Asda announces BIG change as it axes cheap Smart Price value range
ASDA will axe its Smart Price value range and replace it with a new Just Essentials line as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
The supermarket revealed it will discontinue the old basics range and introduce 300 new products to stores.
It will have 50% more products than Smart Price but will still offer customers "the same great value", Asda said.
The new value range will be in stores from May and will be rolled out across the summer.
Eventually the full range will be stocked in all 581 Asda stores as well as online.
The grocer confirmed that it will continue to sell Smart Price products until they are replaced by Just Essentials.
READ MORE ON MONEY
The line will include fresh meat and fish, bakery, frozen and cupboard staple items, as well as more than 20 household products such as washing up liquid and shampoo.
However, it is facing a legal challenge from upmarket grocer Waitrose, which has its own Essentials range.
"As we’ve also protected the name as a trade mark, we have raised this with Asda and are awaiting a response," a Waitrose spokesperson said.
Asda has 200 products listed under its Smart Price and Farm Stores range currently.
Most read in Money
It recently pledged to stock the cheaper products at all of its stores in response to pressure from campaigners over rising prices.
It comes as families are struggling with the rising cost of living, with energy bills and food costs on the rise.
Millions of households are facing a £700 a year hike to gas and electricity prices from Friday.
Meanwhile, supermarket shopping prices are going up, with inflation hitting 6.2% last week.
Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner, said: “We understand that customers are increasingly worried about the cost of living and want help to keep their grocery bills in check, whilst still being able to buy healthy and nutritious food for their families.
"Our new ‘Just Essentials’ range has been specifically designed with this in mind, combing our lowest prices with a much larger and more diverse range of great value products to meet all household needs.”
Other supermarkets also have value ranges aimed at customers on a tighter budget.
Sainsbury's value line used to be called Basics but has since been replaced with a variety of names including Hubbard's and Stamford Street.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
Tesco has also axed its Everyday Value line, instead opting for a range of different names for its own-brand products.
Meanwhile, Morrisons has more than 250 products in its Savers range.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
Email us at [email protected]