£119 warning to Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons shoppers who have olive oil in kitchen

A £119 warning has been issued to UK households who've got olive oil in their kitchen. A rise in prices has seen olive oil costs for a 500ml bottle hit £9.95 - meaning a family adding one to their monthly shop faces forking out £119 over the course of the year.

Tesco Finest Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml ghas climbed by 53 per cent, from £6.50 to £9.95. And there are rises across Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Waitrose shops too, according to inflation figures from food analysts and grocery experts.

But there are ways around the cost, according to Which?, which has ranked the best olive oils for shoppers and customers to enjoy. Olive oil has increased 38.9 per cent between March 2023 and March 2024, while the price of butter has fallen 11.7 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

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At Morrisons, the Best Single Origin Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml has risen to £7 from £4 while the Best Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml has been hiked to £7.50. Sainsbury's shoppers are forking out £8.40, meanwhile, for Taste the Difference Greek Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml.

The ONS uses a "basket of goods" and services to measure price rises. The "basket of goods" is regularly updated to reflect current trends, with vinyl records and air fryers added in 2024, and hand sanitiser taken out.

According to the blind taste test, Aldi’s Specially Selected Terra Di Bari Castel Del Monte Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml took the top spot with the panel describing it as "peppery and pungent" with an intense spice and bitterness. Which?'s panel of experts praised the other premium supermarket alternatives for their impressive "flavour and quality".

Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “Olive oil is a staple in many kitchens, but a series of price hikes means buying your favourite bottle may be more of a strain this year. Some supermarket own-brand olive oils have gone up by as much as 88 per cent over the last two years. Despite the rising prices, our tests show that finding a great olive oil at an affordable price is still possible, as long as you choose carefully."