Aldi has reclaimed its title as the most budget-friendly supermarket in the UK. Recent research conducted by consumer watchdog Which? revealed that a basket of 70 essential items at Aldi averaged £121.22 last month, edging out Lidl, which held the top spot in October with an average cost of £122.35 for the same items, or £1.13 more for members of its Lidl Plus loyalty program. On the other hand, Tesco’s prices were slightly higher, but Clubcard holders managed to save an average of £2.55, with a total cost of £133.65 compared to £136.20.
In contrast, Waitrose emerged as the priciest option, with an average cost of £166.79 for the same basket of goods. Opting to shop exclusively at Aldi or Waitrose could result in savings exceeding £45.
Which? conducts this comparison monthly across eight supermarket chains, analyzing the prices of a selection of groceries that include both own-label products and popular brands like Birds Eye and Hovis, as well as staples like milk and butter.
In a broader comparison of 183 items that excludes Aldi and Lidl due to their limited range of branded products, Asda emerged as the most cost-effective option, with an average total of £455.52 last month. Asda’s commitment to reducing prices to regain market share against competitors, including discount retailers, has been evident.
For the larger shopping list, Asda’s total bill was £9.71 lower than if shoppers had opted for Tesco and used their Clubcard. Conversely, Waitrose ranked as the most expensive for the extensive list, costing £67.39 more than Asda. The analysis also showed Waitrose as the costliest supermarket for the smaller list of items, with an average of £166.79, representing a 38% premium over Aldi, equating to a £45.57 difference.
Reena Sewraz, the retail editor at Which?, highlighted that while Aldi clinched the top spot for affordability this month, Lidl remains a competitive option for budget-conscious shoppers. As the holiday season approaches, with Christmas just around the corner, the analysis underscores the importance of comparing prices across supermarkets to potentially save up to 27%.
The price breakdown for the 70 items comparison is as follows: Aldi (£121.22), Lidl (with loyalty discount – £122.35), Lidl (£122.40), Asda (£133.59), Tesco (with loyalty discount – £133.65), Tesco (£136.20), Morrisons (£137.40), Sainsbury’s (with loyalty discount – £137.77), Sainsbury’s (£141.62), Ocado (£154.37), and Waitrose (£166.79). For the 183 items comparison: Asda (£455.52), Tesco (with loyalty discount – £465.23), Sainsbury’s (with loyalty discount – £471.84), Morrisons (with loyalty discount – £476.96), Morrisons (£478.96), Tesco (£497.01), Ocado (£501.03), Sainsbury’s (£507.24), and Waitrose (£522.91).