In a significant shift in the fiercely competitive UK grocery market, Tesco has dethroned Asda to be named the cheapest supermarket for a major shopping basket, according to the latest monthly analysis from consumer champion Which?.
Tesco Takes the Lead with Clubcard Savings
The January 2026 report revealed that Tesco secured the top spot for the first time since December 2024. The analysis found that customers equipped with a Tesco Clubcard could purchase a comprehensive list of 228 popular grocery items for a total of £588.96. This figure undercut Asda's equivalent basket by a narrow margin of £1.45, allowing Tesco to claim the title of most affordable for a large shop.
A Crucial Caveat on Accessibility
However, the victory comes with a substantial asterisk. While Asda's lower prices are universally available to all shoppers, Tesco's headline-grabbing cost is contingent upon participation in its Clubcard loyalty scheme. For shoppers without a Clubcard, the identical big shop at Tesco would cost a significantly higher £641.09 – an extra £52.13.
This eligibility requirement means certain groups, notably under-18s who cannot sign up for the scheme, are automatically excluded from these savings, a point strongly emphasised by Which? in its findings.
Discounters and Premium Retailers in the Mix
The monthly study, which compares average prices across eight major UK supermarkets, traditionally excludes Aldi and Lidl from the 'big shop' comparison due to their more limited product ranges. For a smaller, curated basket of 89 items including staples like Hovis bread, Birds Eye peas, milk, and butter, the landscape looks different.
Aldi once again emerged as the outright cheapest for this smaller shop, with Lidl trailing closely behind. A Lidl Plus loyalty card holder would pay an average of £166.33, just £1.79 more than Aldi. Waitrose consistently ranked as the most expensive option. For the big shop, a Waitrose basket averaged £679.20 – a substantial £90.24 (or 15%) more than the Clubcard price at Tesco. For the smaller shop, Waitrose was 34% more expensive than Aldi.
How Other Supermarkets Compared
The report also detailed costs for other major chains for the smaller basket:
- Tesco: Clubcard members paid £182.92 on average, rising to £186.92 without the card.
- Sainsbury's: Nectar card holders faced an average cost of £189.24, while non-members paid £194.58.
The analysis incorporated special offer and loyalty prices where applicable but did not include multibuy promotions.
Industry and Consumer Response
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented on the nuanced picture painted by the data. "While Aldi is the cheapest supermarket this month, the ongoing price competition among the discounters means Lidl also remains a strong money-saving choice for many shoppers," she said.
"For those who prefer a wider range of branded products, shopping at Tesco with a Clubcard can offer good value. However, it's worth noting that Tesco's loyalty-linked discounts aren't accessible to everyone. Tesco must do more to ensure under-18s and other groups who may not be eligible for the Clubcard don't miss out on those savings."
This latest analysis underscores the evolving dynamics of supermarket pricing, where loyalty schemes are becoming an increasingly pivotal – and sometimes exclusionary – factor in determining real-world value for consumers across the United Kingdom.
