Customers of Tesco and Sainsbury's have been warned that they could be paying hundreds more for their shopping each year.
Using the brand's smaller stores may be more convenient, but a new checklist released by Which? shows that doing so may prove to be more costly too. Which? said households spend £10.20 more each week at a Sainsbury’s Local rather than a regular Sainsbury’s supermarket - adding up to a staggering £322 over the course of a year.
Meanwhile, a basket of groceries from convenience store Tesco Express cost on average £279 more over 12 months, compared to the larger stores. Which? analysed the average prices of 48 items at the two convenience chains in February 2021 and highlighted its research again this week in a series of new cost-cutting measures for shoppers, reported Manchester Evening News.
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Adam French, Which? consumer rights expert, said: "Rising food prices and the cost of living crisis are putting huge pressure on household budgets at the moment, and no one wants to overpay for food.
"Shopping around and buying own-brand products is an easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year, as is avoiding expensive convenience stores if you can. Those prepared to switch to a cheaper supermarket for their regular shop will likely find some great value alternatives to their favourite brands."
Here are four other ways to cut the cost of your supermarket shop, as revealed by Which? consumer magazine:
- Always compare prices and shop around for the best deals. Lidl was the cheapest supermarket when Which? performed its monthly price comparison in March this year, with a basket of 21 groceries costing an average of £26.83. The same or equivalent items from Waitrose cost £36.04 - so you'd save £9.21 by shopping at Lidl.
- Swap branded products for supermarket own-brand goods and save hundreds of pounds a year. This is known as Downshifting and it could cut around a third of the price of your shop. So say you normally spend £100 each week, you could save £30 each time you shop.
- Search different aisles – and look up and down for the best value products. Which? found that some items, including rice, sauces, and baking ingredients, can be found in multiple different supermarket aisles at different prices. For example, rice and chickpeas can be cheaper in the world foods aisle.
- Stock up when you can. Price fluctuations, or 'yo-yo' pricing, means that it is often worth shoppers bulk buying when items they usually purchase are discounted. This is particularly useful for cupboard items and products that can be frozen, so they don't go out of date in the very near future.
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