Lidl has once again been named the most budget-friendly supermarket by Which?, surpassing Aldi for the second time recently.
In October, a shopping basket containing 70 items at Lidl cost an average of £120.46, or £120.38 for members of its loyalty program, Lidl Plus. By comparison, the same items at Aldi came to an average of £121.
Despite Aldi being previously recognized as the cheapest supermarket 22 out of the last 24 months, the recent analysis by Which? highlighted Lidl’s affordability. The list of 70 items included various brands and own-label products like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.
For Tesco customers, the total cost for a similar basket would have been £134.89 in the previous month, or £133.38 with a Clubcard. Sainsbury’s shoppers would have paid £139.68, or £136.79 with a Nectar card.
Which? also compared prices for a more extensive list of 187 items, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their smaller product ranges compared to other supermarkets. Asda emerged as the cheapest for the larger basket, priced at £469.11. The same items at Tesco with a Clubcard would have cost £476.11, while at Morrisons with a More loyalty card, the total would have been £481.34.
Waitrose was noted as the priciest option for both smaller and larger baskets. The analysis considered special offer prices and loyalty discounts but not multi-buy promotions.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented on the findings, emphasizing Lidl’s cost-effectiveness and Asda’s competitive pricing for a wider selection of branded products. With concerns over rising food prices, especially leading up to Christmas, the analysis recommended comparing prices across supermarkets as a potential way to save up to 26%.