Sainsbury's Nectar card holders issued £624 warning over shopping ...

Sainsbury's patrons holding a Nectar card have been dealt a hefty £624 warning, as shopping with the supermarket giant could end up being considerably pricier than opting for budget powerhouse Aldi. A thorough pricing investigation by Which? that monitored the cost of groceries daily throughout 2024 at the UK's leading supermarkets has revealed Aldi as the year's least expensive, based on their findings each month.

Lidl secured the position of second-cheapest retailer, averaging just £1.99 above Aldi's prices. In stark contrast, Waitrose consistently emerged as the priciest option for the designated shopping list every single month of 2024, except for September when Sainsbury's (for customers not utilising a Nectar card) topped the chart. Which? has clarified: "Waitrose was the most expensive for our bigger shop every month except September, when Sainsbury's was priciest (for shoppers not using a Nectar card).", reports Birmingham Live.

Adding further detail to the study, they explained, "Our price comparison includes discounts that are available to everyone and loyalty prices where applicable, but not multibuys."

Highlighting December data, the organisation specified Aldi as the front-runner in affordability, charging an average of £100.29 for a comprehensive list of 56 branded and private label items. For Nectar card possessors at Sainsbury's, the same basket cost £112.13, whereas non-cardholders faced a bill of £116 – spelling out a £12 disparity per shop weekly, or an annual £624.

Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine, commented: "Our research shows Aldi has retained its crown as the UK's cheapest supermarket in 2024."

"Our price comparison includes discounts that are available to everyone and loyalty prices where applicable, but not multibuys. 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."

Tesco emerged as the cheapest of the traditional supermarkets – with the shopping bill amounting to £111.22 for those wielding a Clubcard, and £112.90 for non-Clubcard holders. In contrast, Waitrose stood at the pricier end of the spectrum, with a total cost of £129.83 – almost £30 more than Aldi.