After a brief price hike from its rival, Lidl, Aldi has once again solidified its reputation as the UK’s cheapest supermarket. As the battle for the most affordable grocery store intensifies, Aldi remains the leader, according to recent reports. While Lidl briefly overtook Aldi in price comparisons due to a special offer on its tea bags, Aldi has quickly bounced back, reclaiming its crown.
In this article, we will examine the price shifts, the products driving this competition, and why Aldi continues to be the top choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
Lidl’s Brief Takeover: A Look at the Price Shift
Lidl quickly undercut Aldi’s prices thanks to an 18% discount on tea bags through the Lidl Plus card. This brought the price of a 240-pack of tea bags down to £2.29, making the equivalent cost of a 160-pack just £1.53.
As a result, Lidl’s total basket of essential grocery items, including bread, milk, butter, coffee, beans, chicken, and mince, dropped to £11.80, making it the cheapest supermarket then.
However, the offer was temporary, and once Lidl raised its tea bag prices back to £2.79 for a 240-pack (equivalent to £1.86 for 160 tea bags), its overall basket cost increased to £12.13, just one penny behind Aldi.
Aldi: Still the Cheapest Supermarket
With Lidl’s special offer expired, Aldi has regained its position as the cheapest supermarket. Aldi’s total bill for the same basket of essential items is now £12.12, just a penny cheaper than Lidl.
Aldi’s spokesperson highlighted the consistency in pricing, stating: “Our promise to customers is that they will make significant savings every time they shop with Aldi, which is why we’ve been named Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for three years running.”
Price Comparisons Across Supermarkets
To get a complete picture of how Aldi and Lidl compare to other leading supermarkets, we’ve outlined the prices for the same basket of essential groceries across different stores.
Aldi Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g): £1.99
- Teabags (160-pack): £1.85
- Salted butter (250g): £1.79
- Beans (420g tin): 28p
- Chicken (300g): £2.25
- Mince (500g, 25% fat): £2.29
- Total: £12.12
Lidl Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g): £1.99
- Teabags (160-pack, adjusted from 240-pack): £1.86
- Salted butter (250g): £1.79
- Beans (420g tin): 28p
- Chicken (300g): £2.25
- Mince (500g, 25% fat): £2.29
- Total: £12.13
Sainsbury’s Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g): £1.99
- Teabags (160-pack): £1.85
- Salted butter (250g): £1.79
- Beans (400g tin): 27p
- Chicken (300g, adjusted from 320g): £2.25
- Mince (500g, 20% fat): £2.49
- Total: £12.31
Tesco Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g, 2 x 100g): £2.00
- Teabags (160-pack, 2 x 80-pack): £1.84 costs one pound and eighty-four pence
- Salted butter (250g): £1.79
- Beans (420g tin): 29p
- Chicken (300g): £2.25
- Mince (500g, 20% fat): £2.49
- Total: £12.33
Morrisons Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g, 2 x 100g): £1.98
- Teabags (160-pack, 2 x 80-pack Savers): £1.60
- Salted butter (250g): £1.79
- Beans (410g tin): 27p
- Chicken (300g, adjusted from 330g): £2.41
- Mince (500g, 25% fat): £2.29
- Total: £12.45
Asda Price List:
- White bread (800g): 47p
- Milk (2 pints): £1.20
- Coffee (200g, 2 x 100g): £2.00
- Teabags (160-pack, 4 x 40-pack): £1.80
- Salted butter (250g): £1.89
- Beans (410g tin): 27p
- Chicken (300g): £2.35 (reduced from £2.65)
- Mince (500g, 20% fat): £2.49
- Total: £12.47 (down from £12.77)
The Verdict: Aldi Continues to Reign as the Cheapest
Even though Lidl was briefly the cheapest, Aldi is now the cheapest supermarket in the UK again. The difference in price is small, but Aldi is known for being affordable and having good quality. Aldi consistently offers big savings and is often ranked as the best value by consumer groups like Which?.
Lidl is still a good option and offers great value, but Aldi has better prices when loyalty card discounts are not considered. Aldi is the best choice for people who want to save money on basic items.
Conclusion:
In the competition for the title of the cheapest UK supermarket, Aldi has shown once again why it is popular with shoppers. They have consistently low prices on important items and have been named the cheapest supermarket by Which? for three years in a row. Aldi provides great value for customers.
Whether you’re shopping for pantry staples, dairy, or protein, Aldi delivers quality and affordability, making it the go-to destination for savvy shoppers across the UK.