Sainsbury’s shoppers with Nectar card issued £572 warning

Sainsbury's customers may be able to make a saving by shopping around.

By Katie Elliott, Senior Personal Finance Reporter based in London

Sainsbury's Nectar Card

Sainsbury’s customers may be able to make a saving by shopping around. (Image: PA)

Sainsbury’s customers who regularly shop at Sainsbury’s Local with their Nectar card have been given a £572 warning.

Research has revealed that those shopping at Sainsbury’s smaller convenience stores are paying a significant premium compared to larger Sainsbury’s supermarkets, even with a Nectar card.

A consumer analysis conducted by Which? examined the pricing differences between supermarket chains’ large stores and their smaller convenience outlets, including Sainsbury’s Local, Tesco Express, and Morrisons Daily.

The research found that on average, Sainsbury’s Local shoppers are paying around £11 more per shop compared to customers at regular Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

For those doing a weekly shop, this price difference can add up to an extra £572 over the course of a year.

Woman looking at a receipt after shopping at the supermarket

Sainsbury’s shoppers with Nectar card issued £572 warning (Image: Getty)

For example, a tub of Philadelphia soft cheese costs 20 percent more at Sainsbury’s Local than at the supermarkets' bigger stores.

Meanwhile, a 400g tin of Sainsbury’s own-label butter beans in water costs a significant 67 percent more at a Sainsbury’s local.

Sainsbury’s Local does not currently offer member-exclusive discounts like Tesco's Clubcard prices. However, the overall cost of the same basket of 42 groceries was still 14 percent higher at Sainsbury’s Local.

In comparison, Tesco Clubcard users at Tesco Express benefited from savings, with the average total cost of a basket at Sainsbury’s Local being £111.83 compared to £108.28 at Tesco Express with a Clubcard.

Which? said: “In total, our 42 groceries would have averaged around £11 (14 percent) more at Sainsbury’s Local than Sainsbury's supermarkets, and £10 (11 percent) more at Tesco Express than Tesco supermarkets for loyalty members, which adds up to more than £500 extra over a year.”

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