermarket said, "Head to our Butcher's counter for more fresh food sourced directly from British farmers. Hand-prepared by our expert butchers, we'll cut and prepare as much or as little as you want." My sole complaint was the absence of distinctive products available for purchase, and the selection could have been somewhat more extensive. Lidl secures second place entirely because of its excellent pricing. If you're seeking food on a tight budget, then Lidl is the destination for you. Not only does it boast an extensive selection, but it features a distinctive 'pick of the week' section which provides significant discounts on various meats. Customers can purchase a medium whole chicken for £4.99, British beef mince (25% fat) for as little as £3.09, and two beef medallion steaks for £4.49-the finest prices I've encountered across all the supermarkets. According to Which?, Lidl rivals Aldi on variety and pricing. They revealed: "Aldi and Lidl both offer some high-quality and good-value own-brand products and generally perform well in our consumer panel taste tests. "Of the two discounters, only Lidl has a loyalty scheme. It recently revamped its Lidl Plus app and now offers lower prices on selected products to members - known as Lidl Plus Offers - as well as personalised coupons." This might astonish many of you (and yes, Tesco isn't on the list; I apologise), but Asda claims the top spot. By far, Asda boasted the most extensive meat selection, stretching across two aisles and four rear aisles. I adored their vast array of sausages and steaks. Six Cumberland pork sausages cost merely £2.98, or you can obtain any two packets for £4.98. ASDA Sirloin Beef Steak 227g costs £6.64, or you can secure any two for £10. I'm a big fan of the mix-and-match promotion, and Asda's renowned for its yellow-packaged items offering more affordable prices on its food range, including in the meat aisle. Even without the deals, most items are reasonably priced, such as a 10-pack of smoked back bacon rashers for £1.89 and a medium whole chicken for £4.48. My local Asda also boasts an in-house butcher, giving it a distinct advantage over other supermarkets. I'm particularly fond of its extensive selection of plant-based meats and halal meat. Although I'm Christian, I appreciate it when a supermarket caters to all customers and recognises the UK's multicultural and diverse nature, which makes it a fantastic place to live and flourish. What I enjoy most about Asda is exploring its pre-seasoned meats, whether that's their Chinese-style chicken thighs, peri platter, or tikka chicken steaks. With a large family of nine, this supermarket is typically our first choice for our monthly meat stock-up. Do you agree with my ranking? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
