Aldi named cheapest supermarket in the UK - how much does your shopping cost?

Aldi, Tesco and Asda stores

The supermarket price wars are heating up as Aldi looks to be the most affordable option for consumers

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Patrick O'Donnell

By Patrick O'Donnell


Published: 15/04/2024

- 16:54

Britons have been forced to contend with inflation-hiked prices at supermarkets but Aldi appears to be offering consumers a cheaper deal than most

Aldi has been named the cheapest supermarket in the UK for March, based on analysis conducted by consumer champion Which?

The watchdog compared the average prices of a shop consisting of popular groceries at eight of the UK’s biggest supermarkets, including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Waitrose and Ocado.


During the cost of living crisis, supermarket chains have come under fire for reportedly using loyalty schemes to mask above-inflation price hikes.

The list of 71 shopping items compared included a number of both branded and own-brand items, from Dolmio pasta sauce to Hovis bread.

Which?'s analysis examined special offer prices promoted by the various supermarkets in its research.

However, this did not include multi-buys or two-tier loyalty prices, which are only available to loyalty scheme members.

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Aldi Shop&Go

Aldi has topped the list of cheapest supermarkets in Which?'s latest survey

ALDI

Here is a breakdown of how each retailer ranked in terms of the average supermarket shopping price, according to research conducted by Which?:

  • Aldi - £121.06
  • Lidl - £122.95
  • Asda - £138.31
  • Tesco - £139.23
  • Sainsbury's - £143.48
  • Morrisons - £145.19
  • Ocado - £148.19
  • Waitrose - £158.52.

Ele Clark, Which?'s retail editor, outlined why the German-owned retailer has become a staple of Britons' shopping baskets.

She explained: “Our latest monthly analysis has once again seen Aldi maintain its position as the UK’s cheapest supermarket.

“Given the ongoing strain food prices are putting on household budgets, it comes as no surprise that many people are shopping with the discounters to save money.

"This is particularly understandable given consumers could save almost £40 simply by switching supermarket.”

Out of a shopping list of 71 items, Aldi came out on top of the UK's supermarkets for the cheapest deal with groceries costing £121.06 on average last month.

Coming up close behind was Lidl, another discount supermarket, with the average supermarket shop only costing customers £1.89 more.

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Lidl

Lidl was found to be the second cheapest retailer

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In comparison, Which? named Waitrose as the country's most expensive supermarket for March 2024.

The average supermarket shop, based on the list of 71 items, came to £158.52.

This is a difference of £37.46 compared to Aldi, representing a bill which costs 31 per cent more.

Despite inflation easing to under four per cent in recent months, consumers will likely still turn to discount retailers for the forseeable future until the cost of living crisis is over.

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