21 September 2023 , 23:01
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Staple foods including rice, spaghetti and baked beans are among supermarket own-brand items that can cost shoppers almost three times more if budget range versions aren't available.
Which? is calling on supermarkets to ensure more essential value range items are stocked in convenience stores, as often consumers primarily using these shops have no choice but to buy standard, much pricier own-brand products. If they're left with no choice but to buy a branded label, then them shoppers could end up paying up to 910% more.
For example, at Asda shoppers could be faced with having to pay 246% more at Asda where the budget range version, Just Essentials by Asda Long Grain Rice 1kg at 52p was not available, as the standard own-brand, Asda Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice 1kg was £1.80.
Which? found a similar scenario at Tesco where the budget version, Grower’s Harvest Long Grain Rice 1Kg, cost 52p. If this was not available, the standard own-brand item Tesco Easy Cook Long Grain Rice 1Kg was £1.25. That means customers would have to pay 140% more. At Tesco, Which? found Ben's Original Long Grain Rice 1Kg (£5.25) was 910% more than the budget range version.
At Sainsbury’s, Which? found the same price differences as at Tesco. Standard own-brand, Sainsbury's Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice 1kg was £1.25, while the budget range, Sainsbury's White Rice 1kg was 52p, a difference of 140%. Which? also found that Hubbard's Foodstore Spaghetti 1kg at Sainsbury’s was 56p while the standard own-brand alternative, Sainsbury's Quick Cook Spaghetti 500g was 75p for half the pack size, an increase of 168% when comparing the price per 100g.
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At Morrisons, budget Savers Baked Beans 410g were 27p, but standard own-brand Morrisons Baked Beans 410g were 48p - 78% more. While there are likely to be differences in quality and ingredients between the different ranges of products - budget items won’t be identical to the standard own-label items or their branded equivalents - the Which? findings show the price discrepancy between some supermarket budget range essential items and their own-brand offering.
Which? say while shoppers who buy their food online or in a big store should be able to choose which items best fits their needs and their budgets, those who rely on supermarket convenience stores are likely to have a more limited choice. Previous Which? research shows essential budget line items are hardly ever sold in these stores.
Some supermarkets have taken steps to help customers. Morrisons has started to stock 10 budget range items in 500 of its Daily stores and has said 30 more will follow. Tesco has vowed to swap branded goods with cheaper branded or own brand alternatives in Express stores but should go further by stocking its cheapest budget ranges. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s and Asda have so far failed to announce that they are making any significant changes in their convenience stores when it comes to stocking more affordable foods.
The Which? inflation tracker shows that the overall annual rate of grocery inflation slowed to 12.5% in August - the lowest figure recorded since September 2022 and considerably down on the highs of 17.2% found earlier this year. However this still means prices are rising at an alarming rate, with official figures from the Office for National Statistics showing food has overtaken household bills as the biggest contributor to overall inflation.
Which? research shows that alongside availability of the cheapest ranges in smaller stores, customers are also battling very high inflation on staple foods. Some supermarkets have taken steps to help customers. Morrisons has started to stock 10 budget range items in 500 of its Daily stores and has said 30 more will follow.
Tesco has vowed to swap branded goods with cheaper branded or own brand alternatives in Express stores but should go further by stocking its cheapest budget ranges. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s and Asda have so far failed to announce that they are making any significant changes in their convenience stores when it comes to stocking more affordable foods.
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy, said: “As millions struggle with increased food prices and other high household bills, it's staggering that shoppers face paying over three times more for items if they can’t get to a larger supermarket. Which? is calling on all major supermarkets to ensure expensive convenience stores are stocked with a range of essential budget ranges so that hard-pressed customers can afford important staple foods to feed themselves and their loved ones healthily.”
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “This is an unprecedented period of inflation and we are working hard to keep prices down and competitive for our customers while maintaining high standards and availability in all our stores."
Sainsbury's commented: “We are acutely aware of the pressures facing millions of households right now and our number one priority continues to be doing all we can to keep prices low for our customers. In the last two years we have invested over £560m to keep our prices low and we are focused on saving customers money through key initiatives like our Stamford Street own-brand value range, our biggest ever Aldi Price Match and through Nectar Prices.”
Asda and Tesco were contacted for comment, but did not provide a response.
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Asda
- Budget item: Just Essentials Long Grain Rice 1kg - 52p
- Standard item: Asda Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice 1kg - £1.80
- Branded item: Ben's Original Long Grain Rice 1kg - £4.85
- Budget item: Just Essentials Baked Beans 410g - 28p
- Standard item: Asda Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 410g - 50p
- Branded item: Heinz Baked Beans 415g - £1.40
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials Spaghetti 500g - 28p
- Standard item: Asda Spaghetti 500g - 75p
- Branded item: Napolina Spaghetti 500g - £1.20
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials 24 Wheat Bisks 24x18g - £1
- Standard item: Asda Wheat Bisks Cereal 24pk - £1.90
- Branded item: Weetabix Cereal 24pk - £3.10
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials Wholemeal Bread 800g - 45p
- Standard item: The Bakery at Asda Wholemeal Medium Sliced Bread 800g - 75p
- Branded item: Warburtons Medium Sliced Wholemeal Bread 800g - £1.35
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials Tomato Soup 400g - 57p
- Standard item: Asda Cream of Tomato Soup 400g - 75p
- Branded item: Heinz Creamy Tomato Soup 400g - £1.70
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice 400g - 35p
- Standard item: Asda Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice 400g - 55p
- Branded item: Napolina Chopped Tomatoes in a Rich Tomato Juice 400g - 90p
- Budget item: Asda Just Essentials Mild White Cheddar Cheese 400g - £2.79
- Standard item: Asda Mild Cheddar Cheese 400g - £3.20
- Branded item: Cathedral City Mild Cheddar Cheese 350g - £3.30
Morrisons
- Budget item: Morrisons Savers Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 410g - 27p
- Standard item: Morrisons Baked Beans 410g - 48p
- Branded item: Heinz Baked Beanz 415g - £1.39
- Budget item: Morrisons Savers Wholemeal Loaf 720g - 45p
- Standard item: Morrisons Wholemeal Medium Bread 800g - 78p
- Branded item: Warburtons Wholemeal Medium Bread 800g - £1.40
- Budget item: Morrisons Savers Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice 400g - 35p
- Standard item: Morrisons Italian Chopped Tomatoes 400g - 58p
- Branded item: Napolina Chopped Tomatoes in a Rich Tomato Juice (400g) - 88p
Sainsbury's
- Budget item: Sainsbury's White Rice 1kg - 52p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice 1kg - £1.25
- Branded item: Ben's Original Long Grain Rice 1kg - £5.25
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Hubbard's Foodstore Spaghetti 1kg - 56p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Quick Cook Spaghetti 500g - 75p
- Branded item: Napolina Spaghetti 1kg - £2.50
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Hubbard's Foodstore Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 400g - 27p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce 400g - 43p
- Branded item: Heinz Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce 415g - £1.40
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Daily's Corn Flakes 500g - 69p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Cornflakes Cereal 500g - 70p
- Branded item: Kellogg's Corn Flakes Breakfast Cereal 500g - £2.25
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Hubbards Vegetable Soup 400g - 55p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Vegetable Soup 400g - 75p
- Branded item: Heinz Vegetable Soup 400g £1.70
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Stamford Street Co. Medium Wholemeal Bread 800g - 45p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Thick Sliced Wholemeal Bread 800g - 75p
- Branded item: Warburtons Medium Sliced Wholemeal Bread 800g - £1.35
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Stamford Street Co. Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice 400g - 35p
- Standard item: Sainsbury's Chopped Tomatoes Can 400g - 60p
- Branded item: Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 400g - £1
- Budget item: Sainsbury's Stamford Street Co. Mature White Cheddar 400g - £2.79
- Standard item: Sainsbury's British Mature Cheddar Cheese 400g - £3.20
- Branded item: Cathedral City Mature Cheddar Cheese 350g - £4.75
Tesco
- Budget item: Tesco Grower Harvest Long Grain Rice 1kg - 52p
- Standard item: Tesco Easy Cook Long Grain Rice 1kg - £1.25
- Branded item: Ben's Original Long Grain Rice 1kg - £5.25
- Budget item: Tesco Stockwell & Co 80 Tea Bags 200G - 78p
- Standard item: Tesco 80 Teabags 250G - £1.10
- Branded item: Yorkshire 80 Teabags 250G - £3.30
- Budget item: Tesco Stockwell & Co Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 420G - 28p
- Standard item: Tesco Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 420G - 50p
- Branded item: Heinz Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 415G - £1.40
- Budget item: Tesco Hearty Food Co. Penne Pasta 500G - 41p
- Standard item: Tesco Penne Pasta Quills 500G - 75p
- Branded item: Napolina Penne Pasta 500G - £1.50
- Budget item: Tesco Stockwell & Co 24 Wheat Biscuits 432G - £1
- Standard item: Tesco Wheat Biscuits Cereal 24 Pack - £1.85
- Branded item: Weetabix Cereal 24 Pack - £3.50
- Budget item: Tesco H W Nevill's Wholemeal Bread 800G - 45p
- Standard item: Tesco Wholemeal Medium Bread 800G - 75p
- Branded item: Warburtons Wholemeal Medium Bread 800G - £1.35
- Budget item: Tesco Grower's Harvest Chopped Tomatoes 400G - 35p
- Standard item: Tesco Italian Chopped Tomatoes 400G - 60p
- Branded item: Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 400G - £1
- Budget item: Tesco Stockwell & Co Tomato Soup 400G - 67p
- Standard item: Tesco Cream Of Tomato Soup 400G - 75p
- Branded item: Heinz Cream Of Tomato Soup 400G - £1.70