British shoppers are facing a stark reality: the cost of a weekly grocery shop has soared by up to 30% since 2022, with many families reporting bills that have jumped by £50 to £70 or more. Readers who shared their experiences with The Guardian describe a struggle to keep spending under control, with some now paying £220 a week for a family of four, up from £135 before 2020.
Nikki, a mother of two from Aberdeenshire, says her family's food costs are exacerbated by the need for gluten-free products due to her children's coeliac disease. 'Free from' items have become even more expensive, and budget own-brand alternatives often contain wheat, making them unsuitable. She now spends over £220 weekly, a figure she calls 'fast becoming unaffordable.'
Another reader, Chris from Manchester, a stay-at-home father of five, reports his weekly shop has risen from £90 to £120, yet still doesn't cover all needs. He has switched to own-brand items but finds certain products like cat food and toiletries unavoidable at high prices. 'A bag of dry cat food can cost upwards of £6-£7,' he notes.
Stacey, a teaching assistant from Norfolk, struggles to keep her family of four's weekly shop below £100, a £40 increase since lockdown. She has swapped minced beef for pork to save money and avoids branded goods. 'I don't buy branded anything if I can help it,' she says.
The Food Foundation charity reports that one in seven UK households with children struggle to afford food, with many cutting back on fruit and vegetables. While food inflation eased to 4.5% in September, prices remain 30% higher than in 2022, according to the charity's policy manager Shona Goudie. Shoppers are increasingly turning to own-brand products and dropping expensive ready meals, chocolate, and wine from their lists.
