Aldi has reclaimed its title as the UK’s most affordable supermarket, according to recent findings by consumer group Which?. In a comparison of 70 essential items, Aldi’s average cost came in at £121.22 last month, edging out Lidl by a slight margin. Lidl, which held the top spot in October, tallied an average of £122.35 for the same shopping list, albeit £1.13 more for members of its Lidl Plus loyalty program. Tesco, on the other hand, proved to be pricier, but Clubcard holders managed to save an average of £2.55, with a total of £133.65 versus £136.20.
In contrast, Waitrose emerged as the most expensive option, with an average total of £166.79. Opting to purchase all groceries from Aldi or Waitrose could result in a savings of over £45 for a family.
Which? conducts this comparison monthly across eight different supermarket chains, including both own-label products and popular brands like Birds Eye and Hovis.
In a separate analysis of 183 items that excludes Aldi and Lidl due to their smaller range of branded products, Asda stood out as the most cost-effective choice, averaging £455.52 last month. Asda’s commitment to reducing prices to regain market share against competitors, including discount retailers, was evident in this study.
For a larger shopping list, Asda was £9.71 cheaper than Tesco for the same items when utilizing the Clubcard benefits, as reported by Which?. Conversely, Waitrose led as the priciest option for the extensive shopping list, totaling £522.91, which was £67.39 more than Asda. The analysis indicated a 38% price difference between Waitrose and Aldi, amounting to £45.57.
Reena Sewraz, the retail editor at Which?, emphasized the ongoing battle between discount supermarkets, highlighting Aldi and Lidl as top money-saving choices. As Christmas approaches, food prices are a concern for many households. Sewraz advised consumers to compare prices and consider different supermarkets, as the potential savings could amount to 27%.
The price breakdown based on 70 items showed Aldi leading at £121.22, followed closely by Lidl at £122.35 (including loyalty discount) and Asda at £133.59. Tesco, with and without loyalty discounts, came in at £133.65 and £136.20, respectively. The list continued with Morrisons at £137.40, Sainsbury’s at £141.62, Ocado at £154.37, and Waitrose at £166.79.
For the larger shopping list of 183 items, Asda remained the most economical choice at £455.52, followed by Tesco (with loyalty discount) at £465.23, Sainsbury’s (with loyalty discount) at £471.84, and Morrisons (with loyalty discount) at £476.96. The rankings concluded with Morrisons at £478.96, Tesco at £497.01, Ocado at £501.03, Sainsbury’s at £507.24, and Waitrose at £522.91.