Which? reports that a new supermarket has become the most expensive, surpassing Waitrose.

Are you looking for ways to save money on your big shop? You may be surprised to find out that Sainsbury's is now the most expensive supermarket for a big shop, if you don't use a loyalty card.

According to a monthly survey of prices of 131 items at Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose conducted by Which?, the basket of 131 popular goods costs £359.23 at Sainsbury’s for shoppers without a Nectar card. This puts it ahead of the £355.51 basket at Waitrose, by just less than £4.

However, when Which? conducted a smaller survey of 39 items, Waitrose was named as the most expensive and Sainsbury’s was named as fourth-most. Aldi was named as the cheapest. This indicates that supermarkets have been increasingly making special offers only available to those who are members of loyalty schemes, creating two very different shopping experiences.

This has caused some issues, as Which? has previously warned that the rise of loyalty schemes make it difficult for shoppers to compare prices between different supermarkets. Ele Clark, the retail editor at Which?, said: ‘As millions struggle with increased food prices and other high household bills, it is no surprise that many are turning to discounters for their food shop. Our latest research shows that once again Aldi is the cheapest supermarket for a basket of groceries but for the first time, Sainsbury’s has come out as the most expensive for a big shop.’

However, Sainsbury’s has argued the claims made by Which? are ‘false’ and ‘insulting’, instead stressing the items in question are ‘cherry picked’ and not a true representation of its pricing. In response, a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘These claims are entirely false and insulting to the millions of savvy customers who choose to shop with us every week. There is an overwhelming amount of independently verified data showing the great value customers get when shopping at Sainsbury’s.’

It's worth taking the time to consider all the options when it comes to your big shop. There are plenty of ways to save money, such as using a loyalty card where possible, checking out special offers, and looking for an alternative supermarket. And don't forget, you can always get in touch by emailing email if you have a story to share!

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