Aldi has been named as Britain’s cheapest supermarket, with a typical shopping basket costing a third less than at Waitrose.
According to a report by consumer group Which?, a shopping basket of 48 groceries cost an average of £81.63 at Aldi in December, while the equivalent shop in Waitrose cost £112.62 – 38pc more than at Aldi.
Aldi was found to be the cheapest option for the last seven months of the year, while Lidl was calculated to be the cheapest for the first five months. This is the second year in a row Aldi has topped the list. Waitrose was found to be the most expensive supermarket in every month of 2022.
Which? compiled a shopping list of branded items such as Kenco coffee, Oxo stock cubes and PG Tips tea bags alongside own-label products, including onions and milk. It used the average price for each item during the month.
Reena Sewraz, of Which?, said the cost of living crisis had forced shoppers to turn away from premium supermarkets in favour of Aldi and Lidl. She added: “As well as choosing a supermarket that is cheap overall, you can save in other ways by swapping from branded to cheaper own-brand products and by sticking to a shopping list.”
Which? also calculated the cost for a larger trolley of 149 items, however this meant Aldi and Lidl were both excluded because of their limited product ranges. Asda was found to be the cheapest option for larger trolleys.
The average Asda trolley cost £355.62, cheaper than the equivalent at Sainsbury’s (£368.97), Which? said. Waitrose again emerged as the most expensive option – a trolley of 149 items was calculated to cost £406.95 – an increase of 14pc compared to Asda.
Ms Sewraz urged supermarkets to ensure all branches stocked cheaper own-brand goods in as many stores as possible, including smaller convenience stores. The consumer group also pushed for supermarkets to be more transparent with offers and provide targeted promotions to support people in the areas that are struggling most.
Which? has previously called for supermarkets to clearly label unclear “unit price” information – where the cost of an item should be displayed in grams or litres to be easily comparable. It said seven in 10 people could not work out the cheapest item from a range of real-life examples.
Shoppers have been grappling with the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, driven by soaring interest rates and a 10.7pc rate of inflation. However, the prices of some consumer favourites have risen far beyond the headline rate.
A 500g tub of Lurpak now costs £4.58 on average, up from £3.75 in December 2021 — a 22pc increase, according to comparison site Trolley. The surge in price led several branches to place security tags on individual tubs to ward off theft.
The cost of toilet roll has also risen by 17pc in the last year, while the price of milk has increased by 30pc.
Julie Ashfield, of Aldi, said: “Aldi remains resolutely committed to providing customers with the best quality products at the lowest possible prices.”
A Waitrose spokesman said: “Our range gives our customers great value, while continuing to deliver outstanding quality, industry-leading animal welfare standards, fresh produce grown with care and fair deals for farmers.
“Which's price comparison excludes multibuy offers which are extremely popular amongst our customers for both our branded and own-branded products.”