Aldi has regained its position as the most affordable supermarket in the UK, surpassing its competitors in terms of pricing. Recent research conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that a basket of 70 essential items at Aldi averaged £121.22 last month, edging out Lidl, the previous titleholder in October, by a mere £1.13. Tesco, on the other hand, proved to be pricier, but Clubcard members managed to save an average of £2.55, bringing the total cost down to £133.65 from £136.20.
In contrast, the upmarket chain Waitrose emerged as the most expensive option, with an average cost of £166.79 for the same set of items. Opting to shop exclusively at Aldi or Waitrose could result in savings exceeding £45 for a family.
Which? conducts a monthly comparison of pricing among eight different supermarket chains for a standard selection of groceries. This selection includes both own-brand products and popular branded items like Birds Eye peas and Hovis bread, along with staples such as milk and butter.
Additionally, Which? evaluates a broader list of 183 groceries, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their focus on a narrower range of branded products. Asda emerged as the most cost-effective choice for this larger shopping list, with an average cost of £455.52 last month, positioning itself as a strong contender in the market by pledging to lower prices and reclaim lost market share from competitors.
Asda’s prices were notably lower than Tesco, with shoppers saving £9.71 on the same items by utilizing their Clubcard benefits. Conversely, Waitrose stood out as the priciest option for the larger shopping list, amounting to £522.91, which was significantly higher than Asda’s pricing by £67.39.
Reena Sewraz, the retail editor at Which?, highlighted that while Aldi currently leads as the most budget-friendly supermarket, Lidl remains a competitive choice for savvy shoppers looking to save money. With the holiday season approaching, the analysis underscores the importance of comparing prices across supermarkets to potentially save up to 27% on groceries.