Tesco has been the most expensive supermarket for a basket of essential groceries for eight consecutive weeks, according to a weekly price comparison. The basket, which includes basics such as bread, butter, milk, coffee, tea bags, beans, chicken and beef mince, totalled £13.36 at Tesco this week.
The comparison monitors prices across the six main supermarkets and has been running since March 2022, when the cost of living crisis took hold. Lidl remains the cheapest this week with a total of £12.98, a position it has held for most of the period.
Price differences explained
The difference in price is mostly due to Tesco selling a 500g pack of beef mince for £3.25, while most other supermarkets charge £3.09. However, Tesco's mince is 20% fat, as opposed to 25%, but it does not sell a cheaper version. The comparison takes into account the cheapest products available, including budget ranges like Asda's Just Essentials, Morrisons' Savers, Tesco's Stockwell products and Sainsbury's Stamford Street range.
There has been only one slight price increase this week, with Lidl's beans up from 27p to 28p, a price that seems to fluctuate week by week.
Food inflation warnings
Shoppers are being warned that food inflation will increase into 2027 and beyond, as ongoing disruption in the Middle East and global climate shocks including El Nino push up the cost of food. The Institute of Grocery Distribution is predicting that food inflation will rise to 5.6% to 6.6% in 2027 and remain around 5.3% to 6.3% in 2028.
The biggest contribution to UK food inflation will likely be from fruit and vegetables due to their high sensitivity to weather patterns, the Institute says.
Retailers respond
Not all retailers agree with the findings of the comparison. Sainsbury's says the 'review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value' customers will find in store and says it is 'committed to offering customers great choice and value when they shop with us'.
Asda says that surveys consistently recognise Asda as the best-value full-range supermarket, with low prices available to all. Morrisons says it 'remains committed to providing good, honest value' and is 'working hard to keep prices down and competitive so customers can spend less while still enjoying the quality Morrisons is famous for'.
Aldi has always argued that the products are not like-for-like, saying its own Diplomat Red Label tea bags and its coffee are of 'higher quality' than the comparative products used and its tins of beans are heavier than some of the other retailers'. An Aldi spokesperson told the M.E.N: "Our customers know they can always count on us for great value across the board, without needing to join a club or show a loyalty card. That’s why Which? has named us Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for five years running."
