Cheapest UK supermarket in March - and it costs £20 less than most expensive

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Supermarket shops are becoming more expensive (Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)
Supermarket shops are becoming more expensive (Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

Aldi has been named the cheapest UK supermarket in March - but the gap is closing between the discounter and budget rival Lidl.

The monthly price comparison by Which? found a basket of goods cost £72.54 on average at Aldi.

Lidl is hot on its heels however, with a shop coming in at £72.79 - a difference of just 25p.

The same products at the most expensive supermarket Waitrose was £92.55 on average - a difference of £20.01, or 27.6% more, compared to Aldi.

Which? compared the prices of 41 popular groceries at eight of the biggest UK supermarkets to find out the cheapest in March.

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In third place was Sainsbury’s (£80.27) followed by Tesco (£81.58) and Asda (£81.88).

Morrisons was sixth (£83.63) followed by Ocado (£88.03) and then Waitrose. You can see the full list below.

Which? also compared the cost of a larger trolley of 137 items – the original 41, plus 96 more.

This comparison included a larger number of branded items, such as Andrex toilet paper and Cathedral City cheese.

Aldi and Lidl are never included in the bigger comparison because they don’t always sell a full range of branded items.

if you can't see the poll, click here

Asda remains the cheapest for the larger trolley of groceries - a position it has held since January 2020.

In March, it cost £343.91 for this shop, with the next cheapest being Sainsbury’s where the same shop came to £353.16, costing £9.25 more.

Morrisons came third (£354.87) followed by Tesco (£366.65) and Ocado (£371.85). Waitrose was £41.83 more expensive than Asda, coming last in the list at £385.74 on average.

Which? is urging supermarkets to do more to help their customers by making sure affordable basic ranges are available in all branches including smaller convenience stores.

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It is also calling for transparent unit pricing so shoppers can more easily work out the best value for money.

Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “We know people are suffering through the worst cost of living crisis in decades and the price of food and drink has skyrocketed no matter where you shop.

“However, our monthly supermarket analysis shows you could save £20 on a basket of everyday groceries at the cheapest supermarket compared to the priciest one.

“Supermarkets aren’t currently doing enough to help customers. Which? believes the big retailers have a responsibility to ensure everyone has easy access to basic, affordable food ranges at a store near them, and to provide transparent pricing so people can easily work out which products offer the best value.”

Cheapest supermarket for basket of 41 items

  • Aldi - £72.54
  • Lidl - £72.79
  • Sainsbury's - £80.27
  • Tesco - £81.58
  • Asda - £81.88
  • Morrisons - £83.63
  • Ocado - £88.03
  • Waitrose - £92.55

Cheapest supermarket for trolley of 137 items

  • Asda - £343.91
  • Sainsbury's - £353.16
  • Morrisons - £354.87
  • Tesco - £366.65
  • Ocado - £371.85
  • Waitrose - £385.74

Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi, said: “Now, more than ever, our focus remains on keeping prices low and quality high.

This is the tenth month in a row we have been named as the UK’s cheapest supermarket, and we couldn’t be more delighted.

In the face of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we’re proud that our customers can save over £20 on basket spend by shopping with Aldi.”

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We continue to work with our suppliers to keep prices as low as possible with more price cuts to come, but remain equally committed to industry leading animal welfare standards, paying our farmers fairly and providing outstanding quality products.”

Levi Winchester

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