'Cheapest' supermarket now most expensive for essentials
For most of January, Morrisons was working out cheaper than Aldi and Lidl in the weekly price comparison. The Manchester Evening News tracks the costs of eight basic items including bread, milk, butter, beans, tea, coffee, mince and chicken.
However, this week the supermarket has increased the price of its cheapest loaf from 47p to 49p, making its overall bill of £13.45 the dearest of the lot. Aldi and Asda have also increased their cheapest mince to £2.99 per pack, whilst Tesco and Sainsbury's have reduced theirs to £2.95.
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Lidl remains the cheapest for a sixth week running, with a bill of £13.04. Aldi is second cheapest at £13.17, with Tesco now in third place, with a bill of £13.25. It had previously spent 17 consecutive weeks as the most expensive, until Sainsbury's swiped the unfortunate accolade in April.
Asda is fourth cheapest at £13.31, followed by Sainsbury's at £13.43.
A number of supermarkets do disagree with the MEN's comparison of bills. Aldi says the list doesn't take into account the difference in quality, insisting, for example, that its own Diplomat Red Label tea bags and its coffee are 'higher quality' than the comparative products used. The supermarket says its tins of beans are also heavier than some of the others.
An Aldi spokesperson added: 'Our promise to customers is that they will make significant savings every time they shop with Aldi, which is why we've been named Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for four years running.'
The comparison for mince includes the cheapest from each place, which is the 25% fat versions at Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl. The others though, sell 20% fat versions which is seen as better quality.
Asda also disagrees with the comparisons, stating they do not account for deals and the fuller picture of prices. The supermarket says that, across the board, its Just Essentials range is the largest and cheapest available, alongside Aldi's.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson 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, Nectar Prices, or our current biggest ever Aldi Price Match offer.'
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £1.99
Teabags 240 - £2.79 / equates to £1.86 for 160
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 27p
Chicken 300g - £2.25
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.99
Total £13.04
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £1.99
Teabags 160 - £1.99
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 27p
Chicken 300g - £2.25
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.99 (up from £2.95)
Total: £13.17 (up from £13.13)
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £2.30
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack) - £1.80
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 420g tin - 28p
Chicken 300g - £2.40 for 320g, equates to £2.25 for 300g
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.95 (down from £2.99)
Total £13.25 (down from £13.30)
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) - £2.28
Teabags 160 (4 x 40-pack) - £1.80
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 410g tin - 28p
Chicken 300g - £2.28
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.99 (up from £2.95)
Total £13.31 (up from £13.27)
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p
Milk 2 pints - £1.20
Coffee 200g - £2.30
Teabags 160 - £1.99
Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 400g tin - 26p
Chicken 300g - £2.40 for 320g, equates to £2.25 for 300g
Mince 500g 20% fat - £2.95 (down from £2.99)
Total £13.43 (down from £13.47)
Loaf of white bread 800g - 49p (up from 47p)
Milk 2 pints - £1.25
Coffee (2 x 100g) - £2.30
Teabags 160 (2 x 80-pack Savers) - £1.80
Savers Salted butter 250g - £1.99
Beans 410g tin - 26p
Chicken 300g - £2.65 for 330g, equates to £2.41 for 300g
Mince 500g 25% fat - £2.95
Total £13.45 (up from £13.43)
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