Working out the cheapest shop to get your food from can be hard. (Image: Getty Images)
For the first time in over a year, Asda has been knocked off the top spot for being Britain’s cheapest supermarket for a big shop. Tesco has now taken the lead, new research says.
The study compared a basket of 288 items at Tesco with a Clubcard, which was £588.96 last month, compared to £590.41 at Asda. This makes Tesco £ 1.45 cheaper than Asda, says consumer group Which? Asda has not lost the top spot since December 2024. However, shoppers will need to have a Clubcard to get Tesco’s lower prices. Without it, a monthly price analysis found Tesco’s shop would be £52.12 more expensive at £641.09.
READ MORE: Cheapest UK supermarket named for everyday food items—not Lidl
READ MORE: Jammy crumble bars take 30 minutes to make and contain no eggs or butter
Tesco is one of the most popular UK supermarkets (Image: Getty Images)
In comparison, Sainsbury’s was £603.55 with a Nectar card and £659.85 without.
Another popular supermarket, Morrisons, was £612.88 with More Card and £613.74 without.
Waitrose was the most expensive on average, with the shop costing £679.20.
Consumer group Which? does a monthly analysis comparing the average price of a shop stocked with popular groceries across eight of the UK’s biggest supermarkets.
The test does not include Aldi and Lidl because they have a smaller product range than others.
However, another test using 89 items from smaller supermarkets found that Aldi is the cheapest. The products cost an average of £164.74 across the month.
Tesco was £182.92 for the smaller shop with Clubcard or £186.92 without, while Asda was £183.04.
Morrisons was £187.65, Sainsbury’s was £189.24 with Nectar or £194.58 without.
Asda has been beaten by Tesco for the first time since December 2024 (Image: Getty Images)
Waitrose was again the most expensive, averaging £221.53.
The analysis includes special offer prices and loyalty prices, but not multibuys.
Which? retail editor Reena Sewraz said: “While Aldi is the cheapest supermarket this month, the ongoing price competition among the discounters means Lidl also remains a strong money-saving choice for many shoppers, according to our latest price analysis.
“For those who prefer a wider range of branded products, shopping at Tesco with a Clubcard can offer good value.
“However, it’s worth noting that Tesco’s loyalty-linked discounts aren’t accessible to everyone.
“Tesco must do more to ensure under-18s and other groups who may not be eligible for the Clubcard don’t miss out on those savings.
“With food bills still a major concern for many households, it really does pay to shop around – choosing one supermarket over another could save shoppers hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “Asda was the lowest‑priced supermarket every month in 2025 on the Which? Big trolley comparison, and £50 cheaper in January on a like‑for‑like basket without loyalty pricing.
“Asda remains the best‑value supermarket for the big family shop with prices available to all.”