In timely research ahead of Christmas, consumer group Which? found just how much families can save on a big shop
Aldi has snatched back the crown of Britain’s cheapest supermarket.
Research by consumer group Which? found a shopping list of 70 items at Aldi cost £121.22 on average last month. That just pipped fellow German-own budget chain Lidl, which was named cheapest in October, where the same groceries came to an average £122.35 – £1.13 more – for members of its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme. The 70 items at Tesco were more expensive, but Clubcard members saved an average £2.55 – £133.65 versus £136.20.
Upmarket chain Waitrose was found to be the most expensive on this measure, at £166.79 on average. It means a family opting to get everything from Aldi or Waitrose would save more than £45.
Which? does the same exercise each month to compare how much eight different supermarket chains charge for a selection of groceries.
The 70 items includes both own label products and big brand lines such as Birds Eye peas, Hovis bread, plus basics like milk and butter.
Which? also compares a much larger list of 183 groceries that does not include Aldi and Lidl as they tend to have a smaller range of branded lines. Asda was again cheapest when it came to this bigger shop, according to the research, costing £455.52 on average last month. The Leeds-based chain has vowed to slash prices in a bid to regain market share lost to rivals, including the discounters.
Asda’s bill was £9.71 cheaper than if shoppers had gone to Tesco for the same items and used their Clubcard, according to Which?
At the other extreme, Waitrose was the most expensive for the big shop, costing £522.91, or £67.39 dearer than Asda. Which? says Waitrose was also the most expensive supermarket for a smaller list of items, totalling £166.79 on average. That was 38% more than at Aldi, or a difference of £45.57.
Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: “While Aldi is the cheapest supermarket this month, the discounters battling it out each month means shopping at Lidl is also a great money-saving option, according to our latest price analysis. The longer list of groceries shows that Asda continues to be one of the UK’s cheapest supermarkets and a good option for those who want to choose from a larger range of branded goods. With Christmas just a few weeks away, food prices will be a concern for many households, but our analysis shows it pays to shop around; simply choosing one supermarket over another could save you 27%.”
Based on 70 items Aldi – £121.22 Lidl (inc loyalty discount) – £122.35 Lidl – £122.40 Asda – £133.59 Tesco (inc loyalty discount) – £133.65 Tesco – £136.20 Morrisons – £137.40 Sainsbury’s (inc loyalty discount) – £137.77 Sainsbury’s – £141.62 Ocado – £154.37 Waitrose – £166.79 Based on 183 items Asda – £455.52 Tesco (inc loyalty discount) – £465.23 Sainsbury’s (inc loyalty discount) – £471.84 Morrisons (inc loyalty discount) – £476.96 Morrisons – £478.96 Tesco – £497.01 Ocado – £501.03 Sainsbury’s – £507.24 Waitrose – £522.91