Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Motorway service prices 'twice as high as supermarkets'

Peter Woodman,Press Association
Monday 07 June 2010 03:21 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Travellers should shun motorway service stations and stick to picnics if they want the best food-and-drink deals, it was revealed today.

Prices at service stations are at least twice as high as those at supermarkets, a study by travelsupermarket.com found.

It showed that a family of four could pay nearly £29 for basic sandwiches, crisps, a chocolate bar and a drink at a service station shop, compared with £15 at supermarkets.

A bottle of still water costing as little as 25p at a supermarket averaged as much as £1.27 at a service station.

A sausage roll at a service station would set a traveller back an average of £2.00 compared with just 40p at a supermarket.

Other comparisons include a standard tube of Polo Mints, which are 58p at service stations but only 17p at a supermarket; and a packet of Walkers Crisps, which averages 79p at a motorway stop but only 39p at a supermarket.

The study involved checking prices at 16 UK motorways service stations and comparing them with prices at supermarket Asda.

Bob Atkinson, of http://www.travelsupermarket.com, said: "Following the severe disruptions to air travel this year with snow, volcano eruptions and strikes, many people will be holidaying in the UK this summer or driving to ferry, cruise and rail terminals to avoid flying.

"It might take a bit more time and effort but taking your own food and drink really does pay. It is consistently cheaper to buy snacks, drinks and sandwiches away from the motorway service station at a UK supermarket."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in