Couple ‘disappointed’ after finding Aldi label on Waitrose products

"No disrespect to Aldi or their customers but if I wanted their products I’d go to one of their stores”

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A couple have complained after a mix-up saw them receive a Waitrose product covered with Aldi labels - despite a 71p price difference.

The pair discovered the labelling error after receiving a packet of roasted vegetables in their weekly Ocado order, seemingly from Waitrose.

But on turning the product over, the labelling was for budget supermarket Aldi, with a description claiming the vegetables had been “specially prepared” for the brand.

The product in question was the Waitrose Mediterranean Roast Vegetables, priced at £2 a pack. Aldi stock a similar product called Ready to Roast Winter Roast/Mediterranean Roast, which costs £1.29.

Both products are the same weight.

“I was really disappointed,” the husband - who wished to remain anonymous - told the Daily Mail about the mix-up.

“I use Waitrose and Ocado for good reasons – reputation and home delivery. And I pay for the privilege.

No disrespect to Aldi or their customers but if I wanted their products I’d go to one of their stores.”

After lodging a complaint with Ocado, the couple reported they received an email acknowledging the labelling error.

“Thank you for your email,” the correspondence read.

“I am sorry to hear that the Waitrose Mediterranean Roast Vegetables received were packed for Aldi.

“I have now reported this to the relevant team in order to investigate things further with our supplier. I do apologise for the inconvenience caused and once we have an update we will get back in touch.

Please let us know if you have further questions in the meantime and we will be more than happy to help.”

Meanwhile, Waitrose confirmed that the same supplier was used for both products.

“We are sorry that there has been an error with the labelling at our suppliers and we are now looking into this,” a spokesperson said.

Waitrose told The Independent they had no additional comment to add.

“As with all retailers, we will share suppliers for some of our products. Any price variation will be reflected in the different specification of the product, such as ingredients used.”

The incident comes after several incidents where supermarkets have been found to charge varying prices for almost identical products.

A 2018 BBC investigation discovered big-chain retailers were charging more for products in their smaller branches, with mark-ups of around 177 per cent discovered on items like bananas in some stores.

Additionally, Channel 4 series Supershoppers revealed last year that chains were selling items such as UHT milk and potatoes at inflated prices despite them being “identical” in ingredient list and nutritional value as own-label value products that had a cheaper price tag.

The programme also found Waitrose's Essential Waitrose Wholewheat Biscuits "appeared" to be the same item as Sainsbury's 24 Wholewheat Biscuits product, despite Waitrose's pricing the item at 12p more.

At the time, a spokesperson said the shop "wouldn't know how other retailers make or source their food" but that Waitrose's product was "great value, high quality and significantly cheaper than the big brands".

The Independent has reached out to Aldi for further comment