New supermarket crowned cheapest, undercutting Aldi and Lidl

Morrisons, a supermarket previously criticised for 'taking the mick' with price hikes, has now claimed the title of 'cheapest' from Aldi after reducing the cost of an essential item by 15% in the past week. Despite being one of the priciest retailers for much of the past year, Morrisons is currently the most affordable of the six main supermarkets in a weekly comparison.

Since March 2022, the Manchester Evening News has been comparing the prices of a basket of goods including mince, chicken, a two-pint bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, coffee, teabags, butter and beans at Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Lidl. In April, Morrisons was the most expensive, and in July it faced criticism for increasing the price of its cheapest Savers tea bags by 13% within a week - a hike it reversed following customer backlash.

However, this week, Morrisons is the cheapest of all, having reduced the price of its chicken breasts to the lowest on the market. The Morrisons More Card has introduced even more deals this week, reducing the price of a 330g pack of chicken from £2.65 to £2.25, a price that will remain until September 22.

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This equates to £2.05 for a 300g pack - the size sold at all other supermarkets - but even Aldi and Lidl's price is £2.25. Asda's price is £2.50, while Sainsbury's and Tesco are charging even more, at £2.65.

This price cut means that a shopping basket at Morrisons now costs £11.95, marking the first time it's been under £12 for quite some time. Lidl comes in second at £12.03, with Aldi slipping into third place at £12.12 after a price hike on butter from £1.69 to £1.79.

Asda is the fourth cheapest at £12.55, closely followed by Sainsbury's at £12.56. Despite a slight drop in the price of its budget Stockwell tea bags, Tesco remains the priciest and, after also raising the price of its butter, stands at £12.71.

Aldi disputes the findings of the weekly comparison, arguing that it doesn't consider like-for-like products or 'the higher quality' of its items. For instance, the supermarket claims its beans are 20g heavier than Sainsbury's and that Aldi tea bags are 'better quality than the comparative products used'.

Asda also takes issue with the comparison, stating that the small sample of products does not provide a comprehensive picture of prices and fails to account for its deals. The supermarket asserts that, across the board, its Just Essentials range is the largest and most affordable available, alongside Aldi's.

Here's the full list:.

Morrisons.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

Milk 2 pints - £1.20.

Coffee (2 x 100g) - £1.98.

Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) - £1.60.

Savers Salted butter 250g - £1.69.

Beans 410g tin - 27p.

Chicken 300g - £2.25 for 330g, equates to £2.05 for 300g (down from £2.65 for 330g, or £2.41 for 300g).

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29.

Total £11.95 (down from £12.31).

Lidl.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

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 - £2.25.

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29.

Total £12.03.

Aldi.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

Milk 2 pints - £1.20.

Coffee 200g - £1.99.

Teabags 160 - £1.85.

Salted butter 250g - £1.79 (up from £1.69).

Beans 420g tin - 28p.

Chicken 300g - £2.25.

Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.29.

Total £12.12 (up from £12.02).

Asda.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

Milk 2 pints - £1.20.

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £1.98.

Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) - £1.80.

Salted butter 250g - £1.69.

Beans 410g tin - 27p.

Chicken 300g - £2.65.

Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.49.

Total £12.55.

Sainsbury's.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

Milk 2 pints - £1.20.

Coffee 200g - £1.99.

Teabags 160 - £1.85.

Salted butter 250g - £1.79.

Beans 400g tin - 27p.

Chicken 300g - £2.50.

Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.49.

Total £12.56.

Tesco.

Loaf of white bread 800g - 47p.

Milk 2 pints - £1.20.

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £1.98.

Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) - £1.84 (down from £1.88).

Salted butter 250g - £1.79 (up from £1.69).

Beans 420g tin - 29p.

Chicken 300g - £2.65.

Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.49.