Everyone using a Sainsbury’s Nectar Card issued £158 warning

Sainsbury's Nectar Card users not shopping at Aldi, Lidl or Asda may be losing as much as £158.

By Katie Elliott, Senior Personal Finance Reporter based in London

Sainsbury's Nectar Card

Everyone using a Sainsbury’s Nectar Card issued £158 warning (Image: PA)

Shoppers using a Sainsbury’s Nectar Card could be £158 worse off per year compared to Aldi customers new research shows, while Lidl and Tesco shoppers are also better off.

While Sainsbury’s continues to offer sizeable discounts through its Nectar Card prices, a new report from consumer magazine Which? found that even with these discounts, shoppers at Sainsbury’s are paying £158 more per year compared to those who shop at Aldi.

In August’s supermarket comparison, Which? found Aldi to be the cheapest, with an average basket of 63 popular groceries costing £110.58.

Lidl was the second most affordable, just £1.30 more than Aldi, followed by Asda at £121.85.

Sainsbury’s, with Nectar Card prices included, averaged £123.75 per month. This translates to a weekly cost of £13.17 more at Sainsbury’s, resulting in an annual difference of £158.04 for those shopping every week.

Tesco, with its Clubcard, had a slightly lower average monthly cost than Sainsbury’s Nectar Card, at £123.13, but it still falls short of Aldi’s prices.

Person checking the supermarket bill

Sainsbury’s Nectar Card users may be able to reduce the price of their food bill further (Image: Getty)

Waitrose came in as the most expensive shop, with an average basket cost of £140.89, a significant 27 percent more than Aldi.

Ele Clark, senior Which? money and shopping editor, commented: “Our latest monthly analysis once again sees Aldi crowned as the UK’s cheapest supermarket.

“Given the ongoing strain of high food prices on household budgets, it's understandable that many people are choosing discounters to cut costs.

“By switching supermarkets, consumers could save 22 percent, highlighting the advantages of shopping around."

Here’s the full table of results from Which? Research, showing the average monthly price for a basket of the same goods per retailer in August 2024:

  • Aldi - £110.58
  • Lidl (with Lidl Plus) - £111.88
  • Lidl (without Lidl Plus) - £112.17
  • Asda - £121.85
  • Tesco (with Clubcard) - £123.13
  • Tesco (without Clubcard) - £123.62
  • Sainsbury's (with Nectar) - £123.75
  • Sainsbury’s (without Nectar) - £129.63
  • Morrisons - £129.79
  • Ocado - £133.99
  • Waitrose - £140.89.

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