Sainsbury's shoppers have been slapped with a £624 warning about the potential cost of not using a Nectar card. The consumer champions at Which? have crunched the numbers and found that those loyal to Sainsbury's could be shelling out more than necessary compared to budget-friendly Aldi. After tracking grocery prices daily throughout 2024, Which? declared Aldi the cheapest supermarket for the entire year.
Lidl followed closely as the second-cheapest, while Waitrose consistently came in as the priciest. The watchdog noted: "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).".
They added: "Our price comparison includes discounts that are available to everyone and loyalty prices where applicable, but not multibuys." In December, Aldi topped the affordability chart with an average charge of £100.29 for a mix of 56 branded and own-label items. Nectar card holders at Sainsbury's paid £112.13, whereas those without the card faced a bill of £116 – leading to a £12 difference per weekly shop, or a whopping £624 annually.
Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine, said: "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.".
