Budgens’ compact store in the rural town of Henfield had a full range of well-merchandised stock with a prominent display of barbecue items linked to offers in the chillers as well as for snacks and drinks.

Budgens charged a nominal basket price of £47.78 for The Grocer 33 list. Stocks of fruit and veg were low but there was a good choice of chilled ready meals and prepared salads. Kit Kat was only sold in 4-finger packs at £1.28, McCain only in the crinkle cut variant for £1.77, while Corn Flakes were out of stock. Staff went out the back to fetch pints of semi-skimmed milk not on shelf and were “helpful” with all other queries. Fairy Liquid was reduced to 69p from £1.05 and 4-packs of Andrex were on an aisle-end offer at £1.49, down from £1.83.

Our shopper visited Budgens on a balmy evening with the air full of insects. A till assistant confessed to being “scared” of a bug that had landed on the conveyor. The situation was immediately defused by the manager who scooped up the “mini-beast” and made light of the situation with shoppers and staff alike, which typified the friendly atmosphere at this ‘local supermarket’ in the lee of the South Downs.