Supermarket that promised to compete with Aldi is now the most expensive
Sainsbury's was only last month working out fourth cheapest behind Asda, Aldi and Lidl for a basket of eight key grocery essentials including bread and milk
Which supermarket comes out on top as the most cost-effective?
(Image: Getty images )
A supermarket that once promised to challenge Aldi on price has now become one of the priciest in recent weekly comparisons. Just earlier this month, Sainsbury's was the fourth cheapest for a basket of eight basic items, such as bread and milk, trailing behind Asda, Aldi, and Lidl.
Yet for the third week in a row, Sainsbury's has claimed the top spot as the most expensive, overtaking Tesco, which had held that position since mid-December
Despite recent price hikes across various supermarkets, this week sees only two changes - both reductions. Tesco and Sainsbury's have lowered the price of their chicken breasts to match those of Aldi and Lidl.
The Manchester Evening News previously reported on Sainsbury's CEO Simon Roberts' strategy to compete with Aldi, acknowledging his willingness to accept short-term profit losses to remain competitive for shoppers.
In 2023, the retailer ramped up its fight against the budget supermarket by increasing the number of items in its Aldi Price Match scheme, launching its Nectar Prices (similar to Tesco Clubcard), and consolidating all of its budget products under the single Stamford Street label - named after Sainsbury's former location in London's Blackfriars.
However, the total cost for the eight items - milk, bread, butter, beans, tea, coffee, mince, and chicken - is now £13.47 at Sainsbury's, compared to Tesco's £13.30. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
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For the second consecutive week, Lidl has maintained its position as the most cost-effective supermarket with a shopping bill totalling £13.02, closely followed by Aldi at £13.07, Asda at £13.09, and Morrisons at £13.23.
However, it's worth mentioning that some supermarkets have challenged the Manchester Evening News's price comparison. Aldi has asserted that our list fails to consider quality differences.
Specifically, they claim that their Diplomat Red Label tea bags and coffee are of 'higher quality' than the comparative products used in our assessment. Moreover, Aldi highlights that their cans of beans carry more weight than some alternatives.
An Aldi spokesperson further stated: "Our promise to customers is that they will make significant savings every time they shop with Aldi, which is why we've been named Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for four years running."
Regarding meat offerings, our price survey includes the least expensive option for mince at each retailer; at Aldi, Lidl, and Morrisons, this is a 25% fat content variant, while the other supermarkets offer a 20% fat product, generally perceived as being of higher quality.
Asda also took issue with the comparison, contending that our limited selection of goods does not reflect the broader context of pricing and neglects their promotional offers. The supermarket suggests that its Just Essentials range outcompetes others in terms of both size and price, standing shoulder to shoulder with Aldi's options.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury's has responded to a product review, stating: "This review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value our customers will find at Sainsbury's. We are committed to offering the best possible value across a wide variety of products, whether that's through our value Stamford Street range, Low Everyday Prices, Nectar Prices, or our current biggest ever Aldi Price Match offer."
Here is a selection of staple items and their prices from some of your favourite supermarkets:
Lidl's:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £1.99
Teabags 240 - £2.79 (equivalent to £1.86 for 160)
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 27p
Chicken 300g - £2.29
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.95
The total comes to £13.02
At Aldi, the prices are:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £1.99
Teabags 160 - £1.99
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 27p
Chicken 300g - £2.25
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.89
This totals £13.07
Asda:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £2.16
Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) - £1.80
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 410g tin - 28p
Chicken 300g - £2.28
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.89
The total here is £13.09
Morrisons' price list includes:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p
Milk 2 pints - £1.25
Coffee (2 x 100g) - £2.30
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) - £1.80
Savers Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 410g tin - 26p
Chicken 300g - £2.65 for 330g (which equates to £2.41 for 300g)
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.75
The total cost at Morrisons is £13.23
Tesco:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £2.30
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) - £1.80
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 28p
Chicken 300g - £2.40 for 320g, equates to £2.25 for 300g (down from £2.29 for 300g)
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.99
Total £13.30 (down from 13.34)
Sainsbury's:
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £2.30
Teabags 160 - £1.99
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 400g tin - 26p
Chicken 300g - £2.40 for 320g, equates to £2.25 for 300g (down from £2.29 for 300g)
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.99
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