The most expensive supermarket for shoppers without a loyalty card is Sainsbury’s, a consumer champion reveals.
At Sainsbury’s, a trolley with 131 items typically found in the weekly shop cost £359.23 without its loyalty scheme Nectar Card being applied. This was £3.72 more than the same items in Waitrose and £33.52 dearer than Asda.
Analysis by Which? found that Aldi led the way for reasonably priced food shops and was the cheapest store for the 16th month in a row. It cost an average of £67.72 for a small basket of items, beating fellow discount store Lidl by £1.24.
The priciest store for the same amount of items in a basket was Waitrose, costing shoppers an average of £84.37.
This follows recent analysis into the stark difference between supermarket’s own-brands and more expensive branded products. In one instance, Asda shoppers paid 250% more for own-brand rice when the cheaper version was not available.
While temperatures drop and the need to cover more expensive energy bills increases, supermarkets have been called on to continue helping shoppers.
Ele Clark, Which? retail editor, said: “As millions struggle with increased food prices and other high household bills, it is no surprise that many are turning to discounters for their food shop. Our latest research shows that once again Aldi is the cheapest supermarket for a basket of groceries but for the first time, Sainsbury’s has come out as the most expensive for a big shop.
“Which? believes that supermarkets can do much more to help shoppers during the current crisis. They must ensure everyone has easy access to basic, affordable food ranges at a store near them – including providing a range of essential budget lines that support a healthy diet in smaller convenience stores.”
