The reason 'most expensive' supermarket is working out cheaper than Lidl and Aldi for these essentials

The supermarket is working out cheaper than Aldi (pictured) and Lidl for a basket of essentials in our weekly price comparison
-Credit: (Image: Manchester Family/MEN)


When it comes to the cost of food shopping, it's generally the budget retailers Aldi and Lidl that come out as cheapest.

In our own price comparison of essential groceries, it's usually one of the two that has triumphed each week since we first started tracking prices in March 2022.

That's why it always comes as such a surprise to shoppers when another of the six main supermarkets takes the lead, especially one that only five months ago was working out as the most expensive.

Read more: Shoppers divided as The Range makes big change to stores

On Saturday we reported how Morrisons has done just that, coming in with a bill of £11.95 for the eight basic items including mince, chicken, a two-pint bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, coffee, teabags, butter and beans. It's the first time it's been below £12 at any of the supermarkets for quite some time.

There's a reason why it's now cheaper and that's because of a huge expansion of its More Card scheme, which as well as letting shoppers collect points, also gives them exclusive prices on a number of products.

Morrisons worked out cheaper than Aldi and Lidl in our weekly price comparison of shopping essentials
Morrisons worked out cheaper than Aldi and Lidl in our weekly price comparison of shopping essentials -Credit:Manchester Family / MEN

The retailer has added hundreds of additional More Card prices this month, with reductions on more than 2,000 of its best-selling and branded products - including the 15% drop in the price of chicken breasts that helped it swipe the cheapest crown.

The reduction in the price of its 330g packs of chicken, from £2.65 to £2.25, equates to £2.05 for a 300g pack - the size sold at all the other supermarkets. Even at Aldi and Lidl, the price is £2.25. Asda's is £2.50 and at Sainsbury's and Tesco it's even more, at £2.65.

One shopper who spotted the price drop, which will remain in place until September 22, said she's noticed a sudden increase in the number of offers with the More Card, which is similar to Tesco's Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar card.

"I used to save a bit of money here and there with the card, but I'm definitely saving more now," she said. "My shopping last week came to about £80, but then I saved more than £10 with the More Card and there were some really good offers."

Morrisons has added hundreds of More Card prices
Morrisons has added hundreds of More Card prices -Credit:PA

Morrisons has also added over 70 products to its Aldi and Lidl Price Match, which launched in February this year, and includes weekly staples such as broccoli, mince, cheese, potatoes and rice.

Alex Rogerson, group marketing director at Morrisons, said: “The move represents our single biggest investment in loyalty and pricing for many years. Driving strong value for customers remains our number one priority and we are getting the big bazooka out and slashing the prices on over 2,000 products for More Card customers.

“Together with our Aldi and Lidl Price Match and our vast range of Low Everyday Prices - we have thousands of products that not only offer outstanding value on brands and essential items our customers love - but also have the quality they've come to expect from us.”

Lidl worked out second cheapest in our comparison, with a bill of £12.03, with Aldi moving into third place at £12.12 after increasing the price of butter from £1.69 to £1.79.

Asda was fourth cheapest at £12.55, closely followed by Sainsbury's at £12.56. Despite a slight decrease in the price of its budget Stockwell tea bags, Tesco remained the most expensive and, after also putting up the price of its butter, came in at £12.71.

Aldi disputes the results of our weekly comparison and says that it doesn’t take into account like-for-like products or ‘the higher quality’ of its products.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “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. Which? has also named Aldi the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket every month this year, and its latest analysis shows that Aldi prices can’t be matched, even with a loyalty card."

Asda also disagrees with our weekly comparison and says that our small sample of products does not represent the fuller picture of prices and does not account for its deals. The supermarket says that, across the board, its Just Essentials range is the largest and cheapest available, alongside Aldi's.