Latest news with #FirstStepsNutritionTrust
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Aldi makes £6.99 baby formula announcement as UK prices soar in supermarkets
Parents opting to bottle feed their babies will be around £5 better-off buying Aldi's Mamia powdered formula - as the budget supermarket pledges a price freeze Bosses at Aldi have made a commitment to parents by freezing the price of its own-branded baby formula, an essential for bottle fed infants. Nearly all Brits have been hit financially by the cost of living, which has seen the price of common food shop items soaring in line with inflation. And young families with babies have now been told of a price increase on baby formula, with First Steps Nutrition Trust revealing the most expensive tub on the market is now priced at £18. This is almost three times as much as Aldi's Mamia baby formula. The average cost of a branded baby formula tub is £13.49, with a range between £7.95 to £18. This is despite all brands of powdered baby milk having to contain the correct nutrients for growing babies, meaning there is very little difference between the standard unless otherwise specified. In the UK, according to Unicef, more than half of babies are fed a bottle of formula by one week of age, and three-quarters by six weeks. The First Steps Nutrition Trust shows all brands of formula have increased in price from January 2020, including Aldi's Mamia. But Aptamil Advanced was ranked as the most expensive by April 2023, with the average tub costing £19 for 800g, which could last a formula-fed baby around a week depending on how many bottles they have per day. The trust said: "All infant formula must meet regulations on nutrition composition. When comparing costs to find the least expensive product to feed an infant, it is important to compare the cost of products on the basis of reconstituted formula as pack sizes and the ratio of powder to water required differs between brands." Aldi: 'Shoppers should not be paying over the odds' Aldi has since said it will be keeping the price of its Mamia First Infant Formula for the remainder of 2025, saving shoppers around £5 for buying its own-brand option. Despite other supermarkets stocking the big, more expensive, players such as Kendamil, Aptamil, SMA and Cow & Gate, Aldi is the only one to offer its own branded milk. The likes of Tesco, Morrison's, Asda and Sainsbury's do not have their own exclusive range. Aldi does not confirm when a price hike will be implemented, but has committed to keeping prices the same for the rest of the year. It's not clear how much more a tub will retail at when such an increase is put in place. Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: 'Shoppers should not be paying over the odds for the essentials. As the UK's cheapest supermarket, we're committed to keeping prices low on the products our customers rely on most.' She continued: 'As formula prices remain at historic highs across the market, we want to reassure parents that Aldi, there will be no unwelcome surprises at the checkout - we're keeping our Mamia First Infant Formula at just £6.99 for at least the remainder of this year.' To support parents all across the country, earlier this year, Aldi also launched a Mamia New Parent Fund, where the supermarket was giving away £100 Aldi vouchers to parents every week for a whole year. This was an initiative to support parents on purchasing essential items after welcoming a new baby. For those interested in learning more about it and applying for The Fund, it can be done by emailing mamiaparentfund@ with a receipt proving they've purchased their latest Mamia nappy product. Full terms and conditions will be found here.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major supermarket promises to FREEZE formula prices for the rest of the year
A MAJOR supermarket has promised to freeze formula prices for the rest of the year. Aldi has pledged to freeze the price of its Mamia First Infant Formula for the remainder of 2025. 1 Aldi will continue to charge £6.99 for its own label formula. That is around £5 less than the average price of formula elsewhere in 2024. Big name brands like Hipp and Cow & Gate cost around £12 at major retailers such as Boots. The move comes after data from First Steps Nutrition Trust shows that baby formula prices remain close to historic highs, with the most expensive product on the market now priced at £18. It was also found that the price of baby milk fell only 50p on average last year, to £11.99, compared to £11.10 in 2021 - four years ago. The trust said new own-brand infant formulas from Aldi and Lidl have been hitting the market with lower price points. However, prices of eight of the 12 available infant formulas in shops were still "high and static" between April 2024 and May 2025. Only the remaining four out of 12 available to customers as of this month are less than £8.50. The report said that the infant formula market overall remains "dominated by expensive products". The government is yet to publish a response to the recommendations. Among the measures suggested by the CMA is that the NHS introduce its own non-brand baby formula in a bid to drive prices down. It has also proposed existing baby milk products be provided in non-branded containers in hospitals to reduce the impact branded products can have while parents are in a "vulnerable" setting. The CMA has also put forward that packaging should clearly display nutritional information, while any claims that cannot easily be checked by parents are banned. It said this would make it easier for parents to pick between brands. The CMA has made no recommendation on a price cap for baby milk, despite higher prices faced by shoppers in recent years. It comes after the CMA, the regulator, proposed in February several measures which, if confirmed, could save parents buying baby milk around £300 a year. Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: 'Shoppers should not be paying over the odds for the essentials. As the UK's cheapest supermarket, we're committed to keeping prices low on the products our customers rely on most. 'As formula prices remain at historic highs across the market, we want to reassure parents that at Aldi, there will be no unwelcome surprises at the checkout – we're keeping our Mamia First Infant Formula at just £6.99 for at least the remainder of this year.' All first infant formula must be nutritionally equivalent, but prices can vary due to factors like branding.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Baby formula prices still ‘shamefully' high despite plans for new rules to save parents £300 a year
THOUSANDS of parents buying baby formula are still getting ripped off despite a watchdog crackdown. New research has found bigger brands are putting profits over shopper affordability when it comes to the essential product. It comes with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) due to respond to several recommendations put forward by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on infant milk. The fresh report from the First Steps Nutrition Trust has revealed the cost of infant formula remains higher now than before the cost of living crisis. The trust found the price of baby milk fell only 50p on average last year, to £11.99, compared to £11.10 in 2021 - four years ago. Meanwhile, it said the most expensive baby milk on the market is priced at a staggering £18. The trust said new own-brand infant formulas from Aldi and Lidl have been hitting the market with lower price points. However, prices of eight of the 12 available infant formulas in shops were still "high and static" between April 2024 and May 2025. Only the remaining four out of 12 available to customers as of this month are less than £8.50. The report said that the infant formula market overall remains "dominated by expensive products". Dr Vicky Sibson, director of the First Steps Nutrition Trust, said: "You can see that despite being exposed for maintaining 50-75% profit margins, the big brands are maintaining high prices, which we think is shameful." It comes after the CMA, the regulator, proposed in February several measures which, if confirmed, could save parents buying baby milk around £300 a year. Freebies for parents worth £2,900 The government is yet to publish a response to the recommendations. Among the measures suggested by the CMA is that the NHS introduce its own non-brand baby formula in a bid to drive prices down. It has also proposed existing baby milk products be provided in non-branded containers in hospitals to reduce the impact branded products can have while parents are in a "vulnerable" setting. The CMA has also put forward that packaging should clearly display nutritional information, while any claims that cannot easily be checked by parents are banned. It said this would make it easier for parents to pick between brands. The CMA has made no recommendation on a price cap for baby milk, despite higher prices faced by shoppers in recent years. For shoppers facing higher prices already, you can cut costs by opting for supermarkets' own-brand versions. The comparison website lets you compare prices on thousands of products including baby milk to find the best prices. The Sun asked the Department for Health and Social Care to comment. What help is there for parents? If you receive certain benefits and are pregnant or have at least one child under the age of four then you can apply for Healthy Start scheme. You will get: £4.25 each week of your pregnancy £8.50 each week for children from birth to one year old £4.25 each week for children between one and four years old The money will stop after your child's fourth birthday or if you no longer receive benefits. If you are eligible you will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. The money will be added onto this card every four weeks. You can use the card to buy: Plain liquid cow's milk Fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables Fresh, dried and tinned pulses Infant formula milk based on cow's milk To be eligible for the scheme you must be receiving one of the following benefits: Income support Income-based jobseeker's allowance Child tax credit if your family's annual income is £16,190 or less, and not getting working tax credit Universal credit if your family's monthly earned income is £408 or less from employment Pension credit BABY BANK LOCATIONS BELOW is a selection of baby banks by region. See the web address at the end of the page to find contact details for all the country's baby banks North West Baby Basics Bolton & Bury, West Lancashire Baby Basics Carlisle, Cumbria Baby Basics South Lakes, Cumbria Baby Basics, Cleator Moor, West Cumbria Trafford Little Bundles, Lancashire TippyToes BabyBank Preston, Lancashire Salford Baby Bank, Lancashire Snowdrop Doula CIC Burnley, Lancashire Cascade Baby Bundles, Audenshaw, Cheshire The Baby Room at Spinners, Leigh, Lancashire The Healthy Gems Baby Bank, Oldham, Lancashire NCT Mid Cheshire NCT Preston Baby Bundles, Lancashire KidsBank Chester, Cheshire Motherwell Pass It On Baby Bank, Winsford, Cheshire Hyndburn Baby Bank, Accrington, Lancashire North East Growbaby Newcastle, Tyne & Wear Love, Amelia, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear Birth Bath and Beyond, Scarborough, North Yorkshire Clothe and Feed South Shields, Tyne & Wear Clothe and Feed Sunderland, Tyne & Wear Rosie's Corner, Hexham, Northumberland Stockton Baby Bank, County Durham 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Bundles Colchester, Essex Fighting Chance Baby Bank, Petworth, West Sussex Baby2Baby, East Sussex Baby Basics Brighton Baby Basics Dover & Deal, Kent Baby Basics Englefield Green, Surrey Baby Basics Folkestone, Kent Baby Basics Willvern, Essex First Days Reading, Berkshire Baby Basics Hastings and Rother, East Sussex Baby Basics, Grays, Kent Baby Basics Shoreham, West Sussex NCT Winchester Baby Bundles, Hampshire NCT Woking Baby Bundles, Surrey Pelican Parcels Brighton and Hove, Sussex Baby Stuff Braintree, Essex Tots 2 Teens Colchester baby bank, Essex Stripey Stork, Reigate, Surrey Sunshine Baby Bank Southend, Essex The Baby Bank HQ Havering, Essex The Baby Bank HQ Thurrock, Essex Community Wardrobe Chelmsford, Essex The Baby Bank Windsor, Berkshire Growbaby Storehouse Ashford, Kent Moses Basket Brentwood, Essex, Growbaby Chelmsford, Essex NCT Little Bundles Baby Bank Chichester & Arun, West Sussex NCT Baby Bundles Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, Kent Mama to Mama, Margate, Kent Home-Start 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Midlands Brierley Hill Baby Bank, Dudley, West Mids Baskets of Joy Leicester Growbaby Leicester Alice Charity, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire Growbaby Northampton The Arches, Nottingham High Peak Baby Bank, Buxton, Derbyshire Growbaby, Nuneaton, Warwickshire Growbaby Bedworth, Warwickshire Bicester Baby Bank, Oxfordshire Elayos Baby Bank Birmingham Baby Basics Wolverhampton Growbaby Birmingham St Michaels Church Baby Aid Birmingham Baby Basics Warwick Baby Godiva Coventry Growkids Coventry Baby Basics Chesterfield, Derbyshire Baby Basics Long Eaton, Notts Baby Basics Leicester Baby Basics Northampton Baby Basics Hinckley, Leicestershire Growbaby Birmingham Vineyard City Centre Site Tots in Need Walsall, West Mids Spark Baby & Children's Bank Staffordshire Staffordshire Baby Bank, Stafford, Staffs Telford and Wrekin Baby and Toddler bank, Shropshire Clothe and Feed Wallsend, Herefordshire Little Stars Shropshire Karis Baby Bank Central Birmingham NCT Malvern Hills Baby Bundles, Worcs Little Cherub's Baby Bank High Peak, Derbyshire Growbaby Worcester Wales Baby Basics Dryffryn Clwyd Denbigh Baby Basics Vale of Glamorgan Baby Basics Newtown Baby Basics Swansea Baby Basics Port Talbot Baby Basics Wrexham Cwtch Baby Bank Cardiff Baby Basics Penrhiwceiber Cariad a Cwtch Baby Bank Llandrindod Wells Growbaby Cardiff Pembrokeshire Baby Bank Splice Baby Bank Bridgend Bundles Baby Clothing and Birth Support, Newport Bethel Baby Bank Port Talbot NCT Cardiff Baby Bundles Ely Baby Bank Feed Newport Baby Bank Scotland Bairn Necessities, Glasgow AberNecessities, Aberdeen Growbaby Fife Baby Bank Scotland, Hamilton Bairnecessities Aberdeenshire Bear Necessities Airdrie Togs for Tots Dundee Glasgow Baby Food Bank GRA Baby Bank Aberdeenshire Nelly Boxes East Renfrewshire Baby Bank No 1 Glasgow Baby & Family Support Service Tiny Treasures Baby Bank Oban Button and Bows Baby Bank Perth Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Care Misty Glen Baby Bank Fort William Dingwall Primary Baby Bank Moray Baby Bank Monklands Baby and Family Clothing Aid East Abi's Footprints, Sudbury, Suffolk Baby Bank Norfolk Baby Basics Lowestoft, Suffolk Baby Basics West Norfolk West Marsh Baby Bank, Lincolnshire Suffolk Baby Bank, Bury Saint Edmunds Baby's Basket, Lincoln, Lincolnshire Growbaby Thetford, Norfolk Growkids Norwich, Norfolk Fenland Family and Baby Bank, Cambridgeshire GrowKids Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Little Family Baby Bank, Sutton On Sea, Lincolnshire Little Treasures Baby Bank, Horncastle, East Lincolnshire Little Bundles, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Northern Ireland Baby Basics Antrim & Newtonabbey Baby Basics Ballymena Baby Basics Belfast Bump2Baby NI (Mid-Ulster Baby Bank) Baby Basics Banbridge Baby Basics Causeway Baby Basics Magherafelt Baby Basics Mullavilly Growbaby Enniskillen Carrickfergus Baby Bank
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Baby formula prices at historic high despite UK watchdog proposals
Baby formula prices remain close to historic highs more than 18 months after the UK competition watchdog began an investigation into the market, with the government a week late in responding to its proposed remedies. The cost of infant formula fell only 50p on average last year, to £11.99 a tin, compared with £11.10 in 2021, with the most expensive priced at £18. The products are out of reach for those entitled to the government's Healthy Start allowance designed to help poorer families, according to the First Steps Nutrition Trust campaign group. Most baby formula products have not changed price in the past year. Dr Vicky Sibson, the director of the trust, said: 'You can see that despite being exposed for maintaining 50-75% profit margins, the big brands are maintaining high prices, which we think is shameful.' The exceptions are two supermarket own-label products, with Lidl and Aldi offering formula at £6.99. The Competition and Markets Authority proposed in February several measures to help parents, which it said could allow them to save £300 a year by switching to a lower-priced brand. The government, which was due to publish a response more than a week ago, has yet to outline its plans for the market. However, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'There are many benefits of breastfeeding but for those mothers that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital parents can access infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Families should not be paying over the odds to feed their babies. 'As part of our plan for change, we're determined to ensure every child has the best start to life. We are working closely with the devolved governments to carefully consider these recommendations and will respond fully in due course.' The CMA's recommendations included standardised packaging in hospitals and other healthcare locations to tackle the power of marketing on new parents and allowing families to use gift vouchers and loyalty card points to buy formula milk. Until now, advertising of baby formula, as well as price reductions and deals, have been restricted to avoid discouraging breastfeeding. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion While shoppers tend to seek out cheaper options on most products, parents are reluctant to change brands when it comes to formula, where there are only the two supermarket own-label alternatives to the big brands. Two companies, Danone and Nestlé, account for 85% of sales, with few parents aware that baby formula is tightly regulated so that all products meet babies' nutritional and safety needs. The CMA launched its study into the infant formula market after finding that manufacturers raised prices by 25% in two years and managed to increase profit margins during the cost of living crisis.
