Independent stores were given the thumbs up when we added them to our hit list again after a break of six months. Two were repeat visits and this time the bill at Plymouth was 10p less than in March because of cheaper Coke. Our shopper also picked up a bargain when charged 30p at the checkout for a 32p Mars bar. The Cardiff store was 17p dearer because of a 10p price hike on cigarettes, 3p on bread, 2p on milk and, of course, the correctly priced Mars bar. The store was also prepared for a heatwave ­ the Mars bar was found in the fridge where all chocolate was being kept. Stella Artois still topped the best buy list, with the Tyne & Wear store stocking the best priced lager at £3.80 with 13.5% extra free. The Glasgow store had the same extra-free deal. The Nottingham store stocked 10 brands of lager, and Stella Artois was the only one out of stock. Our shopper said it was a busy little shop where people bustled in and out buying sandwiches, chocolate and papers. It also provided a receipt and a carrier bag for customers. The Tyne & Wear store checked in the cheapest full basket at £10.58 ­ £1.21 less than Cardiff, the dearest. The shop's only downside was that the till could not produce receipts. {{GROCER 33 }}

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