Aldi holds title as nation’s cheapest supermarket, Which? reveals, as Sainsbury's Nectar closes gap on Asda
Aldi remains Which? cheapest supermarket of the month, while Sainsbury's Nectar prices were only 34p more than Asda in August.
The consumer champion's list of 92 groceries was cheapest at Aldi in August (£159.36), while Lidl followed close behind (£161.10).
Asda held its spot in third place (£185.21), but Sainsbury’s Nectar prices finished right on its tail at £185.55 - boosted by 26 products on loyalty discounts to narrow the gap to just 34p.
Meanwhile, both Tesco Clubcard prices (£189.45) and its standard shelf price of £192.97 comfortably beat out Morrisons (£194.11).
Without a loyalty card, Sainsbury’s was the third most expensive supermarket this month at £195.33, with non-members paying £10 more than those using Nectar
At the top end of the scale, Waitrose was once again the most expensive supermarket at £223.75, coming in 40 per cent pricier than Aldi for a comparable shopping list of groceries. Ocado remained second dearest at £207.62, charging 30 per cent more than Aldi.
August’s list of 92 items included a mixture of own-brand and branded products - including milk, cheese and Hovis sliced bread.
| Supermarket | Average Price | Percentage Difference (vs. Aldi) |
| Aldi | £159.36 | 0.00% |
| Lidl | £161.10 | 1% |
| Asda | £185.21 | 16% |
| Sainsbury's (including Nectar) | £185.55 | 16% |
| Tesco (including Clubcard) | £189.45 | 19% |
| Tesco | £192.97 | 21% |
| Morrisons | £194.11 | 22% |
| Sainsbury's | £195.33 | 23% |
| Ocado | £207.62 | 30% |
| Waitrose | £223.75 | 40% |
This latest pricing analysis from Which? demonstrates that shoppers can make considerable savings on their groceries depending on where they buy their food.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, said:
“With the prospect of high energy prices and the weather getting cooler, many households will be looking to save on their weekly shop and our research shows that the discounters remain the cheapest option for everyday essentials.
“While Asda continues to beat loyalty prices at Tesco and Sainsbury's, loyalty cards can make a huge impact at the till. Sainsbury’s came within 34p of Asda for Nectar members, but dropped to third most expensive for non-members.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Research
Each month Which? compares how much supermarkets charge for a selection of groceries. This month it compared 92 items that were available across all eight supermarkets. The data is based on availability across supermarkets each month. This list is made up of some of the UK’s most popular groceries, based on industry data on sales value and availability. Which? includes special offers and loyalty discounts where they apply but not multibuys.
Because the main list of groceries remains unchanged from month to month, Which? never shares the full list of products with retailers as it wants to avoid any attempt to skew the results. Which? wants retailers to work to make groceries affordable across the depth and breadth of their available lines.
For the shop, 92 items were analysed, which included a mixture of own-brand and branded products.
There were 26 products on loyalty discount at Sainsbury's and 19 at Tesco. There were no loyalty discounts at Morrisons or Lidl in the products Which? analysed.
Average price
Which? checks the prices of hundreds of grocery items at eight major supermarkets throughout the year, using an independent price comparison website. For each supermarket, Which? works out the average price of each item across the month, then adds those up to get each store’s average price.
The consumer champion’s shopping list comprises the country’s most popular and widely available groceries, based on extensive market analysis. It includes branded items as well as own-brand products such as potatoes and baked beans.
Own-brand items won’t be identical across supermarkets, but Which? has ensured everything compared is as similar as possible based on a number of factors, including quality and weight.
Loyalty pricing
Which? looked at loyalty pricing for Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Waitrose, but none of the items on the consumer champion's shopping list had a loyalty price at Lidl or Morrisons this month.
Asda's Rewards scheme offers cashback on products with loyalty promotions. Which? hasn’t factored this into its main analysis because loyalty members don't receive a discount on the day and the cashback is only redeemable at Asda, within a limited period (up to nine months) and in increments of £1.
As there are restrictions on who can access loyalty prices, Which? will only award a cheapest supermarket endorsement to the retailer with the lowest prices that are available to all consumers.
Useful links:
How to spend less at the supermarket
About Which?
Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, empowering people to make confident choices and demand better. Through our research, investigations and product testing, we provide trusted insight and expert recommendations on the issues that matter most to consumers.
Fiercely independent, we put people over profit - shining a light on unfair practices, influencing policy and holding businesses to account to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone.
The information in this press release is for editorial use by journalists and media outlets only. Any business seeking to reproduce information in this release should contact the Which? Endorsement Scheme team at endorsementscheme@which.co.uk.