Asda has cut the price of basic groceries for a third consecutive week, leaving its basket of eight essentials at £13.03 — just pennies behind Lidl at £12.97 and Aldi at £12.99.
The weekly price comparison tracks the cost of the same eight items at the six main supermarkets: bread, milk, coffee, tea bags, butter, beans, chicken breasts and beef mince. This week Asda reduced its cheapest tin of beans to 28p, having previously dropped the price of mince and, the week before, cut its 320g pack of chicken breasts from £2.44 to £2.30 — the £2.16 pro rata price for 300g being the cheapest around, while most rivals charge £2.29.
How the supermarkets compare
Lidl remains the cheapest overall at £12.97, with Aldi at £12.99 and Asda in third place at £13.03. Morrisons follows at £13.17, Sainsbury's at £13.23, and Tesco is the dearest for an eleventh consecutive week at £13.36 — largely due to its mince costing £3.25, though that is 20% fat, better quality than the 25% or more fat sold elsewhere.
The comparison has tracked the cost of basics since March 2022, always taking into account the cheapest products available, including budget ranges like Asda's Just Essentials, Morrisons' Savers, Tesco's Stockwell products and Sainsbury's Stamford Street range. Two years ago, Asda was the most expensive of the six, a position it held consistently between the end of September 2024 and mid-December that year.
Retailers respond
Not all retailers agree with the findings. Sainsbury's said the 'review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value' customers will find in store and that it is 'committed to offering customers great choice and value when they shop with us'. Morrisons said it 'remains committed to providing good, honest value' and is 'working hard to keep prices down and competitive so customers can spend less while still enjoying the quality Morrisons is famous for'.
Aldi has always argued that the products are not like-for-like, saying its own Diplomat Red Label tea bags and its coffee are of 'higher quality' than the comparative products used and its tins of beans are heavier than some other retailers'. An Aldi spokesperson told the M.E.N: "Our customers know they can always count on us for great value across the board, without needing to join a club or show a loyalty card. That’s why Which? has named us Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for five years running."
Asda said surveys consistently recognise it as the best-value full-range supermarket, with low prices available to all. A spokesperson said: "Families can count on Asda for great value, with low prices on the brands they know and trust, many of which aren’t available in limited-range discounters, as well as thousands of everyday essentials that are cheaper than Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. Independent price comparisons continue to recognise Asda as the UK’s best-value full-range supermarket."
Full list of prices
Lidl — Loaf of white bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee 200g: £2.09; Tea bags 240 pack: £2.45 (equates to £1.63 for 160); Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans 420g tin: 27p (down from 28p); Chicken 300g: £2.29; Mince 500g 25% fat: £3.09. Total: £12.97 (down from £12.98).
Aldi — Loaf of bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee 200g: £2.09; Teabags 160: £1.65; Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans 420g tin: 27p; Chicken 300g: £2.29; Mince 500g 25% fat: £3.09. Total: £12.99.
Asda — Loaf of white bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee 200g (2 x 100g): £2.30; Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack): £1.60; Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans 410g tin: 28p (down from 30p); Chicken 300g: £2.30 for 320g (equates to £2.16 for 300g); Mince 500g 31% fat: £3.09. Total: £13.03 (down from £13.05).
Morrisons — Loaf of white bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee (2 x 100g): £2.30; Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers): £1.64; Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans: 26p; Chicken 300g: £2.51 for 330g (equates to £2.28 for 300g, down from £2.52/£2.29); Mince 500g 25% fat: £3.09. Total: £13.17 (down from £13.18).
Sainsbury's — Loaf of bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee 200g: £2.30; Teabags 160: £1.65; Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans 400g tin: 30p; Chicken 300g: £2.44 for 320g (equates to £2.29 for 300g); Mince 500g 25% fat: £3.09. Total: £13.23.
Tesco — Loaf of white bread 800g: 55p; Milk 2 pints: £1.20; Coffee 200g (2 x 100g): £2.30; Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack): £1.64; Salted butter 250g: £1.85; Beans 420g tin: 28p; Chicken 300g: £2.44 for 320g (equates to £2.29 for 300g); Mince 500g 20% fat: £3.25. Total: £13.36.
