In a timely pre-Christmas price check, Aldi has been crowned the UK's cheapest supermarket once again, knocking rival discounter Lidl off the top spot. The latest monthly analysis from consumer champion Which? reveals the significant savings available to households simply by choosing where to shop.
The Discount Duel: Aldi Pips Lidl to the Post
Which? tracked the cost of a typical basket of 70 groceries across eight major chains in November. The research found that the same selection of items, including own-label products and big brands like Hovis and Birds Eye, cost an average of £121.22 at Aldi. This was just enough to beat its German rival, Lidl, where the basket averaged £122.35 for Lidl Plus members—a difference of £1.13.
This marks a reversal from October's findings, where Lidl held the title. The intense competition between the two discount giants continues to benefit budget-conscious shoppers, with both offering substantially lower prices than traditional supermarkets.
The High-Street Price Gap: From Asda to Waitrose
The price disparity across the market is stark. While Aldi led the way, Tesco's basket came to £136.20, though Clubcard holders paid a reduced average of £133.65. At the other end of the spectrum, Waitrose was the most expensive, with the 70 items costing a hefty £166.79 on average.
This means a family doing their full shop at Aldi instead of Waitrose could save a striking £45.57—a saving of 27%. Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, emphasised the value of shopping around, especially with Christmas approaching and food prices a major concern for many.
The Big Shop: Asda Leads on Larger Baskets
For larger weekly shops involving more branded goods, Which? also compares a bigger list of 183 items. As Aldi and Lidl have a smaller range of branded lines, they are excluded from this particular comparison.
In this category, Asda was again the cheapest, with the trolley load costing £455.52 on average last month. This undercuts Tesco's Clubcard price by £9.71. Asda has been aggressively cutting prices in a bid to win back market share from the discounters.
Once more, Waitrose was the most expensive for the big shop, at £522.91—£67.39 more than Asda.
Summary of Which? Price Rankings (November):
Based on 70 items:
- Aldi - £121.22
- Lidl (with loyalty) - £122.35
- Asda - £133.59
- Tesco (with Clubcard) - £133.65
- Waitrose - £166.79
Based on 183 items (excluding Aldi/Lidl):
- Asda - £455.52
- Tesco (with Clubcard) - £465.23
- Sainsbury's (with loyalty) - £471.84
- Waitrose - £522.91
The monthly analysis provides a crucial snapshot for consumers navigating the cost-of-living crisis. With the festive season looming, the message from Which? is clear: loyalty to a single supermarket could be costing you dearly, and significant savings are possible by comparing prices and leveraging loyalty schemes.
