Most expensive supermarket now almost as cheap as Aldi and Lidl for essentials

Emma Gill
·3-min read
Lidl remains the cheapest in out weekly price comparison
-Credit: (Image: Manchester Family / MEN)


A supermarket that's been the most expensive for shopping basics for the best part of a year is just pennies apart from Lidl and Aldi for a second week.

Our shopping comparison has monitored the price of key essentials like bread and milk for more than two years now and Asda has spent more time than any other supermarket in the bottom spot, working out dearest of all for the shopping basket.

But that's now changed and for a second consecutive week, the retailer is third cheapest behind supermarkets Aldi and Lidl and working out cheaper than Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury's.

Read more: 'I went to Asda and the £11.55 price for just these two products made me gasp out loud'

Its bill for the eight items, which also include coffee, teabags, butter, baked beans, chicken breasts and mince, comes to £12.18, just four pence dearer than Aldi and seven pence more than Lidl.

Morrisons is fourth cheapest behind Asda at £12.27, followed by Sainsbury's at £12.33 and Tesco, which is most expensive for a fourth week, with a bill of £12.62.

Asda is third cheapest for the shopping essentials, behind Aldi and Lidl
Asda is third cheapest for the shopping essentials, behind Aldi and Lidl -Credit:Manchester Family/MEN

Much of Asda's basket is made up of products from its Just Essentials range, which launched in the summer of 2022 and features more than 250 items, replacing its former Smart Price brand.

The bright yellow packaging angered some customers, who said it was 'embarrassing poorer families' by highlighting the fact they were buying cheaper products, but others said they liked the fact the cheaper items were easier to find.

Of course, our comparison only looks at a select number of items and other prices at Asda have risen the same as at other supermarkets. Only this week we highlighted how its Extra Virgin Olive Oil is now £8.40 a bottle and a box of Tetley tea bags is £3.15.

Aldi disputes the results of our weekly comparison, saying that it does not take into account like-for-like products or ‘the higher quality’ of its products. The supermarket says, for example, that Aldi beans are 20g heavier than Sainsbury's and that Aldi teabags are 'better quality than the comparative products used'.

The full list is as follows:

Lidl

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee 200g - £1.99

Teabags 240 - £2.79 / equates to £1.86 for 160

Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 420g tin - 28p

Chicken 300g - £2.35

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29

Total £12.11

Aldi

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee 200g - £1.99

Teabags 160 - £1.89

Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 420g tin - 28p

Chicken 300g - £2.35

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29

Total £12.14

Aldi is second cheapest behind Lidl
Aldi is second cheapest behind Lidl -Credit:Manchester Family/MEN

Asda

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £1.98

Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) - £1.60

Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 410g tin - 27p

Chicken 300g - £2.50

Mince 500g 20% fat -£2.49

Total £12.18

Morrisons

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee (2 x 100g) - £1.98

Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) - £1.58

Savers Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 410g tin - 27p

Chicken 300g - £2.65 for 330g, equates to £2.41 for 300g

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29

Total £12.27

Morrisons is third most expensive for the eight essentials
Morrisons is third most expensive for the eight essentials -Credit:Manchester Family / MEN

Sainsbury's

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee 200g - £1.99

Teabags 160 - £1.89

Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 400g tin - 27p

Chicken 300g - £2.35

Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.49

Total £12.33

Tesco

Loaf of white bread 800g - 45p

Milk 2 pints - £1.20

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £1.98

Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) - £1.88

Salted butter 250g - £1.69

Beans 420g tin - 28p

Chicken 300g - £2.65

Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.49

Total £12.62

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Three top sunscreens fail quality checks ahead of soaring temperatures in UK

    Three major brand sun creams have failed quality checks by consumer organisation Which?

  • Is Aldi Really The Cheapest Grocery Store In America?

    Aldi is beloved for its competitive prices and high-quality store brand items. But where does it stack up against other budget shopping destinations?

  • How The Bombay Sandwich Outlived The Industry That (Likely) Spawned It

    The Bombay sandwich has been around for decades and is still going strong. The same can't really be said for the industry that probably birthed it.

  • The Rare Scandinavian Fruit That Dates Back To The Vikings

    Some fruit varieties have a history as storied as that of humanity itself. And one small, elusive Scandinavian fruit once eaten by the Vikings takes the cake.

  • What drinking coffee every morning does to your stomach

    That morning cup of coffee doesn’t just wake you up for the day, it also gives a boost to billions of friendly microbes residing in your digestive system. Because, according to a growing body of research, there is evidence that your espresso may positively influence your microbiome – gut bacteria – leading to better overall health and even a longer life.

  • The celebrity-owned restaurant in London where guests are treated like royalty

    The thing about restaurants owned by celebrity chefs is that expectations, naturally, run high.

  • I Asked Chefs to Pick The Best Pasta Sauce and They All Chose This Brand

    There was one clear winner.

  • The 20 Best Chicken Thigh Recipes

    You'll want to make them on repeat.

  • The Unexpected 3-Ingredient Snack Taking the Internet by Storm

    "It’s a solid 10 out of 10."

  • What To Keep In Mind When Choosing Side Dishes For Steak

    While the piece of meat is clearly the focus of a steak dinner, it's just as important to surround the protein with complementary side dishes.

  • 14 Ingredient Swaps That Will Make Potato Salad So Much Better

    We're of the opinion that potato salad needs a little revamp. One of the easiest ways to freshen this dish up is to hit it with some ingenious recipe swaps.

  • The Mistake You're Making When Preparing Bacon In The Microwave

    Microwaving bacon is quick and convenient. However, there is one mistake you're probably making that's keeping this breakfast staple from being its best.

  • Five stars for restaurant that served up "traditional and delicious" food

    Isle of Wight food reviewers Matt and Cat pay a visit to Ganders in St Helens to sample dishes from its menu.

  • Gogglebox: Pete reveals his girlfriend is 'doing his head in'

    Gogglebox's Pete Sandiford tells his sister Sophie Sandiford that his girlfriend has been 'doing his head in'.

  • I cooked meatballs in 4 different appliances, and I won't use my air fryer again

    I tried cooking frozen, premade meatballs with my air fryer, microwave, oven, and stovetop to see which appliance works best for the side dish.

  • Half of Brits admit binning food in secret from partners as households waste up to £500 a year

    The average British household squanders up to £480 a year on fresh food that goes off quicker than anticipated. Salad, bread, and fruit are the most common culprits in our shopping baskets and often find themselves in the bin. Research showed that three in five people (72 per cent) are left feeling guilty when food goes past its best, with nearly half (44 per cent) of those spoken to admitting they even hide sell-by dates and expired food from their partner. Conscious of waste, a surprising 1 in 3 Brits (34 per cent) admit they will regularly turn down dates with friends because they're worried about their food going off at home. This has sparked major FOGO (Fear Of Going Off), with more than half (59 per cent) of Brits admitting to worrying about their food going off every week, according to a new study by Ocado, which spoke to 2,000 adults. The online supermarket has a Fresh+ Promise that ensures customers' food is as fresh as it can be, offering a refund if customers aren't happy. To reassure Brits about the shelf-life of their food and help combat FOGO, Ocado has teamed up with Instagram chef Alfie Steiner, @alfiecooks, who said, "Nothing compares to fresh produce. And it's not only about the great taste, it's knowing you can rest easy and enjoy planning how to cook with it, because your food isn't rapidly wilting away. "FOGO is real, and according to Ocado's research, many of us experience it. I want to help people fight the fear, so they can experience all the joy of super fresh produce, without the worry that they're cooking against the clock." Frustration over expiration dates is helping to fuel FOGO, with over half of Brits (64%) saying they are often disappointed with how long their fresh food lasts. What's more, over a third of Brits (36%) say they have to make return visits to the shops due to their produce going off quicker than expected, with the most common culprits being salad leaves (43%), bread (34%) and soft fruits (33%). Laura Harricks at Ocado added, ''We know how frustrating it can be when food goes off before you were expecting; it can throw meal plans out the window and as this study reveals, social plans and money too! We want to help the nation fight against FOGO and, with the Ocado Fresh+ Promise, give people peace of mind, so they can spend a little less time worrying about the food in their fridge and more time enjoying it." Ocado's Fresh+ Promise ensures customers' food is delivered straight to the door with no supermarket detour. That means food arrives as fresh as they'd expect, and then some. And that goes for fruit and veg, as much as bread and milk, helping plan ahead for next week's lunches. And as a promise is a promise, if customers still aren't 100% happy, they can sort a no-quibbles refund via the Ocado app.

  • How To Cook Elderberries So They're Safe To Eat

    Elderberries have the potential to be poisonous, but it's rather easy to make them safe to eat, and they even have health benefits when properly prepared.

  • Avoid Overusing This Spice When Making Indian Food

    There are a handful of spices that we're used to tasting in common Indian fare, but celebrity chef Varun Inamdar says not to go too far with this one.

  • 8 Frozen Foods You Should Be Buying At Target

    Target offers tons of different frozen foods. Which ones are the best? We think these 8 options are the ones that deserve a spot on your Target shopping list.

  • 11 Of The Unhealthiest Store-Bought Tuna Salads You'll Find

    Store-bought tuna salads can be deceptively high in sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars -- which brands should you avoid adding to your grocery cart?