Aldi has secured its position as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for 2024, beating its closest competitor Lidl, according to research conducted by consumer website Which?.
The study tracked thousands of grocery prices across eight of the UK’s largest supermarkets—Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose—throughout the year, using an independent price comparison platform.
Results revealed that Aldi consistently offered the cheapest prices for a smaller basket of 56 essential items, such as milk, butter, and bread, during all 12 months of the year. Shoppers who regularly bought their groceries from Aldi saved an average of £393 annually compared to those shopping at Waitrose, the most expensive supermarket in the study.
Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine, commented:
“Our research shows Aldi has retained its crown as the UK’s cheapest supermarket in 2024. After the added expense of the festive period, many households will be looking to cut costs.
“Our analysis shows that by switching supermarkets, shoppers can make significant savings, highlighting the advantages of shopping around where possible.”
In December, a basket of 56 items cost an average of £100.29 at Aldi. Lidl, which came in second place, charged £101.48 with its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme and £101.56 without it—a difference of just £1.19 and £1.27, respectively. However, Waitrose was significantly more expensive, with the same basket costing £129.83.
For larger shopping trolleys, Which? found Asda to be the cheapest for 150 items during nine months of the year, though Tesco offered a competitive alternative in three months due to its Clubcard prices. Aldi and Lidl were not included in the larger basket comparisons as they do not always stock the same range of products.
Waitrose, however, remained the priciest supermarket for both smaller and larger shopping baskets, with a December trolley of 150 items costing £458.12 on average.
The findings highlight significant opportunities for cost savings by switching supermarkets, particularly for smaller shops at discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl.
