It's an odd thing this blogging lark. So many opportunities to discover new brands, new products and new services, what started as a hobby with a hope of improving my chances of getting work has actually resulted in some lifestyle changes.
Take our choice of supermarket for instance. I obviously had heard of Morrisons and had shopped there occasionally, mainly when visiting family in the Midlands.
But after a couple of PR events where I had opportunity to see and sample a wide range of products I was sold on what I perceive as good quality good value products and now do most of my grocery shopping there.
And it's not just all about the food - my daughter was desperate for an on-trend parka in her favourite colour purple. I recently paid over £30 for one for my older daughter in a so-called budget store I was delighted to find one for under £20 last week in Morrisons' Nutmeg clothing range for my younger daughter.
I was not surprised then to hear this week that the chain has been named as best supermarket for own brand products by respected consumer magazine "Which?"
Almost half (45%) of Morrisons own brand products were described as being superior to those of all competitors, including leading discounters Aldi and Lidl, as well as more premium priced retailers like Marks & Spencer.
Take our choice of supermarket for instance. I obviously had heard of Morrisons and had shopped there occasionally, mainly when visiting family in the Midlands.
But after a couple of PR events where I had opportunity to see and sample a wide range of products I was sold on what I perceive as good quality good value products and now do most of my grocery shopping there.
And it's not just all about the food - my daughter was desperate for an on-trend parka in her favourite colour purple. I recently paid over £30 for one for my older daughter in a so-called budget store I was delighted to find one for under £20 last week in Morrisons' Nutmeg clothing range for my younger daughter.I was not surprised then to hear this week that the chain has been named as best supermarket for own brand products by respected consumer magazine "Which?"
Almost half (45%) of Morrisons own brand products were described as being superior to those of all competitors, including leading discounters Aldi and Lidl, as well as more premium priced retailers like Marks & Spencer.
Morrisons M Kitchen Head Chef, Richard Jones (who I met during a visit to the M Kitchen in Yorkshire last summer) said “At Morrisons, one of our key priorities is always to provide our customers with the best products on the market, at affordable everyday low prices that won’t break the bank, so it’s great to hear that our own brand range has been recognised as providing just that.”
In December it was announced that Morrisons £3.99 M Signature Jewelled Fruit Christmas Pudding had beaten the best that Harrods and Fortnum & Mason had to offer in Which? magazine's Christmas taste tests, scoring 85 per cent by a panel of judges including the 2013 winner of the Great British Bake Off, Francis Quinn, and food critic Charles Campion.
I've always been impressed by the quality of meat products from Morrisons. The supermarket’s M Signature Thick Outdoor Bred Pork Sausages was named ‘the best bangers in Britain’ by Which? earlier this year. Other top picks included the M Signature Vintage Cheddar Cheese, English Breakfast Tea and Lavender & Cotton Flower Bio Gel.
I'm sorry if this all sounds like an advert - I'm actually not being paid or rewarded in any way for sharing this news. I just like the store and the products and feel after the recent bad press about seasonal profits it would be nice to say "hurrah!" for this success story.
The launch of products for Spring/Summer 2015 is in just a few weeks - I can't wait to see what they have to offer.
In the meantime check out my recipe for luxurious but affordable smoked salmon towers made using Morrison's products.
And if you haven't heard about the Match and More loyalty card which price-matches the big supermarkets AND Lidl and Aldi, read my post here explaining how it works.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.