Revealed: The list of supermarkets where food prices are rising fastest – as cost of staples including cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausages soars by up to 80 per cent in a year… so are YOU paying more?
- Lidl has highest annual average inflation (25%) above Aldi (24%), says Which?
- Morrisons and Asda (both 18%) are ahead of Sainsbury’s (15%) and Tesco (14%)
The full list of British supermarkets where food prices have risen fastest over the past year has been revealed today – with budget retailers Lidl and Aldi experiencing the biggest surge amid rampant inflation.
The cost of food staples such as cheddar cheese, white bread and porridge oats have soared by nearly 18 per cent, according to the latest inflation figures from consumer group Which?.
Overall inflation on food and drink at supermarkets continued to rise in March to 17.2 per cent, up from 16.5 per cent the month before – while cheddar cheese prices increased by an average 28.3 per cent across eight major supermarkets – Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – compared to a year ago, the watchdog found.
Lidl and Aldi are top of the list, with inflation rates well ahead of Morrisons and Asda (both 18 per cent), Sainsbury’s (15 per cent), Tesco and Waitrose (14 per cent) and Ocado (11 per cent).
Researchers looked at 26,242 products across eight major supermarkets for the study, which did not include two other major retailers, Iceland and Co-Op. But they also pointed out that inflation was not a measure of absolute price – with Aldi and Lidl having the lowest prices.
Food essentials, including some brands of cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausages, are up by as much as 80 per cent in a year with budget ranges showing the biggest rises
The inflation data from Which? also showed the cost of British food staples such as cheddar cheese, white bread and porridge oats have soared on a year ago.
Overall inflation on food and drink at supermarkets continued to rise in March to 17.2 per cent, up from 16.5 per cent the month before, the watchdog found.
Cheddar cheese prices increased by an average 28.3 per cent across the eight supermarkets compared to a year ago.
However, one cheese, Dragon Welsh Mature Cheddar 180g at Asda, rose from £1 in the three months to the end of March last year to £1.80 across the same period this year – an 80 per cent hike.
The consumer group analysed inflation on food and drink products at the eight supermarkets, and also selected a basket of staple foods including cheddar cheese, sliced white bread, pork sausages, white potatoes and porridge oats to find which of these everyday products had seen the biggest price hikes.
The cost of porridge oats went up by an average of 35.5 per cent across all eight supermarkets compared to the same time last year.
Lidl had an annual average inflation of 25 per cent while the figure at Aldi was 24 per cent
Retail analysis firm Kantar provided its latest UK grocery market share figures on March 28
However, the worst single example of inflation on porridge oats was at Ocado where Quaker Oat So Simple Protein Porridge Pot Original 49g went from 94p to £1.56 – an increase of 65.5 per cent.
Large 800g loaves of sliced white bread saw an average increase of 22.8 per cent, but The Bakery at Asda Soft White Medium Sliced Bread 800g increased by 67 per cent from 56p to 94p.
Average inflation in white potatoes was around 14 per cent, but a four pack of baking potatoes at Morrisons increased from 40p to 66p – a rise of 63.5 per cent.
Pork sausages increased by an average of 26.8 per cent across the supermarkets.
However Asda’s Just Essentials budget range of eight sausages increased in price by 73.5 per cent from 81p to £1.40, while Tesco’s value Woodside Farms pack of eight went from 80p to £1.39, a 73.3 per cent increase.
The figures show it continues to be the cheapest products which are being the hardest hit by inflation in percentage terms.
Which?’s tracker shows supermarket own-label budget items – which are still the cheapest overall – were up 24.8 per cent in March compared with the same time last year, higher than the 20.5 per cent increase seen on standard supermarket own brands and the 13.8 per cent on branded and premium own brand ranges.
The cost of porridge oats went up by an average of 35.5 per cent across all eight supermarkets
Tesco’s value Woodside Farms pack of eight went from 80p to £1.39, a 73.3 per cent increase
It warned that even value foods, despite remaining a cheaper option, were at risk of becoming too expensive for those on the tightest budgets.
READ MORE — Asda launches ‘driverless’ grocery deliveries in London
Which? is calling on the major supermarkets to act by making budget line items widely available, particularly in areas where people are most in need, and to make pricing and offers more transparent so that people can easily work out which products are the best value.
Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy, said: ‘Our latest supermarket food and drink tracker paints a bleak picture for the millions of households already skipping meals of how inflation is impacting prices on supermarket shelves, with the poorest once again feeling the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis.
‘While the whole food chain affects prices, supermarkets have the power to do more to support people who are struggling, including ensuring everyone has easy access to basic, affordable food ranges at a store near them, particularly in areas where people are most in need.
‘Supermarkets must also provide transparent pricing so people can easily work out which products offer the best value.’
An Aldi spokesman said: ‘Through initiatives such as our Aldi Price Match campaign, Price Lock and My Nectar Prices, customers can find low prices on the products they buy most often both in stores and online – including: butter, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots.’
Sainsbury’s took on Tesco’s Clubcard last week by launching major changes to its Nectar loyalty card that has seen it widened to include discounts on 300 products
Asda said: ‘We’re working hard to keep prices in check for customers despite global inflationary pressures and we remain the lowest-priced major supermarket.’
Sainsbury’s said: ‘In the last two years, we have invested over £550million into lowering prices as part of our goal to put food back at the heart of Sainsbury’s.’
Waitrose added: ‘We’re working hard to keep our prices as low as possible, whilst paying our farmers and suppliers fairly, and maintaining high animal welfare standards.’
Tesco stated: ‘With household budgets under continued pressure, we remain absolutely focused on providing great value for our customers.’
And Ocado said: ‘Everything we do starts with our customers and we know how important value is to them right now.’
MailOnline has contacted Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons for comment today.
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