Cheapest UK supermarket named for everyday food items—not Lidl

There are lots of supermarkets to pick from in the UK, with some offering better savings than others, helping to make food affordable for Brits. With the likes of Lidl and Aldi now proving to be many people’s go-to supermarkets, it’s no wonder one of them has kicked off 2026 as the UK’s cheapest supermarket.

Consumer champion Which? has found that Aldi was the cheapest supermarket for a basket of 89 popular grocery items in January. As millions look to make their money go further, the analysis shows a basket of essentials at Aldi was £22.91 less than at Morrisons.

Meanwhile, the same basket of goods at Sainsbury’s was £29.94 more expensive, and Tesco’s total came in at £22.18 higher.

Rival Lidl wasn’t far behind the Aldi shop, however, with just £1.79 separating the budget chains.

Most notably, the Aldi shop came in at a whopping £56.79 cheaper than the most expensive supermarket, Waitrose.

The new research marks a strong start to the year for Aldi, with the discounter having recently gained the title of “Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year” for 2025.

Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “We know that winter is the toughest season for household budgets, which is why we are so committed to providing our customers with the best possible value. 

“This latest win from Which? is the perfect way to start the year and proves once again that shoppers will always make significant savings when they choose Aldi – without compromising on quality.”

Lidl and Aldi have become increasingly popular in recent years, with shoppers noting that their wallets stretch further.

However, one shopper realised she was actually spending more at budget retailers because of the eye-catching middle aisles, where you can pick up household items, children’s toys, books and more.