Aldi has reclaimed its position as the most affordable supermarket in the UK. Recent research conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that a basket of 70 essential items at Aldi cost an average of £121.22 last month, edging out Lidl, the previous titleholder, by a mere £1.13. In comparison, Tesco’s prices were slightly higher, but Clubcard members enjoyed an average saving of £2.55, resulting in a total of £133.65 versus £136.20.
On the other end of the spectrum, Waitrose emerged as the priciest option, with an average total of £166.79. Opting to shop exclusively at Aldi or Waitrose could lead to savings exceeding £45.
Which? routinely conducts this comparison exercise to evaluate the pricing strategies of eight different supermarket chains on a selection of staple groceries. The basket of 70 items includes both store-brand products and popular branded items like Birds Eye peas and Hovis bread, along with essentials like milk and butter.
Furthermore, Which? also assesses a more extensive list of 183 groceries, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their limited range of branded products. Asda emerged as the most cost-effective option for this larger shopping list, averaging £455.52 last month. The supermarket chain has committed to reducing prices in an effort to regain market share from competitors, including discount retailers.
The analysis revealed that Asda’s total was £9.71 cheaper than if shoppers had purchased the same items at Tesco using their Clubcard.
Conversely, Waitrose topped the list as the most expensive choice for the comprehensive shopping list, costing £522.91, a significant £67.39 more than Asda. For the smaller set of items, Waitrose’s average total of £166.79 was 38% higher than Aldi’s, representing a difference of £45.57.
Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, emphasized the ongoing competition between Aldi and Lidl in offering the best prices. As the holiday season approaches, the analysis highlights the importance of comparing prices across supermarkets to maximize savings, with a potential 27% difference based on the selected store.
The price breakdown based on 70 items is as follows:
– Aldi: £121.22
– Lidl (including loyalty discount): £122.35
– Lidl: £122.40
– Asda: £133.59
– Tesco (including loyalty discount): £133.65
– Tesco: £136.20
– Morrisons: £137.40
– Sainsbury’s (including loyalty discount): £137.77
– Sainsbury’s: £141.62
– Ocado: £154.37
– Waitrose: £166.79
For the list of 183 items, the prices are as follows:
– Asda: £455.52
– Tesco (including loyalty discount): £465.23
– Sainsbury’s (including loyalty discount): £471.84
– Morrisons (including loyalty discount): £476.96
– Morrisons: £478.96
– Tesco: £497.01
– Ocado: £501.03
– Sainsbury’s: £507.24
– Waitrose: £522.91