Aldi has once again been recognized as the most budget-friendly supermarket in the UK, as per the latest price evaluation by Which?. In September, the total cost for a selection of 71 items at Aldi averaged at £122.77, making it £1.18 cheaper than Lidl, where the same items cost around £123.95 on average.
Which? conducts monthly assessments comparing the average prices of common grocery items at the eight largest supermarket chains. The analysis considers promotional prices and loyalty discounts, excluding bulk purchase deals. In the recent evaluation, none of the 71 items were more cost-effective for Lidl Plus customers. The shopping list encompassed both branded and own-label products like Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.
Tesco secured the third spot, with Clubcard members spending an average of £135.64, while non-members paid £138.66 for the same items. Sainsbury’s Nectar cardholders spent £138.74 on average, while those without a Nectar card paid £142.70 at Sainsbury’s.
The comparison also includes a longer list of 186 items, excluding Aldi and Lidl due to their limited product range. Asda emerged as the most cost-effective option in September, with an average bill of £465.66, surpassing Tesco Clubcard prices, where a similar basket cost £472.45.
On the other end of the spectrum, Waitrose stood out as the priciest option, with average costs of £161.19 for a smaller shopping list and £531.39 for a larger one.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, highlighted Aldi’s consistent affordability and Asda’s competitiveness across a broader range of products. With increasing food prices and colder weather, households are advised to explore cost-saving options, potentially saving up to 36% by switching to more economical supermarkets.