Lidl has been named the cheapest supermarket for a basket of essentials for a tenth consecutive week, with a total bill of £13.06. The finding comes as the government launches its 'Be Ready' campaign, which urges households to stockpile nine essential items in case of emergencies such as power cuts, severe weather and service disruptions.
The weekly comparison tracks the price of basic essentials at six major supermarkets – Lidl, Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury's – 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.
Basket prices and bean deals
The basket includes bread, milk, coffee, tea bags, butter, beef mince, chicken breasts and baked beans. Lidl's bill rose from £12.97 to £13.06 this week after it increased the price of its beef mince. Aldi followed closely at £13.09, with Asda at £13.16, Morrisons at £13.17, Sainsbury's at £13.33 and Tesco at £13.36.
Lidl also offers the cheapest baked beans, with its 420g tin of Simply beans reduced to 26p this week. Aldi charges 27p for the same size tin, while Morrisons sells a slightly smaller 410g tin of Savers beans for 26p.
Retailers respond to comparison
Not all retailers agree with the comparison's findings. Sainsbury's said the 'review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value' customers will find in store, adding 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 argued that the products are not like-for-like, saying its Diplomat Red Label tea bags and 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."
Full price list
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."
Lidl's full basket prices: white bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee 200g at £2.09, tea bags 240 pack at £2.45 (equating to £1.63 for 160), salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 420g tin at 26p (down from 27p), chicken 300g at £2.29, and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.19 (up from £3.09), totalling £13.06.
Aldi's basket: bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee 200g at £2.09, teabags 160 at £1.65, salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 420g tin at 27p, chicken 300g at £2.29, and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.19, totalling £13.09.
Asda's basket: white bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee 200g (2 x 100g) at £2.30, teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) at £1.60, salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 410g tin at 28p, chicken 300g at £2.29 (for 320g at £2.44), and mince 500g 31% fat at £3.09, totalling £13.16.
Morrisons' basket: white bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee (2 x 100g) at £2.30, teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) at £1.64, salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 410g tin at 26p, chicken 300g at £2.28 (for 330g at £2.51), and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.09, totalling £13.17.
Sainsbury's basket: bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee 200g at £2.30, teabags 160 at £1.65, salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 400g tin at 30p, chicken 300g at £2.29 (for 320g at £2.44), and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.19, totalling £13.33.
Tesco's basket: white bread 800g at 55p, milk 2 pints at £1.20, coffee 200g (2 x 100g) at £2.30, teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) at £1.64, salted butter 250g at £1.85, beans 420g tin at 28p, chicken 300g at £2.29 (for 320g at £2.44), and mince 500g 20% fat at £3.25, totalling £13.36.
