Aldi has once again secured the title of the most budget-friendly supermarket this month, as per the recent price analysis by Which?. In February, Which? compared prices of 89 items and discovered that the average cost at Aldi was £161.56. Lidl followed closely behind, with a slight difference of just £1.19, as their list totaled £162.75. Asda claimed the third spot at £181.06, while Tesco with a Clubcard ranked fourth with £181.58.
The list of 89 items comprised both branded and own-brand products like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter. Waitrose emerged as the priciest supermarket this month for a smaller item list, averaging £217.02, a significant £55.46 more expensive than Aldi.
Additionally, Which? compared prices for a larger list of 225 items, where Tesco stood out as the most cost-effective option for Clubcard members. The extensive shopping at Tesco totaled £580.35 for Clubcard holders, making it £3.97 cheaper than Asda. Without a Clubcard, the bill at Tesco rose to £629.25, a difference of £48.90. Aldi and Lidl were not part of this comparison due to their narrower product range compared to other supermarkets.
Waitrose retained its position as the most expensive option overall, with the larger shopping list amounting to £650.11, marking a £69.76 difference from Tesco with a Clubcard. The analysis by Which? factored in special offer prices and loyalty discounts where applicable, excluding multi-buy deals.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented on the findings, stating that while Aldi secured the top spot, the competition between discounters like Lidl continued to offer significant savings for budget-conscious shoppers. She highlighted Tesco’s Clubcard benefits for branded items and expressed hope for wider accessibility to these savings in the future. Sewraz emphasized that strategic shopping choices could lead to substantial savings amidst financial pressures, potentially saving consumers hundreds of pounds annually.