In a continuing price comparison of basic goods, Asda has once again been found to be the most expensive supermarket, with its chicken breasts driving up the overall bill. The Manchester Evening News, which has been tracking prices of eight essential items across six major supermarkets since March 2022, has found that Asda has held the top spot for the past six weeks.
Last week, Asda saw a 13% price increase on its chicken breasts, contributing to an overall basket cost of £12.78. This week, the price of Asda’s chicken breasts remains at £2.65 for a 300g pack, a hefty 18% more than almost every other supermarket.
At Aldi, Lidl, and Tesco, the price for a similar chicken breast pack sits at £2.25. Sainsbury’s 320g pack, while slightly larger, works out to the same price per gram as the other three. Morrisons, at £2.65 for 330g, equates to £2.41 for 300g, still 24p less than Asda.
Aldi continues to hold the title of cheapest supermarket this week with a basket total of £12.02. Morrisons follows closely behind at £12.11, followed by Sainsbury’s at £12.40 and Tesco at £12.43.
The comparison’s findings have drawn responses from both Aldi and Asda, with each supermarket defending their pricing strategies. Aldi, despite being named the cheapest, has consistently disputed the comparison findings, arguing that the methodology doesn’t account for like-for-like products or the “higher quality” of its goods. The supermarket giant has pointed to the fact that its beans are 20g heavier than Sainsbury’s and that its teabags offer “better quality” than the comparison items.
Asda has also voiced objections, arguing that the limited selection of items doesn’t reflect the broader pricing landscape or take into account their promotional offers. They emphasize that their Just Essentials range is the most extensive and economical on the market, rivaling Aldi’s offerings.
An Aldi representative stated, “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 three years running. Which? has also named Aldi the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket every month this year, even in its latest analysis including loyalty prices.”
Here’s a breakdown of the prices for each supermarket’s basket:
Aldi:
* 800g white bread loaf: 47p
* Two pints of milk: £1.20
* 200g coffee: £1.79
* 160 teabags: £1.85
* 250g salted butter: £1.89
* 420g tin of beans: 28p
* 300g chicken: £2.25
* 500g mince (25 per cent fat): £2.29
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Total: £12.02
Morrisons:
* 800g white bread loaf: 47p
* Two pints of milk: £1.20
* Coffee (Two x 100g): £1.98
* 160 teabags (Two x 80-pack Savers): £1.60
* 250g Savers salted butter: £1.89
* 410g tin of beans: 27p
* 300g chicken: £2.65 for 330g, equivalent to £2.41 for 300g
* 500g mince (25 per cent fat): £2.29
*
Total: £12.11
Lidl:
* 800g white bread loaf: 47p.
* 2 pints of milk: £1.20.
* 200g coffee: £1.99.
* 240 teabags: £2.79, equivalent to £1.86 for 160 teabags
* Salted butter 250g – £1.89.
* Beans 420g tin – 28p
* Chicken 300g – £2.25
* Mince 500g (25 per cent fat) – £2.29
*
Total £12.23
Sainsbury’s:
* Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
* Milk two pints – £1.20
* Coffee 200g – £1.98 (down from £1.99)
* Teabags 160 – £1.85
* Salted butter 250g – £1.89
* Beans 400g tin – 27p
* Chicken 300g – £2.40 for 320g / equates to £2.25 for 300g
* Mince 500g (20 per cent fat) – £2.49
*
Total £12.40 (down from £12.41)
Tesco:
* Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
* Milk 2 pints – £1.20
* Coffee 200g (two x 100g) – £2
* Teabags 160 (two x 80-pack) – £1.84
* Salted butter 250g – £1.89
* Beans 420g tin – 29p
* Chicken 300g – £2.25
* Mince 500g 20 per cent fat – £2.49
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Total £12.43
Asda:
* Loaf of white bread 800g – 47p
* Milk two pints – £1.20
* Coffee 200g (Two x 100g) – £2
* Teabags 160 (Four x 40-pack) – £1.80
* Salted butter 250g – £1.89
* Beans 410g tin – 28p
* Chicken 300g – £2.65
* Mince 500g 20 per cent fat – £2.49
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