A supermarket has been found to be selling a key grocery essential for 18% more than other retailers in a price comparison of basic items. We have been tracking the prices of the same eight items at the six main supermarkets since March 2022, including Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
For the past six consecutive weeks, Asda has emerged as the most expensive of them all, solidifying that position last week with a 13% price increase of its chicken breasts and an overall bill of £12.78. It maintains that position this week, with the price still £2.65 for the 300g pack, which is 18% more than almost every other supermarket is charging.
At Aldi, Lidl and Tesco the price is £2.25, while Sainsbury’s 320g pack works out the same per gram. Morrisons is more expensive, costing £2.65 for 330g, which equates to £2.41 for the 300g, but it’s still 24p less than Asda.
Aldi remains the cheapest this week, with a bill of £12.02 for the basket, which, as well as the chicken, includes bread, milk, butter, tea bags, coffee, beans and mince. Morrisons is the second cheapest at £12.11, followed by Sainsbury’s – which has reduced the price of its coffee by a penny – at £12.40 and Tesco at £12.43.
Despite being the cheapest, Aldi has, for some time, disputed the findings of our comparison, arguing that it doesn’t take into account like-for-like products or ‘the higher quality’ of its products, reports the Manchester Evening News.
For instance, the supermarket claims that its beans are 20g heavier than Sainsbury’s and that Aldi tea bags are ‘better quality than the comparative products used’. Asda also disputes our comparison, arguing that our small sample of products does not provide a comprehensive picture of prices and fails to account for its deals.
The supermarket asserts that, overall, its Just Essentials range is the largest and cheapest available, alongside Aldi’s. An Aldi spokesperson stated: “Our promise to customers is that they will make significant savings every time they shop with Aldi, which is why we’ve been named Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for three years running. Which? has also named Aldi the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket every month this year, even in its latest analysis including loyalty prices.”
The full list is as follows:
Aldi
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee 200g – £1.79
Teabags 160 – £1.85
Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 420g tin – 28p
Chicken 300g – £2.25
Mince 500g 25% fat – £2.29
Total £12.02
Morrisons
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee (2 x 100g) – £1.98
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) – £1.60
Savers Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 410g tin – 27p
Chicken 300g – £2.65 for 330g, equates to £2.41 for 300g
Mince 500g 25% fat – £2.29
Total £12.11
Lidl
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee 200g – £1.99
Teabags 240 – £2.79 / equates to £1.86 for 160
Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 420g tin – 28p
Chicken 300g – £2.25
Mince 500g 25% fat – £2.29
Total £12.23
Sainsbury’s
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee 200g – £1.98 (down from £1.99)
Teabags 160 – £1.85
Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 400g tin – 27p
Chicken 300g – £2.40 for 320g / equates to £2.25 for 300g
Mince 500g 20% fat – £2.49
Total £12.40 (down from £12.41)
Tesco
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) – £2
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) – £1.84
Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 420g tin – 29p
Chicken 300g – £2.25
Mince 500g 20% fat – £2.49
Total £12.43
Asda
Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
Milk 2 pints – £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) – £2
Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) – £1.80
Salted butter 250g – £1.89
Beans 410g tin – 28p
Chicken 300g – £2.65
Mince 500g 20% fat – £2.49
Total £12.78