Tesco Overtakes Asda as UK's Cheapest Big Shop Supermarket

Tesco has overtaken Asda to become the United Kingdom's cheapest supermarket for a large grocery shop in January, according to a monthly price comparison by consumer organization Which?. The analysis, which examined the cost of 228 popular items including branded and own-brand products such as Birds Eye peas, Hovis bread, milk, butter, and Cathedral City cheddar, found that Tesco customers using a Clubcard could complete the basket for £588.96. This made it £1.45 less expensive than the same shop at Asda, which totaled £590.41 and offered prices available to all shoppers without restrictions.

The shift marks the first time Tesco has claimed the top spot since December 2024, ending Asda's streak of leading the rankings for more than a year. However, Which? noted limitations to Tesco's advantage, as its Clubcard loyalty scheme excludes certain groups, including those under 18 years old. Without the Clubcard discounts, the Tesco basket rose to £641.09, £52.13 more than the loyalty price and significantly higher than Asda's offering.

Aldi and Lidl were not part of the big shop comparison due to their more limited product ranges compared to the eight larger supermarkets assessed,...