Aldi has been named the UK's cheapest supermarket for July, narrowly beating discount rival Lidl, according to consumer group Which?.
Monthly Price Comparison
Which? conducts a monthly price comparison across eight major UK supermarket chains. July's basket of 93 items included a mix of own-brand and branded products, such as milk, cheese, and Hovis sliced bread.
Aldi's basket came to £158.05, while Lidl followed at £160.70. Asda was third at £185.81, remaining one of the cheapest options regardless of loyalty schemes.
Asda's Position and Market Challenges
The news offers some relief to Asda, which has been struggling with falling market share and intense competition. This comes amid reports that a potential merger between Asda and Sainsbury's could be revived, seven years after a £12 billion deal collapsed.
Price Differences Across Retailers
According to Which?, a big shop at Sainsbury's with Nectar loyalty discounts averaged £187.86, beating Tesco's Clubcard prices (£188.45) by just 59p. Morrisons and Tesco without a Clubcard tied at £195.63.
Waitrose remained the most expensive at £226.95, which is 44% more than Aldi for comparable items. Ocado was second dearest at £209.40, 32% pricier than Aldi.
Consumer Advice
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, said: "While inflation remains stable for now, many households will be worried about prices going up in the coming months."
She added: "The discounters are still the cheapest supermarkets, while Asda beats Sainsbury's and Tesco's loyalty scheme prices according to our analysis. When walking into one supermarket over another – or forgetting your loyalty card – can mean paying over 40% more for comparable everyday essentials, switching where you shop is still the fastest way to slash your weekly grocery bill."
