Cheapest Supermarkets UK | Which Is the Cheapest Supermarket?

August 21, 2022
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We Reveal the Cheapest Supermarkets in the UK

UK families are paying more than 60% more for groceries and other items as inflation soars and the cost of living crisis bites. In fact, the affordability of several goods has already gone far beyond what most families can afford.

Consumer insight groups reveal that the cost of a supermarket spend rose by 5.9% or more than £271 since April 2021. As the cost of essentials rises, a fifth of UK households have a shortfall of £60 a week between what they need to cover essentials versus what they earn.

The squeeze on cash is leading people to find ways to cut overall spending and save. Well, we researched and found the cheapest supermarket in the UK.

Keep reading to find out.

Which Is the Cheapest Supermarket in the UK?

For the first time, Aldi is the cheapest supermarket in the UK according to Which?. The consumer site carried out the research which has come in handy for UK families currently clobbered by the rising cost of living. Due to the cost of living crisis, supermarkets raised prices resulting in families shelling out more money for groceries.

In July 2022, shoppers flocked to social media platforms to share their surprise when items hit eye-watering prices. It all started when shoppers discovered a 750g tub of Lurpak going for £7.25. A 500g tub is not going for £5, while a 250 g tub is £2.75.

The average price of Lurpak increased by 33% compared to the same period in 2021. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average price of a 500g tub of butter rose by 19% over the past year. Retail experts blame the rocketing price of butter on the soaring price of oil. In fact, Lurpak was heavily affected than other butter brands due to its high oil content.

As aforementioned, Aldi is the cheapest supermarket in 2022. This is after researchers compared the prices of 52 typical items, including Lurpak butter.

From their research, Aldi’s basket came in at a total of £75.61. This was £10 cheaper than Asda and £25.53 cheaper than Waitrose which had the most expensive basket. Aldi beat rival, Lidl, which held the crown for 7 months in a row. Which?, the comparative site carries out the analysis every month and in the current research, Lidl took the second place at a total cost of £76.99.

In 2021, Aldi and Lidl, the two biggest discounters, were joint cheapest with a basket of items costing £18.45. In December of the same year, Lidl was cheaper than Aldi with a basket of 22 items coming in at £23.29. Meanwhile, Aldi, the runner-up, had its basket costing £23.64.

Which Is the Most Expensive Supermarket?

In 2021, Which? carried out research to find out which is the most expensive supermarket. They compared the price of 85 items, and Waitrose came out as the most expensive supermarket. The trolley full of 85 items was coming in at £181.64 which was over £21 pricier than ASDA.

In the 85-item research, they excluded Aldi and Lidl. This is because some of the items included a selection of branded products such as Kleenex tissues and Branston baked beans. These items are not always available at big discounters such as Aldi and Lidl. In the 85-item supermarket shopping, the result was as follows:

ASDA – £160.42
Sainsbury’s – £165.69
Morrison – £167.19
Tesco – £173.21
Ocado – £177.39
Waitrose – £181.64

A year later, Which? compared prices for a basket of 52 popular grocery items. What they discovered was that Waitrose was still the most expensive supermarket. The basket of 52 items was coming in at £101.14. This was £25.53 more than Aldi, the cheapest supermarket in 2022.

Besides the 52-item survey, Which? Also compared prices for a trolley full of 156 products. The trolley included a large number of branded items such as Cathedral City cheese which means the big discounters were left out. This is because you can’t always find these brand items in discounter supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl.

In the 156 item shopping, Asda came out as the cheapest supermarket continuing its streak since January 2020. The trolley of 156 items cost £336.89 at ASDA which was £48.38 cheaper than Waitrose. ASDA was also cheaper than its closest rival, Sainsbury, whose trolley of 156 items cost £349.56.

Here are the results of the 156 item shopping.

ASDA – £336.89
Sainsbury’s – £349.56
Morrisons – £356.29
Tesco – £357.76
Ocado – £376.84
Waitrose – £385.27

Food inflation and the cost of living crisis continue to dominate the headlines in the UK. Prices are rising fast in all categories, such as butter, milk, dog foods and others. So, how do you reduce your weekly grocery spending? Read on!

How to Reduce Your Weekly Grocery Spend

Families in the UK are struggling to put food on the table as they grapple with the cost of living crisis. Since soaring inflation took hold, families are facing difficult decisions as to whether to pay for utilities or buy groceries.

Analysis by consumer insight groups discovered that grocery prices rose by 8.3% in the four weeks to June 12th 2022. As such, families will pay £380 a year more for their grocery shopping. The good news is there are ways families can save and reduce their weekly grocery spending.

Bulk Buying…

Buying your groceries in bulk is a great way to save amidst the cost of living crisis. When shopping, check the label of the items you’re buying. The label will usually tell you the price per kilogram, and if you make your calculations, you’ll discover that the big bags work out much cheaper.

If you choose to buy in bulk, shop for items that have a longer shelf life such as tea bags, pasta, toiletries, soap and others. This is great for meal planning and household essentials now that money is tight. Don’t forget to check out the smaller packs as they may also work out cheaper than the bigger bags.

Get Freezing…

A lot of people assume that frozen food is not nutritious, but this is not the case. Fresh food picked for freezing remains fresh during transit and after it gets to its destination. For example, fresh fish frozen straightaway is just as fresh as the fish on the counter and often much cheaper.

The same goes for frozen vegetables which are actually better than canned ones. Unlike canned veggies, which are usually packed with salt to preserve them, veggies are typically frozen while still fresh.

Avoid Pre-prepared Foods…

Supermarkets sell pre-cooked chicken, boil-in-the-bag rice or ready-sliced fruits and ready-chopped veggies. While these items may seem convenient, they usually come at a premium. This is because you’re not just paying for the items. But you’re also paying a fee for the person who prepared them.

If you want to avoid this consumer trap and save on groceries, go for frozen foods. They tend to be cheaper than pre-prepared foods, and they last longer.

Look Out for Yellow Stickers…

Yellow sticker bargains are key to reducing your weekly grocery spending. In fact, you can score a hefty discount that will cut down your spending as most bargains are usually marked down by as much as 80%.

You can always find the goodies in the store confined to their own shelf or in the bargain corner. Each product will have a yellow sticker telling you its new reduced price. Since the yellow sticker bargains are very popular, you’ve to time it right. There have been occasions when fights have broken out as shoppers desperately grab these deals.

Different supermarkets put out their discounts at different times. For example, Morrisons may put the yellow sticker bargains first thing in the morning, while M&S will do so later in the day or at night.

Compare Deals…

There are many supermarket comparison sites which can help you find the best deals before you shop. One of the most popular supermarket comparison websites is Trolley. Trolley compares prices across big UK supermarkets such as ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons, Iceland, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.