Aldi has been officially named the cheapest supermarket in Britain for November, reclaiming the top spot from its rival discounter Lidl. The latest monthly price analysis from consumer champion Which? found that a typical basket of goods cost less at Aldi than at any other major retailer.
The Battle of the Discount Supermarkets
In a closely fought contest, Aldi's shopping list of 70 popular items averaged £121.22 across the month. This selection included a mix of branded products, like Birds Eye peas and Hovis bread, alongside own-label staples such as milk, butter, and cheese. Lidl, which held the title in October, was a close second. For members of its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme, the same basket cost £122.35 on average, or £122.40 for non-members, making it just £1.13 more expensive than Aldi.
The Which? research incorporates special offer prices and loyalty card discounts where applicable, but does not include multibuy promotions. This provides a clear snapshot of what shoppers typically pay for their weekly groceries.
How the Big Four Supermarkets Compare
For a more comprehensive shop, Which? also tracks a larger basket of 183 items. As Aldi and Lidl's ranges are smaller, they are excluded from this comparison. In their absence, Asda emerged as the most affordable option, with the larger shop costing an average of £455.52.
Tesco, using Clubcard prices, came in second at £465.23, nearly £10 more than Asda. Sainsbury's, with Nectar prices, followed at £471.84, and Morrisons at £476.96. At the other end of the scale, Waitrose was the most expensive for both basket sizes. Its larger shop averaged £522.91, while its smaller 70-item basket came to £166.79.
The price gap highlights the potential savings from shopping around. For the smaller basket, the difference between cheapest Aldi and most expensive Waitrose was a staggering over £45.
Loyalty Card Price Impact
The analysis underscores the growing importance of supermarket loyalty schemes. At Tesco, Clubcard holders would have paid £133.65 for the 70-item basket, compared to £136.20 without the card. Similarly, Sainsbury's shoppers using a Nectar card paid an average of £137.77, while non-members faced a bill of £141.62.
Here is a summary of the average costs for the 70-item basket in November:
- Aldi: £121.22
- Lidl (with loyalty discount): £122.35
- Lidl (without discount): £122.40
- Asda: £133.59
- Tesco (with Clubcard): £133.65
- Tesco (without Clubcard): £136.20
- Morrisons: £137.40
- Sainsbury's (with Nectar): £137.77
- Sainsbury's (without Nectar): £141.62
- Ocado: £154.37
- Waitrose: £166.79
Shopping Smart Ahead of Christmas
With the festive season approaching, the findings offer crucial guidance for households looking to manage their food budgets. Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented: 'While Aldi is the cheapest supermarket this month, the discounters battling it out each month means shopping at Lidl is also a great money-saving option... The longer list of groceries shows that Asda continues to be one of the UK's cheapest supermarkets and a good option for those who want to choose from a larger range of branded goods.'
She added a key piece of advice for consumers: 'With Christmas just a few weeks away, food prices will be a concern for many households, but our analysis shows it pays to shop around; simply choosing one supermarket over another could save you 27 per cent.' This significant potential saving highlights the value of comparing prices, especially during a time of year when grocery spending peaks.
