Experts name cheapest UK supermarket for branded food items
Grocery experts have done the hard work for you - detailing exactly which supermarket comes out as the cheapest when purchasing big-name brands like Nescafé, Filippo Berio, and Heinz is on the cards.
When it comes to grocery shopping, some of us may be willing to fork out a little bit more to have our favourite products.
This could be shoving HP sauce in your basket instead of being stuck with a store-owned version of it, or choosing Pizza Express-branded doughballs to recreate that restaurant feeling at home.
If you’re someone who has serious brand loyalty or can’t live without your storecupboard staples, then you may be surprised to hear you could be paying double for the same jar or coffee depending on where you shop.
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Which?, the leading consumer champions, have recently analysed 241 popular branded items - including baked goods from Mr Kipling - to find out which store sells them for the cheapest.
With the results, you will be able to swap where you shop and get a little bit more bang for your buck.
According to the experts, a 241-item shop at Sainsbury's would cost the most at £933.82.
However, if you make use of Nectar offers, then a fully-branded shop at Sainsbury’s would come in third in the rankings at £849.08.
Similarly, a full-shop Tesco would cost a jaw-dropping £911.64 if no loyalty scheme offers were applied.
If you use your ClubCard, then the shop would come in at £824.62, the second-cheapest, according to Which? analysts.
Topping the overall list was Asda, with the supermarket being hailed as the cheapest supermarket for branded items for a second month, as per Sky News.
At Asda, a branded shop costs £813.16, with Which? discovering a 500ml bottle of Filippo Berio costs 71 percent less (£4.98) at the store than at Waitrose (£8.51)
“While membership cards offer targeted discounts, Asda's straightforward pricing is proving more reliable for fans of big brands who want to keep their grocery bills under control without the need for a card,” said Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor.
Other highlights from the Which? study found that Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil (750ml) was cheapest at Morrisons, while a four-pack of Tilda boil-in-the-bag rice was £1 at Tesco without a Clubcard.
In a statement to The Sun, a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said that more than four in five items flagged on the report were cheaper when using Nectar.
“Our customers know a good deal when they see one,” they added.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Waitrose said: “This assessment only provides a snapshot, and does not take into account the wide range of promotions on other products belonging to the brands included within this analysis.”
A Tesco spokesperson added: "It is no surprise that Clubcard Prices deliver great value for customers, and with more than 80% of sales involving a Clubcard there are millions of people taking advantage of this every week. However, shoppers can also get great value on thousands of products without using their Clubcard thanks to our combination of Aldi Price Match and Everyday Low Prices.”
The Which? report comes amid news that the UK government is bracing for grocery prices to rise amid conflict in the Middle East.
The Iran war, which began on 28 February with joint strikes from the US and Israeli military, has caused a stoppage in CO2 moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade has also caused fertiliser and red diesel to become more difficult to obtain.
Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, reported that food inflation is already being ‘priced in’ and that we could soon see prevalent availability issues.
“It’s everything from a loaf of bread upwards,” he stated.
“We could also see availability issues, which will lead to shrinkflation as well as price increases.”
Ella Scott