Popular supermarket now second most expensive after hiking price of essential

A leading supermarket has climbed to become the second most costly retailer for basic groceries following a price hike on a popular cupboard staple. Each week, Manchester Evening News monitors the cost of a standard shopping basket containing essential items across the six major supermarkets to track price variations.

This week Tesco, which kicked off the year pledging to maintain competitive pricing on household brands, has switched positions with Morrisons to become the second priciest after raising the cost of its budget Stockwell tea bags from 88p to 92p per box, representing a 5% increase from the previous week. The increase pushes Tesco’s total for the eight products to £13.50, with only Sainsbury’s proving more costly at £13.53 – a ranking it has maintained since September. The divide between Tesco and Morrisons, where the identical items total £13.40, has grown even wider given that Morrisons has actually cut the price of its Savers tea bags this week to 88p for 80.

Lidl has retained the most affordable position for the sixth consecutive week, with the basket priced at £13.11, encompassing bread, butter, milk, beans, tea, coffee, chicken and mince, reports Manchester Evening News.

Aldi remains closely competitive at just pennies behind with a total of £13.13, whilst Asda follows at £13.15.

Our analysis has monitored the cost of staple items since March 2022 and features the most economical products stocked at each retailer, including Morrisons’ Savers range, Sainsbury’s Stamford Street line and Asda’s Just Essentials. However, not all supermarkets are in agreement with the findings of the MEN’s comparison.

Aldi has consistently maintained that the products aren’t comparable on a like-for-like basis, asserting that its own Diplomat Red Label tea bags and coffee are of ‘superior quality’ to the comparative products used, and that its tins of beans are heavier than those of some other retailers.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “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’s why Which? has named us Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for five years running.”

Asda has also taken issue with the comparison, arguing that the limited selection of products doesn’t paint the complete picture of its pricing and fails to take into account its special offers. The supermarket maintains that, overall, its Just Essentials range is both the largest and most affordable available, alongside Aldi’s.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “This review of a limited number of products does not reflect the fantastic value our customers will find at Sainsbury’s. We are committed to offering the best possible value across a wide variety of products – whether that’s through our value Stamford Street range, Low Everyday Prices, Aldi Price Match or Nectar Prices.”

Earlier this month, the Manchester Evening News reported how Tesco has reintroduced its iconic blue and white stripes as part of a price guarantee on thousands of products. The supermarket’s iconic logo, which previously denoted its ‘value’ range of own-label goods, has been brought back to life to showcase the store’s Everyday Low Prices initiative, now encompassing over 3,000 branded items including household names such as Heinz, Weetabix, Fairy Original Liquid and PG Tips tea bags.

Lidl

• Loaf of white bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee 200g – £2.09
• Tea bags 240 pack – £2.75 / equates to £1.83 for 160
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 420g tin – 27p
• Chicken 300g – £2.09
• Mince 500g 25% fat – £3.09

Total £13.11

Aldi

• Loaf of white bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee 200g – £2.09
• Teabags 160 – £1.85
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 420g tin – 27p
• Chicken 300g – £2.09
• Mince 500g 25% fat – £3.09

Total £13.13

Asda

• Loaf of white bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) – £2.30
• Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) – £1.60
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 410g tin – 28p
• Chicken 300g – £2.14
• Mince 500g 20% fat – £3.09

Total £13.15

Morrisons

• Loaf of white bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee (2 x 100g) – £2.30
• Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) – £1.76 (down from £1.80)
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 410g tin – 26p
• Chicken 300g – £2.48 for 330g, equates to £2.25 for 300g
• Mince 500g 25% fat – £3.09

Total £13.40 (down from £13.44)

Tesco

• Loaf of white bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) – £2.30
• Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) – £1.84 (up from £1.76)
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 420g tin – 28p
• Chicken 300g – £2.23 for 320g, equates to £2.09 for 300g
• Mince 500g 20% fat – £3.25

Total £13.50 (up from £13.42)

Sainsbury’s

• Loaf of bread 800g – 55p
• Milk 2 pints – £1.20
• Coffee 200g – £2.30
• Teabags 160 – £1.85
• Salted butter 250g – £1.99
• Beans 400g tin – 30p
• Chicken 300g – £2.23 for 320g, equates to £2.09 for 300g
• Mince 500g 20% fat – £3.25

Total £13.53