Consumer watchdog Which? has named Aldi the UK's cheapest supermarket for July, with a full trolley of 93 popular grocery items costing £158.05. This is £30.40 less than the same shop at Tesco with Clubcard prices, which came to £188.45.
How the supermarkets ranked
Lidl was Aldi's closest rival, with a trolley costing £160.70, just £2.65 more. Asda came third at £185.81, which Which? said remains one of the cheapest in its analysis, regardless of loyalty-style pricing.
When it came to loyalty schemes, Sainsbury's Nectar prices were slightly lower than Tesco's Clubcard, at £187.86 versus £188.45, a difference of just 59p.
Warning for non-members
Which? warned there's a "sting in the tail (that) remains for non-members: without a loyalty card." Without Nectar pricing, Sainsbury's rose to £197.85, making it one of the most expensive options, while Tesco without Clubcard was £195.63.
At the top end, Waitrose was the priciest at £226.95, which Which? said is "a staggering 44 per cent more expensive than Aldi for comparable items". Ocado was the second most expensive, 32 percent pricier than Aldi.
Expert comment
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. The discounters are still the cheapest supermarkets, while Asda beats Sainsbury's and Tesco's loyalty scheme prices according to our analysis."
She added: "When walking into one supermarket over another – or forgetting your loyalty card – can mean paying over 40 percent more for comparable everyday essentials, switching where you shop is still the fastest way to slash your weekly grocery bill."
Full Which? July price table
- Aldi — £158.05
- Lidl — £160.70
- Asda — £185.81
- Sainsbury's (with Nectar) — £187.86
- Tesco (with Clubcard) — £188.45
- Morrisons — £195.63
- Tesco (without Clubcard) — £195.63
- Sainsbury's (without Nectar) — £197.85
- Ocado — £209.40
- Waitrose — £226.95
Which? said its monthly comparison uses a consistent basket of widely bought groceries and calculates the average price of each item across the month, including special offers and loyalty discounts where they apply, but not multibuy deals. It does not publish the full list of products to prevent retailers from trying to influence the results.
Tesco has been contacted for comment.
