Aldi has been identified as the most cost-effective supermarket for shoppers compared to rivals Lidl, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, as per research by consumer watchdog Which? for the month of August. The analysis encompassed comparing prices of a standard grocery shop comprising popular items at eight major UK supermarkets.
Aldi emerged as the cheapest supermarket for a typical shopping list consisting of 62 items, with groceries averaging £110.58 throughout the month. Lidl, a close competitor, followed closely behind, costing £1.30 more than Aldi at £111.88 with Lidl Plus and £112.17 without. In contrast, Waitrose presented as the priciest option in August, totalling £140.89, which was significantly higher than Aldi by £30.31, marking a 27% variance.
The list of 62 items comprised a mix of branded and own-brand products such as Heinz baked beans, Hovis bread, milk, and butter. The analysis incorporated special offer prices and loyalty program prices where applicable, excluding bulk-buy deals. Tesco shoppers with Clubcards would have paid an average of £123.13, while the cost rose slightly to £123.62 without the loyalty scheme. Sainsbury’s Nectar cardholders spent £123.75 on the items, in comparison to £129.63 for non-cardholders.
Furthermore, while Morrisons and Waitrose also offer two-tier pricing systems, their schemes are currently on a smaller scale. For the month in review, none of the items on Which?’s list were available at reduced rates to all members of these schemes. The research underscores the substantial savings consumers can achieve on their groceries based on their choice of supermarket.
Ele Clark, Senior Editor at Which? for Money and Shopping, stated, “Our latest analysis reaffirms Aldi as the UK’s most affordable supermarket. With household budgets feeling the strain of escalating food prices, it is unsurprising that many individuals are turning to discount retailers to reduce expenses. By switching supermarkets, shoppers could save 22%, emphasising the benefits of exploring different stores.”
The full breakdown for August’s average prices for 62 items is as follows: Aldi £110.58, Lidl (with Lidl Plus) £111.88, Lidl (without Lidl Plus) £112.17, Asda £121.85, Tesco (with Clubcard) £123.13, Tesco (without Clubcard) £123.62, Sainsbury’s (with Nectar) £123.75, Sainsbury’s (without Nectar) £129.63, Morrisons £129.79, Ocado £133.99, Waitrose £140.89. While Lidl, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s had loyalty pricing relevant to items on the shopping list this month, Asda’s loyalty system does not feature two-tier pricing. Which? will only recognise a supermarket as the cheapest option if it extends the lowest prices to all customers without restrictions.