Aldi has reclaimed its position as the most economical supermarket in the UK, according to recent research by consumer group Which?. The study compared the prices of a basket of 70 items at various supermarkets. The average cost of the items at Aldi last month was £121.22, edging out Lidl by £1.13. Tesco, although pricier, offered savings to Clubcard members. On the other end of the spectrum, Waitrose emerged as the most expensive option, with an average cost of £166.79 for the same items.
The comparison, conducted monthly by Which?, includes a mix of own-brand and branded products like Birds Eye peas and Hovis bread. While Aldi and Lidl were not part of a larger list of 183 groceries due to their limited range of branded items, Asda stood out as the cheapest for the extended shopping list, costing £455.52 on average in the previous month.
Notably, Asda’s prices were £9.71 lower than Tesco’s for the same items when factoring in Clubcard discounts. Conversely, Waitrose was the priciest for the larger shopping list, costing £522.91 on average. Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, emphasized the importance of shopping around for the best deals, especially with the holiday season approaching.
The analysis revealed significant savings potential by choosing the right supermarket. Aldi topped the list for affordability, closely followed by Lidl, while Asda remained a cost-effective choice for a wider range of branded products. With food prices becoming a concern for many households as Christmas nears, making informed choices while shopping could result in substantial savings.