Lidl has once again been named the most affordable supermarket, outpacing Aldi in a recent study by Which? for the second time in a row. In October, a shopping list of 70 items at Lidl averaged £120.46, or £120.38 for members of its loyalty program, Lidl Plus. In comparison, the same items at Aldi cost an average of £121.
Despite Aldi’s previous dominance, having been recognized as the cheapest supermarket 22 out of the last 24 months, Lidl’s recent performance has stood out. The list of 70 items surveyed included both branded and own-brand products like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.
For Tesco shoppers, the total bill in the same period would have amounted to £134.89, or £133.38 with a Clubcard. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s customers would have paid £139.68, or £136.79 with a Nectar card.
According to Which?, a comparison was made for a longer list of 187 items, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their smaller product range compared to other supermarkets. Asda emerged as the most cost-effective option for a larger shopping list, costing £469.11, whereas the same items would have totaled £476.11 for Tesco Clubcard holders and £481.34 at Morrisons with a More loyalty card.
Waitrose, on the other hand, was found to be the priciest option for both a smaller shopping list, averaging £163.04 in October, and a larger one.
The analysis considered special offer prices and loyalty discounts where applicable but did not include multi-buy offers. Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, highlighted Lidl’s affordability, surpassing Aldi and offering savings even to non-loyalty scheme members.
As concerns about rising food prices persist, especially with the festive season approaching, the study emphasized the importance of comparing prices across supermarkets. Simply opting for one supermarket over another could potentially save consumers up to 26%.