Budget range? Supermarket essentials rise by as much as 80 per cent in a year as the cost of cheddar, white bread and sausages soar
- Budget ranges have risen by 24.8 per cent, according to staggering research
- As a result, millions are now struggling to put healthy meals on the table
- Cheddar cheese prices increased by an average 28.3 per cent across all shops
Food essentials, including some brands of cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausages, are up by as much as 80 per cent in a year with budget ranges showing the biggest rises.
The figures from consumer champion Which? confirm that it is the poorest households, which are most reliant on budget ranges and discount stores, who are worst hit by inflation.
The food inflation rate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for February was 18.2 per cent, however budget ranges are up by an astonishing 24.8 per cent, according to the new research.
As a result, millions are struggling to put healthy meals on the table while some parents are going without in order to make sure children do not go hungry.
Experts at Which? analysed inflation on more than 26,000 food and drink products at eight major supermarkets – Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – in March.
Food essentials, including some brands of cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausages, are up by as much as 80 per cent in a year with budget ranges showing the biggest rises
The biggest was seen on Dragon Welsh Mature Cheddar (180g), which went from £1 to £1.80 at Asda – an increase of 80 per cent
The consumer group analysed inflation on more than 26,000 food and drink productsacross eight major supermarkets – Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
It also selected a basket of staple foods including cheddar cheese, sliced white bread, pork sausages, white potatoes and porridge oats to find which of these everyday products had seen the biggest price hikes.
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Cheddar cheese prices increased by an average 28.3 per cent across all the supermarkets. The biggest was seen on Dragon Welsh Mature Cheddar (180g), which went from £1 to £1.80 at Asda – an increase of 80 per cent.
The cost of porridge oats went up by an average of 35.5 per cent across the supermarkets. At Ocado, Quaker Oat So Simple Protein Porridge Pot Original (49g) went from 94p to £1.56 – an increase of 65.5 per cent.
The average increase of a large sliced white loaf was 22.8 per cent. However, The Bakery at Asda Soft White Medium Sliced Bread (800g) went from 56p to 94p – up 67 per cent.
Looking at white potatoes, the average price rise has been 14 per cent. At Morrisons, a pack of four Baking Potatoes went from 40p to 66p – a rise of 63.5 per cent.
The increase for pork sausages was an average of 26.8 per cent. At Asda, the budget range Just Essentials by Asda 8 Pork Sausages (454g) went from 81p to £1.40,which is a 73.5per cent increase. Similarly, the value version at Tesco, Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages (454g) went from 80p to £1.39 – up 73.3 per cent.
The figures show it continues to be the cheapest products which are being the hardest hit by inflation in percentage terms.
The group’s tracker also shows that supermarket own-label budget items – which are still the cheapest overall – were up 24.8 per cent in March compared with the same time last year, higher than the 20.5 per cent increase seen on standard supermarket own brands and the 13.8 per cent on branded and premium own brand ranges.
The value version of sausages at Tesco (pictured), Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages (454g) went from 80p to £1.39 – up 73.3 per cent
The consumer group warned that even value foods, despite remaining a cheaper option, were at risk of becoming too expensive for those on the tightest budgets.
Which? is now calling on all the major supermarkets to do more to help struggling customers as part of its Affordable Food For All campaign.
Its Head of Food Policy, Sue Davies, said: ‘Our latest supermarket food and drink tracker paints a bleak picture for the millions of households already skipping meals of how inflation is impacting prices on supermarket shelves, with the poorest once again feeling the brunt of the cost of living crisis.
‘While the whole food chain affects prices, supermarkets have the power to do more to support people who are struggling, including ensuring everyone has easy access to basic, affordable food ranges at a store near them, particularly in areas where people are most in need.
‘Supermarkets must also provide transparent pricing so people can easily work out which products offer the best value.’
At Morrisons, a pack of four Baking Potatoes went from 40p to 66p – a rise of 63.5 per cent
The retailers insist they are making efforts to hold prices down, although several – Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, and Tesco – did not provide a formal response to the findings.
Asda said: ‘We remain the lowest-priced major supermarket… we recently announced we would be freezing the prices of over 500 popular branded and own label products.’
Sainsbury’s said: ‘In the last two years, we have invested over £550million into lowering prices as part of our goal to put food back at the heart of Sainsbury’s.’
Aldi added: ‘Through initiatives such as our Aldi Price Match campaign, Price Lock and My Nectar Prices, customers can find low prices on the products they buy most often both in stores and online – including: butter, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots.’
Waitrose said: ‘We’re working hard to keep our prices as low as possible, whilst paying our farmers and suppliers fairly, and maintaining high animal welfare standards.’
Ocado said: ‘Everything we do starts with our customers and we know how important value is to them right now.’
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