Tesco to shed light on sales as ‘awful April' bill hikes squeeze budgets

Tesco shareholders will be watching closely for signs that it is managing to fend off competition as the supermarket price war heats up and 'awful April' bill hikes eat into household income.
The UK's biggest supermarket chain will unveil its financial results for the first three months of its financial year on Thursday.
Tesco recently signalled that a price war was mounting within the sector, saying that it expects to make as much as £400 million less in profit in the year ahead as a result of what it called 'a very competitive market'.
Asda has promised its biggest price cuts in 25 years under returning boss Allan Leighton, in a bid to revive the languishing chain.
The rapid growth of discounters Aldi and Lidl in the UK has also driven more competition as supermarkets move to match some of their prices to low-cost alternatives.
Tesco is expecting to generate a group adjusted operating profit of between £2.7 billion and £3 billion for the year to February 2026, down from the £3.1 billion made over the latest year.
A group of analysts for AJ Bell said that, despite fears of a supermarket price war, Tesco's share price was close to a 12-year high.
'Asda's reboot under new chair Allan Leighton prompted such concerns but, for now, the competition seems relatively limited in scope, with a focus on Clubcard and loyalty scheme customers and loss-leaders that drive footfall,' they said.
'Mr Leighton claims he can see the green shoots of recovery at Asda, but the latest Kantar survey of market share in the UK grocery market suggests that Tesco, Aldi and Lidl continue to have both Asda and Morrisons for breakfast.'
Asda is the UK's third-largest UK supermarket, behind Sainsbury's, but remains close to being overtaken by Aldi which has seen its share of the market grow steadily.
Meanwhile, investors will be looking for an update from Tesco on how consumers are faring following the onset of higher bills during what has been dubbed as 'awful April'.
Household bills including for electricity, water, phone deals, and council tax rose for many from the beginning of the month.
Financial markets analyst Michael Hewson said trading updates from the UK's biggest retailers can give a strong indication of consumer trends and any signs of weakness in the UK economy.
He said Tesco's Booker division – the food wholesaler – was the 'main drag' on its latest annual sales figures, 'largely due to weakness in its tobacco business, as well as the fast-food market serviced by its Best Food logistics brand'.
'This business supplies the likes of Burger King, Pret a Manger, Pizza Express, Zizzi, Nando's and Pizza Hut, and saw a like-for-like sales decline of 5.1% to £1.44 billion,' he said.

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'Do not eat': Products sold at Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and more recalled

Products sold at Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Lidl, Iceland and other UK supermarkets have been recalled with 'do not eat' warnings issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Recalls have been issued on products for a variety of reasons, including metal being found in a a breakfast food that may contain insects, and a popular brand of pies having incorrect use-by dates on the label. We have rounded up the ongoing product recalls you should be aware of. If you have bought any of the items mentioned below, you need to be aware of these potential health risks. A range of Pieminister Kitchens pies have been recalled because they have been labelled with incorrect use-by dates which may make them unsafe to eat. The affected pies have been labelled with a use-by date of June 24, 2026, instead of a use-by date of June 24, 2025. These are the pies being recalled by Pieminister: Pieminister Moo – British Beef Steak and Craft Ale Pie Pieminister Moo & Blue – British Beef Steak and Stilton Pie Pieminister Kate & Sidney – British Beef Steak, Kidney and Craft Ale Pie Pieminister Deer & Beer – Venison, Milk Stout, Mushroom and Thyme Pie Pieminister Free Ranger – Free Range British Chicken and Ham Pie with Leek Pieminister Fungi Chicken – Free Range British Chicken, Portobello and Chestnut Mushroom Pieminister Wild Shroom – Portobello and Chestnut Mushroom Pie Pieminister Mooless Moo – Jackfruit, Craft Ale and Black Pepper Pie Pieminister – Goat's Cheese and Sweet Potato Filo Pie Pieminister – Spinach and Feta Filo Pie Friday 13 June 2025 - @pieminister Kitchens recalls various Pieminister pies because of incorrect use-by dates: — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 13, 2025 A Pieminister spokesman said: 'The fresh pies, made in our Bristol bakery on one day this week, were labelled with an incorrect use-by date on the boxes. 'Pieminister Kitchens would like to reassure our customers that these pies have been produced to the same exacting standards of food safety and quality that you expect from us, and they are completely safe to eat until June 24, 2025. 'However, if you would prefer to return any pies incorrectly labelled, please contact Pieminister customer service for a full refund. You can reach us by email at hello@ or by phone on 0117 942 3300. 'Pieminister Kitchens apologise for any inconvenience this technical issue may cause our customers and assure them that we take this matter very seriously. 'We are working closely with our technical teams and have implemented additional measures to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. 'No other Pieminister products, or batches of these products, are affected.' The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning parents not to let children under the age of 7 drink iced slushie drinks this summer if they contain glycerol. An FSA board meeting this week endorsed the advice and called for clear communication to parents and carers to help manage glycerol intake in young children. The FSA said: 'Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid. 'Consumed at high levels, glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels and unconsciousness in young children. The FSA Board meeting begins today at 9am in Birmingham. Here's the agenda and meeting papers for today's meeting: Here's where you can watch it live: 1/2 — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 18, 2025 'Businesses are advised to only add glycerol at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve the slush effect. 'While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.' Lidl is recalling one of its products because it may contain pieces of metal. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the recalled item not to eat it. The recall affects Lidl's Harvest Basket Hash Browns. The impacts hash browns come in packs of 750g, have a best before date of May 24, 2027, and a batch code of 5144L. Thursday 12 June: @LidlGB recalls Harvest Basket Hash Browns because they may contain pieces of metal #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 12, 2025 An FSA spokesman said: 'Lidl GB is recalling the above product. A point of sale notice will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. 'Instead, return it to your nearest store for a full refund. For further information contact customer care on or 0203 966 5566.' Asda, Matalan and Amazon recalls as shoppers told 'stop using them immediately' FSA issues 'do not eat' warning over chocolate that may be a 'food safety risk' 'Do not eat' warning issued as 'unsafe to eat' sweets recalled A Lidl spokesman added: 'If you have bought the above product we advise you not to eat it. 'Customers are asked to return this product to the nearest store where a full refund will be given. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation.' Shoppers who purchased some Dubai-style chocolate products have been warned the food may not meet Food Standards Agency (FSA) standards. Some of the imported Dubai-style products could pose a risk to consumers with allergies, the food safety watchdog warned. Those with food allergies should be careful when buying the popular chocolate as some imported products may not be intended for sale in the UK and could lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said. The watchdog said it had identified a number of products that posed a health risk to consumers with allergies. Some of these products may also contain additives and colours which are not allowed on the UK market, it added. The FSA said it was surveying and sampling the products to work out the scale of the issue, and working with allergy charities in the meantime to raise awareness of the risk with consumers. It said that 'most' Dubai-style chocolate available in UK shops was safe. The FSA said: 'If in doubt, don't buy it and report any concerns to your local authority.' By law, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens. The FSA advised consumers to look out for labelling details to check whether a product is intended for sale here. By law, products made to UK standards should have labels in English containing the name of the food – for example, milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling – a list of ingredients with allergens emphasised, the weight of the food in grams and a best before or use by date. Labels must also include the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included. Multiple Jolly Rancher sweets sold in the UK have been recalled as they contain products that make them 'unsafe to eat' and they do not comply with UK laws, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned. Four Jolly Rancher products have been recalled, as the FSA has told anyone who has bought them not to eat them. The affected products are the Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher 'Misfits' Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and the Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies. The recall covers all pack sizes, batch codes, and best before dates of the sweets listed above. They contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH), making them unsafe to eat. Wednesday 11 June 2025. Food Alert "For Action": To Consumers who have purchased and Food Businesses who have purchased and sold Jolly Rancher products manufactured by The Hershey Company #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 11, 2025 The FSA said: 'For consumers, don't buy them, and if you've eaten these products, there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don't eat any more. 'These products contain mineral oil, which isn't allowed in food in the UK and may pose a food safety risk if consumed regularly over a sustained period of time.' The FSA said that the Hershey Company, who produces Jolly Rancher sweets, had been working collaboratively to remove unsafe products from the UK markets. It added that while the parent company had decided to stop supplying the UK market in 2024 some businesses still continued to import the products for sale in the UK. An FSA spokesman said: 'Although the levels consumers are exposed to are likely to be low, they may present a risk to health because they contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH). 'Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat them regularly. 'MOAH can cause damage to DNA and has the potential to increase the risk of cancer, particularly if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time. MOAH is a genotoxic carcinogen, therefore no exposure is without risk to human health. 'We are asking enforcement authorities to make immediate contact with businesses who may have been supplied with or received the affected products, and to take action to ensure that the non-compliant and potentially unsafe products are withdrawn from the market and where sold at retail, recalled. 'We are also asking the Local Authorities to inform the FSA of product recall and withdrawal actions. 'If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. Instead, dispose of them at home. 'If you are concerned, notify your Trading Standards department or environmental health department in the local authority you purchased it.' Popular chocolate bars sold at a number of UK supermarkets have been recalled as they may contain 'small stones'. Tony's Chocolonely is recalling certain batches of two of its chocolate products because of the 'potential presence of foreign objects'. The chocolate bars which may contain the small stones are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar 180g and the Everything Bar 180g. Only certain product codes of the chocolate are being recalled. (Image: Tony's Chocolonely) These are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar codes and best before dates affected: 162633 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 162614 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 163061 with a best before date of April 2, 2026 These are the Everything Bar codes and best before dates affected: 4331 with a best before date of November 26, 2025 4332 with a best before date of November 27, 2025 4333 with a best before date of November 28, 2025 A spokesman for Tony's Chocolonely UK said: 'We are extremely sorry to have to issue this recall, and for the inconvenience that this will cause people who purchased these products. 'Whilst the probability of a product being affected is low, we always put the safety and satisfaction of our consumers first and that is why we have made the decision to recall these products. 'We apologise to consumers and our partners for the impact this will have. 'This recall only affects these specific products and lot codes. All other Tony's Chocolonely products remain safe to consume and are not impacted. 'Do you have a bar with the impacted lot number(s)? Please don't eat the chocolate. Instead, we kindly ask you that you return the product to the store where you bought it for a refund or replacement.' Tesco has recalled one of its products from supermarket shelves across the UK because they may pose a health risk to customers. The supermarket giant has recalled one of its Tesco Free From Meal Kits because they contain undeclared soya. The presence of soya, not mentioned on the label, makes them a potential health risk for anyone with an allergy to soya. The affected products are the Tesco Free From Katsu Curry Meal Kit, affecting all products with a best before date up to and including December 12. Tony's Chocolonely recall as chocolate may contain stones 'Do not eat': Products sold at Tesco, Asda, Iceland and more recalled 'Stop using it immediately': Asda apology to customers as product recalled A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: 'Tesco is recalling the above products from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 'The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to any Tesco store for a full refund. For more information contact Tesco Customer Services on 0800 505 555.' Iceland has issued a 'do not eat' warning to its customers over a product that may contain pieces of plastic. The supermarket is recalling its Iceland Vegetable Lasagne because of the risk of plastic in the dish, making it unsafe to eat. The affected products have best before dates of July 23, 2026, and July 30, 2026. A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency also told anyone who has purchased the dish not to eat it. Wednesday 19 March. Iceland Foods Ltd recalls Iceland Vegetable Lasagne because it may contain pieces of plastic #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 19, 2025 They said: 'Iceland Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. The company has issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. For more information, please call 0800 328 0800.' An Iceland spokesman added: 'We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling the dates codes of the above product because it may contain hard pieces of plastic making it unsafe to eat. 'Only the best before date codes listed in this notice are affected. 'If you have purchased any of the above product, DO NOT eat it.' A popular breakfast choice sold at Tesco, Ocado, Amazon and other outlets has been recalled because it may contain insects. Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling its Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola because of the possible presence of insects. The affected product is the 400g box of granola with a best before date of October 24. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the granola not to eat it but return it to wherever they bought it for a full refund. Thursday 20 March - @rudehealth recalls Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola because of the possible presence of insects #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 20, 2025 A spokesman said: 'The product listed above might contain insects, which may make them unsafe to eat. 'Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your local store for a refund. For further information, please contact Rude Health Foods Ltd at hello@ Iceland 'do not eat' warning as product may contain 'hard pieces of plastic' Holiday warning as mosquito bite leaves student paralysed for a month AA issues roundabout warning to drivers as millions risk fine for common mistake A Rude Health Foods spokesman added: 'No other batches of the chocolate crunch granola or other Rude Health products are affected by this recall. 'If you have bought the above product we advise you do not consumer it. 'We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.' If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

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6 Copycat Snacks That Landed Aldi In Legal Trouble And 7 More That Could Be Next

Speaking as a self-declared snack connoisseur, Aldi is one of the best in the game for tasty treats. The chain -- which was founded in Germany in the 1960s but has since ballooned into a global operation -- has made its name with a stellar lineup of affordable food and drink, declaring itself the world's first discount grocery store. While it may not be the only chain in the game today, its proclivity for wallet-friendly products is still going strong more than 60 years after its debut. Over the decades, a significant portion of said wallet-friendly products have surged in popularity for their similarity to more expensive branded products. Part of Aldi's allure is the fact that you can secure a basket of dupes for your favorite food items for a fraction of the cost. While Aldi's skill for replicating these products has gone down a treat with customers, the brands that have inspired several of its products often don't share the same enthusiasm. Aldi typically pokes fun at its reputation for copycat products on social media, but this reputation has actually led to some not-so-funny consequences in the past. Some companies have taken legal action against the chain for ripping off their products -- and considering how many other dupes you can currently find on its shelves, we wouldn't be surprised if more do so in the future. Here are the items that have sparked some of Aldi's biggest legal disputes to date (and those we fear may cause more trouble in the future). Read more: 7 Must-Buy Aldi Items For First-Time Customers Aldi certainly isn't the only store to try its hand at knockoff Oreos. Sandwich cookies composed of two chocolate wafers and a vanilla creme filling can be found in the aisles of Walmart, Kroger, Trader Joe's, and more. In May 2025, however, Mondelēz International -- the company behind the iconic sweet treat -- filed a lawsuit against Aldi in the U.S. over claims that it was intentionally trying to deceive customers by copying the famous Oreo packaging for its Benton's Original Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies. Oreo wasn't the only cookie brand listed in the lawsuit. Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter, Chips Ahoy!, and Ritz were all mentioned in the filing, with Mondelēz showing images of the first two cookies next to the Aldi copycats to demonstrate the similarity in their packaging. Mondelēz also claimed that it had reached out to Aldi to try to resolve the issue multiple times before deciding to take legal action, despite the company previously resolving complaints over products similar to its Tate's Bake Shop cookies, Teddy Grahams, and more. This lawsuit is still ongoing at the time of writing, with Mondelēz pursuing a court order to prevent Aldi from selling the named products. Watch this space. Clancy's Kettle Chips come in a range of flavors, including jalapeño and sea salt and vinegar. The version sold by Kettle Brands -- which has offered its trademark thick-cut chips since the 1970s -- comes in a range of flavors, including jalapeño and sea salt and vinegar. The two use similar fonts, with an iconic bold K at the front of "Kettle" on both products. They're also both very tasty (although some Aldi super fans claim that its private label is the superior chips brand in every sense). The influence of Kettle Brands on Clancy's Kettle Chips is pretty tough to deny, but it's worth noting that Aldi isn't the only store to take its cues from Kettle Brands products. Lay's also offers a line of kettle chips that isn't totally dissimilar to the latter's products, as does Herr's. Clancy's, however, undeniably features one of the strongest visual resemblances. While it has definitely popularized kettle chips in general, it's worth noting that Kettle Brands didn't invent the concept, cooking method, or even the term kettle chips. But with other brands taking legal action against Aldi over aesthetic similarities in the past, it's not totally beyond the realm of possibility that Clancy's Kettle Chips could cause issues in the future. In December 2024, an Australian brand named Little Bellies was victorious in its legal fight against Aldi. Specializing in children's snacks, the brand had previously taken action against Aldi in 2021, after the latter launched a line of blueberry-flavored corn puffs known as Mamia Organic Baby Puffs that looked suspiciously similar to its Baby Bellies Organic Blueberry Puffs. Like the original snack, Aldi's version included an illustration of a smiling bird over corn puffs and blueberries. The lawsuit also claimed that Aldi had previously instructed a design agency to use Little Bellies products as a reference when redesigning the packaging for products in its Mamia line. A court ultimately ruled in Little Bellies' favor, coming to the conclusion that Aldi had deliberately tried to replicate the aesthetic of the copycat product. Federal court justice Mark Moshinsky claimed that "Aldi sought to use for its own commercial advantage the designs that had been developed by a trade rival," and that the company was liable for damages (via the Federal Court of Australia). Today, Mamia Organic Baby Puffs Blueberry are sold in packaging that instead utilizes an illustrated blueberry. Other brands have been ripping off Pop-Tarts since the dawn of, well, Pop-Tarts. Even the identity of the genius who invented Pop-Tarts has proven contentious in the past, with the company claiming that Kellogg's chairman William E. LaMothe came up with the idea and had "Doc" Joe Thompson perfect the creation. Meanwhile, William Post -- who was the manager of a Keebler Foods plant in Grand Rapids at the time of the Pop-Tart's birth -- insisted that he was recruited to come up with the snack. Point being, the Pop-Tart has been a hotly debated creation since the start, which is why we're keeping an eye on Aldi's take on the saccharine treat. Aldi's line of Pop-Tart-esque products is known as Millville Toaster Tarts. While they don't feature quite as many weird and wonderful flavors as actual Pop-Tarts, there is some overlap, such as strawberry and frosted brown sugar cinnamon. While Kroger has Toaster Treats and Walmart has its Great Value Toaster Pastries, neither is quite as overtly influenced by Pop-Tarts in its design. Millville Toaster Tarts feature similar color schemes (a blue background with bold white writing), an equally bold font, and even arrange the toaster pastries featured on each box in a similar manner. From 2022, Aldi was embroiled in a three-year-long legal battle over its Taurus Cloudy Lemon Cider. The dispute took place in the U.K., where Aldi was accused of ripping off Thatcher's Cloudy Lemon Cider. Unlike the U.S., where it typically does not contain alcohol, the term "cider" almost always denotes an alcoholic beverage to British customers. Both Thatcher's and Aldi were retailing sweet, lemon-flavored ciders, which not only tasted similar but were wrapped in extremely similar packaging. While Thatcher's case was initially dismissed in 2024, the company filed -- and subsequently won -- an appeal in January 2025. According to the BBC, Lord Justice Arnold concluded that Aldi intentionally tried to evoke Thatcher's aesthetic to sell more products, claiming, "The inescapable conclusion is that Aldi intended the sign to remind consumers of the trademark. This can only have been in order to convey the message that the Aldi product was like the Thatchers product, only cheaper." While Aldi confirmed that it planned to appeal, product images for the cider have since been removed from its U.K. website. Aldi's line of Clancy's potato chips is clearly inspired by a string of several iconic brands, but few as much as Stackerz. Its iconic tube of stackable chips is more than slightly reminiscent of the packaging used for Pringles, down to the use of a moustached mascot. Once again, Aldi is far from the only brand to try to recreate the mammoth success of Pringles, which is today owned by Kellanova. Back in 2017, a much more direct Pringles knockoff known as Prongles was sold at Target as a publicity stunt by the same company behind the game Cards Against Humanity. Walmart and Lay's both sell their own interpretations of the same style of potato chip (even though technically, Pringles don't count as potato chips). While legal action has never been taken over Aldi drawing heavy inspiration from the Pringles product, the resemblance between the two is uncanny. One difference that works in Aldi's favor, however, is the fact that some customers actually think Clancy's Stackerz taste better due to their thickness and stronger flavor. Caterpillar cakes are a pillar of British childhood. Quirky though it may seem to someone who didn't grow up in the U.K., these insect-shaped cakes are a staple of birthday celebrations, office parties, Christmas festivities, and even weddings. The original -- Colin the Caterpillar -- is a chocolate and candy-coated chocolate Swiss roll cake created by British chain Marks & Spencer in 1990, but he has since been joined by a small army of larvae rivals, including Sainsbury's Wiggles the Caterpillar, Tesco's Slinky Caterpillar, Morrisons' Morris the Caterpillar, and of course, Aldi's Cuthbert the Caterpillar. The latter hit a little too close to home for Marks & Spencer in 2021, when it sued Aldi over its cheaper but otherwise pretty much identical caterpillar cake. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Aldi continued to make light of Cuthbert's similarity to Colin on social media, kicking off a passionate #FreeCuthbert campaign as the cake was temporarily pulled from stores. This legal dispute has a somewhat happy ending as the two companies eventually cut a confidential deal in early 2022, with Aldi announcing Cuthbert's impending return on Facebook. "Getting out early on good behaviour," it wrote. "Keep an eye out for Cuthy B this Spring." To mark the occasion, Forbes reported that Aldi erected billboards bearing phrases such as "Aisle be back" and "Made by bakers. Approved by lawyers." For anyone concerned about Cuthbert's status today, we can confirm that he's still going strong in Aldi stores across the U.K. Available in flavors such as birthday cake and brownie, Fiber One bars are a popular and tasty choice for anyone trying to boost their fiber intake. The same is true of Millville Fiber Now bars, which also combine the convenience of a pre-packaged cake bar with the nutritional benefits of a quick, low-calorie dose of fiber. Those attributes alone are enough to raise suspicion about where Aldi got the inspiration for the product. It also doesn't help that both products bear similar packaging, with the primary difference being that boxes of Fiber One bars feature a supersized "90" to brag about the fact they contain just 90 calories, while Millville Fiber Now bars feature a "70" (because of course Aldi had to outdo the original and slash the calorie count). The good news for Aldi is that General Mills, which owns Fiber One, hasn't cracked down on the similarities -- at least not yet. Customers, however, have lashed out at the chain in recent months over theories that Aldi changed its Millville Fiber Now recipe for the worse, with the updated bars lacking in both flavor and moisture. Yogurt was the topic at hand for Aldi in 2018 when a brand called The Collective made its feelings known about the chain's copycat tendencies. The brand -- which specializes in gourmet Greek-style yogurts heaped with fruity or fudgy toppings -- threatened the chain with legal action after it launched a line of similar-looking products under its Moo! Gourmet Yogurt line. The Collective co-founder Amelia Harvey shared the brand's frustration with The Sun, saying, "We've always been up for healthy competition, but we're confused why a successful brand like Aldi doesn't market these ranges under their strong own label brand, rather than deliberately imitating others and causing confusion amongst shoppers." While it doesn't seem like The Collective ever actually took legal action, the situation was still serious enough to warrant going to the press over the discontent. Notably, Aldi pulled the line of yogurts in question from its stores just months later. Aldi strikes again with its Clancy's White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn. If its black and yellow packaging looks a little familiar, that's probably because you're used to seeing Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn -- a product that relies on the same flavor profile and extremely similar design choices. Nothing has ever come of the likenesses between the two products. However, it does seem like Aldi has eaten into Smartfood's customer base with Clancy's White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, as fans have claimed that it offers a stronger cheesy flavor and tastes less greasy than its pricier counterpart. It probably doesn't hurt matters that some customers feel like Smartfood has switched up the recipe for its popcorn in recent years -- and not in a good way. While Smartfood once arguably boasted the best cheddar popcorn on the market, some of the most common complaints are that the cheddar flavor simply isn't as sharp as it once was, with cheddar now falling further down the ingredients list than it did in times gone by. In 2018, around the same time that yogurt brand The Collective accused Aldi of ripping off its products, a British sausage company called Heck started making noise about the same issue. This time, Aldi's Ashfield Farm Chicken Chipolatas lay at the heart of the drama, with Heck claiming that the packaging bore an extremely similar color scheme to its own Heck Chicken Italia Sausages. Andrew Keeble, founder of Heck, reportedly sent Aldi a letter asking the chain to axe the product, which was sold in its U.K. stores. He claimed to have received a threatening response that led him to consider taking the company to court. Aldi also insisted that it had used similar branding for its Ashfield Farm line for 15 years. The dispute may have never escalated to an actual court case, but Aldi did subsequently rebrand its Ashfield Farm Chicken Chipolatas, which today feature a cyan blue design, complete with the Union Jack. It doesn't take long to spot the similarities between Benton's Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies and their Keebler counterpart. With yellow and brown packaging that contains ring-shaped, fudge-striped cookies, these sweet treats are closer to twins than sisters. Despite the strong resemblance between the two, Aldi has never been formally called out by Keebler or its parent company, Ferrero. It has, however, been called out by customers for creating near-identical dupes for Keebler Fudge Stripes. Fans have noted that Benton's Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies are a similar size to the latter, with the exact same taste. In fact, some even claim that they taste better and less artificial, despite costing less. Other cookies in the Benton's range reportedly come up just as strong against similar products. Just like Walmart, Aldi offers several copycat Girl Scout cookies, with Benton's Mint Striped Fudge Cookies often compared to Girl Scout Thin Mints and Benton's Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies tasting an awful lot like Girl Scout Samoas. Aldi sells a long list of cereal products under its Millville brand, plenty of which enter uncanny valley with their similarity to major brands such as Kellogg's and Quaker Oats. Perhaps the most obvious dupe of the bunch is Millville Fruit Rounds -- a kid-oriented, colorful, ring-shaped cereal with a parrot emblazoned on its packaging. Considering the fact that we could have written that exact same description about Froot Loops, you can probably see where this is going. While Aldi may deign to spell fruit properly in its cereal name, there's no denying where it got the inspiration. Yes, Fruit Rounds are accompanied by a green parrot, not a blue parrot, but if the only real difference between two products is the hue of their animal mascots, then you know you've got a problem. At least, theoretically. Aldi has sold its Fruit Rounds for years without consequence from Kellogg's. Some customers even prefer Aldi's lookalike cereal due to the fact that it's naturally flavored and doesn't contain a long list of colors like Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, or Yellow 6 like Froot Loops. This may just be one instance where a dupe has truly improved upon the original -- so long as Kellogg's lets it go unchecked. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.

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UK alt-milk maker Mighty Drinks goes into administration

UK-based alternative milks brand Mighty Drinks has appointed administrators for the business after facing recent "headwinds". The oat and pea milks producer appointed James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath as joint administrators, a statement from the financial advisory group said yesterday (17 June). Mighty Drinks produces a range of pea protein and oat milk products which are sold across the country in major retailers such as Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco. In the statement, Tom Swiers, food and drink sector lead at Interpath, said: 'There has been an increasing focus on profitability within all aspects of the 'alt' category, following the investment boom of a few years ago. "It is no longer simply a case of, 'growth as number one priority'". Interpath said Mighty Drinks had seen "headwinds in recent years", such as increasing costs and "fragile consumer confidence", which has affected its ability to scale and reach profitability. While the company's directors intended to look into investment options, "but when it became clear that a solvent outcome was not possible, they took steps to file for the appointment of administrators". Swiers added: 'The Mighty team has created a great product, with an exciting kids-milk range set to launch with retailers given the allergen free benefits of pea-protein, and a path to profitability from improved margins and increased volumes. "Unfortunately, however, this has come at a point in the company's cycle where it required further investment which was not forthcoming from typical investors in this space, nor was it attractive to typical 'special situations' investors given the relatively early stage of the company's development.' Companies House filings for Watkins Drinks Limited, which trades as Mighty Drinks, showed the group had racked up £12.1m in losses in 2023, a roughly £4m deeper loss than it booked the previous year. Managing director at Interpath and joint administrator for Mighty Drinks James Clark said Interpath would look into "the options available" for the company with its stakeholders. Potential avenues being explored include "seeking offers for the business and its assets, including the Mighty brand and related intellectual property", he added. Just Food has contacted Mighty Drinks for comment. Plant-based milk has become an increasingly competitive space in UK grocery retail, and has resulted in some companies pulling brands. In January, Arla Foods announced its intention to remove its Jörd alternative milks brand from UK retailers. The brand had been launched in 2020 and was the company's first move in plant-based milk alternatives. Two years ago, Nestlé also announced it was pulling its Wunda alt-dairy brands from UK and Ireland retail, alongside its meat-free Garden Gourmet range. Despite a slowing momentum for the plant-based milk category in the UK, in Novemeber, Oddlygood, owned by Finnish dairy company Valio, announced it had acquired UK rival Rude Health. At the time, the group said the move intended to bolster its market share in plant-based drinks in the UK. "UK alt-milk maker Mighty Drinks goes into administration" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data