Aldi has once again secured the title of the UK’s most affordable supermarket, narrowly surpassing its discount competitor, Lidl.
Which?, a consumer group, conducts a monthly comparison of grocery prices among eight major UK supermarket chains. Their latest analysis for July encompassed a selection of 93 items, ranging from own-brand to branded products like milk, cheese, and Hovis sliced bread.
In the recent assessment, Aldi emerged as the most budget-friendly option at £158.05, with Lidl closely trailing at £160.70. Asda claimed the third spot in the rankings with a total of £185.81, solidifying its position as one of the most cost-effective supermarkets even without loyalty schemes.
This news brings relief to Asda amidst challenges of declining market share and intense competition. Speculation has arisen about a potential revival of the £12 billion merger between Asda and Sainsbury’s, which fell through seven years ago.
According to Which?, Sainsbury’s offered an average shopping bill of £187.86 for Nectar loyalty scheme users, edging out Tesco’s Clubcard prices by a mere 59p at £188.45. Morrisons and Tesco without a Clubcard shared the middle ground with a total cost of £195.63 for the listed items in July.
Waitrose retained its position as the most expensive supermarket at £226.95, marking a 44% premium compared to Aldi for equivalent products. Ocado followed as the second priciest at £209.40, reflecting a 32% price difference from Aldi.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, noted, “Although inflation is currently stable, many households may be concerned about potential price increases in the coming months.” She highlighted that discount retailers continue to offer the most competitive prices, with Asda outperforming Sainsbury’s and Tesco in terms of affordability.
Sewraz emphasized the significant savings that can be achieved by choosing where to shop wisely, as the price disparity between supermarkets can exceed 40% for everyday essentials.