The cheapest UK supermarket has changed again this week, with Lidl taking the top spot at £12.97 after Tesco, Lidl and Asda all cut the price of unsalted butter by 13p from £1.99 to £1.85. Aldi is just 2p more expensive at £12.99.
Butter price cuts change the running order
Asda brought its butter down by 14p but increased the cost of a tin of beans by 2p from 28p to 30p, giving a total reduction of 12p this week. These changes mean Aldi has been knocked off the top spot by Lidl, with the two discount supermarkets swapping places in the running order.
Morrisons remains in third place with no price changes from last week's £13.19.
Full weekly supermarket comparison
Asda and Sainsbury's have swapped places due to the former's 14p butter reduction. Asda is in fourth place at £13.21, down from £13.33 last week, while Sainsbury's is fifth at last week's price of £13.23.
Tesco remains the most expensive supermarket at £13.36, down 14p from £13.50 last week, despite dropping the price of its salted butter.
Retailers respond to the findings
Not all retailers agree with the comparison findings, which take into account the cheapest products available, including budget ranges like Asda's Just Essentials and Tesco's Stockwell products.
Sainsbury's says the 'review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value' customers will find in store and says it's 'committed to offering customers great choice and value when they shop with us'.
A spokesperson for Asda said: "Asda is delivering unbeatable value on the products families buy most, from everyday essentials to the big brands they know and love."
"With thousands of products already cheaper than Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, including their loyalty card prices, independent surveys consistently recognise Asda as the best-value full-range supermarket, with low prices available to all."
Morrisons previously 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 aren't 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 of the 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 list of prices
Lidl landed as the cheapest supermarket this week with a loaf of 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 (down 14p from £1.99), beans 420g tin at 27p, chicken 300g at £2.29 and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.09. Total: £12.97, down 14p from £13.11.
Aldi's basket includes a loaf of 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 £3.09. Total: £12.99.
Morrisons' prices are a loaf of 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 at 27p, chicken 300g at £2.52 for 330g (equating to £2.29 for 300g) and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.09. Total: £13.19.
Asda's basket has a loaf of 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 (down 14p from £1.99), beans 410g tin at 30p (up 2p from 28p), chicken 300g at £2.44 for 320g (equating to £2.29 for 300g) and mince 500g 20% fat at £3.12. Total: £13.21, down 12p from £13.33.
Sainsbury's prices include a loaf of 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 £2.44 for 320g (equating to £2.29 for 300g) and mince 500g 25% fat at £3.09. Total: £13.23.
Tesco's basket has a loaf of 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 (down 14p from £1.99), beans 420g tin at 28p, chicken 300g at £2.44 for 320g (equating to £2.29 for 300g) and mince 500g 20% fat at £3.25. Total: £13.36, down 14p from £13.50.
