Why do shops like B and M have more unusual flavours of things than supermarkets do?

[BarbaraVineFan]

I don’t know what this says about my social media habits, but the algorithm quite often shows me reels of ‘new foods at B and M’ or similar, and it’s always weird and wonderful versions of big brands, like a cappuccino flavoured Kit Kat or something. Can anyone explain why these types of things are available in B and M but not in mainstream supermarkets? And also, has anyone tried any of these unusual snacks and can you recommend them?

Not my one (which is HUGE!). Home bargains do not bore B & M for some reason. They have long life bread, no fridge stuff.

I think B&M and other similar supermarkets buy in a lot of 'end of line' or discontinued products. Manufacturers will produce an entire line of, say, flavoured hot chocolate powder, other supermarkets buy in a small amount each and when it doesn't sell they don't buy any more. So there's a huge amount of stock which the manufacturer needs to shift - so they send it to B&M etc. Where it sells, because anything will sell if you price it right.

Co Op sells strawberry digestives at the moment. But if they don't sell in huge quantities and fly off the shelves it's unlikely that they will restock, and the remainder will go to B&M.

They want you to feel like you’re finding quirky, unexpected treats you wouldn’t spot in Tesco. It’s fun if you treat it as a novelty, but don’t expect every “exclusive flavour” to be amazing.

Horlicks despite being British has a massive main buyer ship in India where it has lots of flavors and is sold as a nutritional breakfast drink but it has all but died off here in the UK.

Their old scare tactics of telling people they would starve to death in their sleep probably coloured many people views.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat from my experience it seems to be the other way around. B+M (and other similar retailers) get the experimental flavours first.
I never found the orange flavour Fry's Turkish Delight in any of the "big" supermarkets.
(They were yummy)

I certainly agree with the 'bargains' aspect - you can never trust any shop that claims to be the cheapest; but surely that's just part and parcel of normal shopping?

No retailer is ever going to tell you that the stuff they're selling is rubbish or that you could get it cheaper at a rival shop!

Australian chocolate bars you say? I may have to go and see if they stock the better flavoured Tim-Tams...The main Tesco only stocks the boring ones.

Yes, much as I like Aldi, I always found it deliberately dishonest when they used to claim to be cheaper than, say, Tesco, on the basis that HEINZ beans bought in Tesco would be much dearer than Aldi beans bought in Aldi, where they don't sell very many big brands.

Just because a 'mainstream' supermarket offers the choice of an expensive big-branded option for those who want it - alongside two or three other (considerably cheaper) levels of their own-brand equivalents, that's surely a good thing; not something to criticise them for?!

B&m have them too!!

Wow, I'm cheered to hear about all of these other places that aren't near or usually frequented by me also have Viscounts!

I might have to widen my shopping habits and go exploring!

Poor quality for what? I buy all my cleaning products in HB apart from laundry which I get in Aldi/Lidl

We buy specific cat food in Home Bargains which is quite expensive elsewhere

I think it’s this, often products will only have ingredients in, say, Polish or Arabic rather than English. I love places like B&M!

B&M do Milka noisette chocolate bars, I always put one or two in when I go in there.

Thats really interesting, the psychology around different shop business models is interesting.

Yep this, as I said in another post Ive been stung with this before so its made me wary of B+M

I like B& M, we have one now where Wilko was, I buy the big tins of Kenco millicano coffee and typhoo tea bags there as they are cheaper, also Fairy dishwasher cleaner is cheaper. Some things are dearer though. I tend to stick to the few things I know are cheaper.

Also the sizes are often different

We have those in Scotland too! I’ve bought them at Tesco and Waitrose.

My local Iceland sells them.

They are £1.99 in HB I’ve seen them £3.49 in sainsburys so that’s a big difference, but they don’t always have them, they’re so good aren’t they ? I have mine with the Waitrose wild cranberry sauce, I’m admitting now to having eaten a whole pack in one go 🐷 (but they are tiny)
sadly you can’t stock pile them due to the use by date 🧀

B and M is the only place I can find Lavazza instant coffee since Waitrose discontinued it. We don’t have one locally so every time I go I stock up, dreading the day they don’t stock it as it’s so much nicer than any other instant we’ve tried.

Mackies crisps are now reincarnated as Taylors after a rebrand. I often find them in LIDL.

@Bjorkdidit apparently Golden Wonder crisps are made by Tayto.
I don't know if they taste the same.
Although finding Golden Wonder can be a bit random too. They turn up on odd places (like Savers sometimes).

I had an urge for Viscount biscuits this week and bought some in my local Tesco. I'm down South. I've been very good and haven't eaten the whole pack in one go.

For your same thing that B&M sell. Worse quality and/or more expensive.

This is my experience.

I love it. It's not to everyone's taste. 🤣