Carer says low-income families hit by Asda cuts

A full-time carer says low-income families are being financially hit by supermarket chain Asda after it removed some budget-range products from its website.

Lee Windell, 45, from Tattershall, Lincolnshire, said Asda had withdrawn dozens of products from its online Just Essentials range.

Mr Windell said the changes meant his weekly shopping bill had risen from £50 to £70-£80 per week.

An Asda spokesperson said it regularly reviewed and adjusted the range to reflect customer shopping habits.

Mr Windell said: "I'm a full-time carer looking after my wife and son, so it's very difficult for us to get out. We order from Asda online so we don't have to go to the store.

"We rely on the Essentials brands, which we've been ordering for years, but all of a sudden Asda has stopped selling them online."

This meant they now bought brands at double or triple the price, Mr Windell added.

"Many of the items I would normally order have disappeared," he said.

He added that in the current cost of living crisis, the situation was affecting a lot of families who were unable to shop in-store.

"I can only get to Boston about once a month because of my family's situation," he said. "So, I'm forced to pay the higher prices."

Despite the changes, Mr Windell said he was reluctant to go elsewhere.

"We've stuck with Asda for years now and have bought an Asda delivery pass for the year," he said.

Asda told the BBC that around 40 products had been removed from its Just Essentials range online, but that more than 200 lines were still available.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We are sorry that Lee has been unable to purchase the six Just Essentials products he previously bought online.

"Whilst Just Essentials is one of the largest value ranges on the market, like any retailer, we regularly review and adjust that range to reflect customer shopping habits.

"As a result, we removed some Just Essentials products from Asda.com earlier this year."

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