Lidl has once again secured its position as the most budget-friendly supermarket, outperforming Aldi for the second time in recent evaluations conducted by Which?. In October, a compilation of 70 essential items at Lidl averaged £120.46, dropping to £120.38 for members enrolled in the Lidl Plus loyalty scheme. In comparison, an identical basket at Aldi tallied an average of £121.
Over the past 24 months, Aldi claimed the title of the most cost-effective supermarket 22 times, as per Which? assessments. The assortment of 70 products encompassed both branded and own-label items like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.
For Tesco customers, the same shopping list would have amounted to £134.89 in the previous month, or £133.38 with a Clubcard. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s shoppers faced a bill of £139.68, reduced to £136.79 with a Nectar card.
In a broader comparison encompassing 187 items, Which? excluded Aldi and Lidl due to their more limited product offerings compared to other supermarket chains. Asda retained its status as the most economical choice for a larger shopping excursion, costing £469.11. The same basket would have totaled £476.11 for Tesco Clubcard holders and £481.34 at Morrisons with a More loyalty card.
Waitrose emerged as the priciest option for both smaller and larger shopping lists in October. Which?’s analysis factored in special promotion prices and loyalty discounts where applicable, excluding multi-buy offers.
Reena Sewraz, Which?’s Retail Editor, remarked on the findings, highlighting Lidl’s success in securing the top spot as the UK’s most affordable supermarket. She also emphasized Asda’s continued appeal as a budget-friendly option offering a broader range of branded products.
As concerns over rising food prices persist, particularly with the holiday season approaching, Which?’s analysis underscores the benefits of comparing prices among supermarkets. Simply opting for one retailer over another could result in savings of up to 26%.
