Aldi has once again been declared the most affordable supermarket in Britain, narrowly edging out its discount competitor Lidl.
A consumer group called Which? conducts a monthly comparison of groceries from eight major UK supermarket chains. The list for July comprised 93 items, a mix of own-brand and branded products like milk, cheese, and Hovis sliced bread.
During the evaluation, Aldi emerged as the cheapest supermarket, with a total of £158.05, closely followed by Lidl at £160.70. Asda secured the third spot in the analysis by Which? with £185.81, maintaining its position as one of the most budget-friendly supermarkets regardless of loyalty programs.
This development brings relief to struggling Asda, which faces challenges such as a declining market share and intense competition. Recent discussions hinted at a possible mega merger between Asda and Sainsbury’s, potentially reigniting talks of a £12 billion deal that fell through seven years ago.
According to Which?, a substantial shopping bill at Sainsbury’s, when utilizing Nectar loyalty scheme discounts, averaged at £187.86, slightly undercutting Tesco’s Clubcard prices at £188.45. Morrisons and Tesco without a Clubcard tied in the middle ground with a total of £195.63 for the list in July.
Waitrose retained its position as the most expensive supermarket, pricing items at £226.95, which is 44% higher than Aldi for comparable products. Ocado followed as the second most expensive at £209.40, reflecting a 32% price difference compared to Aldi.
Reena Sewraz, the Retail Editor at Which?, remarked, “Despite stable inflation currently, many households are concerned about potential price hikes in the near future. The discount supermarkets continue to offer the best value, with Asda outperforming Sainsbury’s and Tesco in terms of pricing according to our analysis.”
She added, “Choosing one supermarket over another or forgetting your loyalty card can result in paying over 40% more for everyday essentials. Switching your shopping destination remains the quickest way to reduce your weekly grocery expenses.”
