Aldi has once again claimed the title of the most affordable supermarket in Britain, narrowly surpassing its discount competitor Lidl.
Which?, a consumer group, conducts a monthly comparison of grocery prices across eight major UK supermarket chains. The July assessment comprised 93 items, ranging from own-brand to branded products like milk, cheese, and Hovis sliced bread.
In the latest evaluation, Aldi emerged as the cheapest option at £158.05, closely followed by Lidl at £160.70. Asda secured the third spot in Which?’s rankings at £185.81, maintaining its position as one of the most budget-friendly supermarkets irrespective of loyalty programs.
The positive news brings relief to Asda, which is grappling with declining market share and intense competition. Speculation has surfaced about a potential revival of the proposed £12 billion merger between Asda and Sainsbury’s, which fell through seven years ago.
According to Which?, a substantial shopping trip at Sainsbury’s, with Nectar loyalty scheme discounts, averaged £187.86, edging out Tesco’s Clubcard prices by a mere 59p at £188.45. Morrisons and Tesco, without a Clubcard, tied in the middle of the list in July, both totaling £195.63.
Waitrose retained its position as the priciest supermarket at £226.95, commanding a 44% premium over Aldi for comparable items. Ocado followed as the second most expensive at £209.40, 32% higher than Aldi.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented, “While inflation remains steady currently, many households may be concerned about potential price hikes in the near future.
“The discount retailers continue to offer the best value, with Asda outperforming Sainsbury’s and Tesco in terms of prices through our analysis.
“Choosing one supermarket over another, or forgetting your loyalty card, could mean paying over 40% more for everyday essentials. Switching where you shop remains the quickest way to reduce your weekly grocery expenses.”