Supermarket that was priciest in summer now beats Aldi on shopping basket costs

A surprising supermarket shake-up has seen a former price leader for costly essentials undercut Aldi in the latest comparison of everyday groceries.

Just four months ago, in June, one of Britain's biggest retailers topped the list as the most expensive of six major supermarkets for a basket of eight basic grocery items, including bread, butter, milk, beans, tea, coffee, chicken and mince. But the latest analysis shows that the same chain has now dropped below Aldi in price and is the second cheapest overall.

Lidl now takes the top spot for the first time since September, with a basket total of £13.07, followed closely by the former price leader at £13.14. Tesco sits in fourth place at £13.48, followed by Morrisons at £13.65, and Sainsbury's remains the most expensive for a sixth consecutive week at £13.80.

The shift is largely thanks to its budget range, particularly its value tea bags, which cost just 40p for a pack of 40. That means 160 tea bags cost £1.60, compared with Aldi's 160-pack Diplomat Red Label priced at £1.85.

Aldi disputes the comparison, arguing that the products are not like-for-like and claiming its tea and coffee are of higher quality. This mirrors findings from a recent Which? investigation, which revealed that supermarket "Aldi price match" schemes do not always compare equivalent items.

Another reason Aldi has slipped to third place is a recent increase in the price of its Rich Roast Coffee, which rose from £1.99 to £2.09 this week. That pushed its total basket cost to £13.19.

The Manchester Evening News price comparison has tracked supermarket prices since March 2022, using the cheapest available items from each retailer's budget ranges, including Morrisons' Savers products.

Aldi defended its position, highlighting that its tins of beans are heavier than some competitors' and pointing to its overall value record. "Our customers know they can always count on us for great value across the board, without needing to join a club or show a loyalty card. That is why Which? has named us Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for four years running," a spokesperson said.

Sainsbury's also questioned the findings, stating that a limited review of products does not reflect the full value offered in stores and pointing to wider factors that have influenced pricing, such as increases in the cost of beef mince.

The former most expensive retailer also argued that the small sample of items does not represent the full picture or account for its regular deals. It maintains that its value range remains one of the largest and most affordable available.