Aldi has once again secured the title of the most affordable supermarket in the UK, as per the latest price evaluation conducted by Which?. In September, the average cost of 71 essential items at Aldi totaled £122.77, outstripping its competitor Lidl by £1.18, where the same basket of goods averaged £123.95.
Which? regularly assesses the average expenses of a basket of popular groceries at the eight major supermarket chains, factoring in promotional and loyalty discounts but excluding bulk purchase deals. Notably, none of the 71 items examined in the recent analysis were cheaper for Lidl Plus members this month, encompassing both branded and own-label products like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.
Tesco claimed the third spot in the rankings, with Clubcard holders spending an average of £135.64, while non-Clubcard shoppers paid £138.66 for the same items at Tesco.
Sainsbury’s Nectar card users faced an average expenditure of £138.74 in September, with non-Nectar cardholders paying £142.70 for the identical items at Sainsbury’s. Additionally, Which? also evaluates a lengthier list of 186 items, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their more limited product range.
For the longer list of 186 items in September, Asda emerged as the most economical choice yet again, with a total bill of £465.66, surpassing Tesco with Clubcard prices at £472.45 for the same items. Conversely, Waitrose stood out as the priciest option, with the smaller shop averaging £161.19 and the larger one costing £531.39.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, emphasized Aldi’s consistent affordability, stating that it remains the UK’s top low-cost supermarket without employing dual pricing strategies. Sewraz further highlighted Asda’s supremacy in offering the best value for a broader range of groceries compared to other major retailers.
Given the rising food prices and approaching colder weather, many households are concerned about expenses. Shopping around can lead to significant savings, with a potential 36% cost reduction achievable by switching to a more budget-friendly supermarket.