It's one of the supermarkets that has become known for its low prices, but it looks like even Lidl is not exempt from the recent price hikes that have been happening.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to push prices up, one shopper wanted to repeat their same shop from a year ago to see how the budget chain was faring - and was left "astonished" at the results.
Parenting Editor, Emma Gill, from The Manchester Evening News decided to repeat her shop from 12 months ago after the supermarket recently lost the crown in the weekly comparison of basics, such as bread and milk.
Purchasing all the same 16 products - such as butter, cheese and bread - the reporter found that nearly every item on the list had indeed risen in price - with some items rising by a whopping 80 percent.
She said of her shop: "I expected price rises. It might be a budget retailer but, like every other supermarket, it's having to pass on added supply and manufacturing costs to customers.
"I have to admit though, I was astonished by some of the hikes."
Some of the items that had seen a stark rise in price included a tub of Flora Light which rose by a whopping 81%, from £1.19 to £2.15. British mild cheddar is up by 54 percent, from £1.79 to £2.75, and a box of potato waffles up 40 percent, from 85p to £1.19.
Out of the full shop, 13 out of 16 had seen a rise in price, while just two, the wafer thin cooked ham and orange cordial, remained the same. Meanwhile, a packet of Royal Gala Apples were the only item to see a reduction at 10p less.
The only two items that were not purchased were the chocolate digestives and Malt Wheaties as they were out of stock, but the current shelf prices were used for the purposes of a full comparison.
Emma found that the total cost of her shop had risen by 23.5 percent in just 12 months - going from £20.14 to £24.88. And, while the extra £4.74 might not seem like much, she did explain that this would mean an extra £20 a month that shoppers would be spending on top of other necessities, such as the household bills.
Nevertheless, the comparison comes just as Lidl beat out other major retailers to be named the cheapest supermarket for the third month in a row in the Grocer’s "Super Grocer 33" index.
The comparison, which compared the cost of 33 everyday grocery items across the UK’s seven major supermarkets, found Lidl to be £15.44 cheaper than Morrisons, and £27.88 cheaper than the most expensive retailer, Waitrose.
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive officer at Lidl GB, said: “Our belief has always been that no one should have to pay a premium for good food and we have an unwavering commitment to provide our customers with the best products at the lowest possible prices.
"Whether it is fresh produce, staple shopping list items or a must-have product from the Middle of Lidl, customers can be sure that they are getting the best value when they shop with us.”
Responding to The MEN's repeat shop, a Lidl spokesperson said: "Since June, the Manchester Evening News has found Lidl the cheapest in all but one of their basket comparisons, which highlights that we consistently offer customers the lowest prices on the market.
"More recently, independent analysis conducted by The Grocer, published on the November 4, found that Lidl was the cheapest supermarket on 33 different products, coming in over £15 cheaper than Morrisons and £10 cheaper than Tesco. The Grocer has conducted this research three times this year, and every time Lidl came top in the rankings as cheapest supermarket.”
The full Lidl shopping list showing prices now and what they were last October (% increase)
- Frozen potato waffles - was 85p, now £1.19 (40%)
- Flora Light - was £1.19, now £2.15 (81%)
- 12 beef meatballs - was £1.99, now £2.19 (10%)
- Four beef quarter pounders - was £2.29, now £2.75 (20%)
- 2 x Chopped tomatoes - was 28p each, now 32p each (14%)
- Chocolate digestives - was 45p, now 59p (31%)
- Orange cordial - was 89p, now 89p (same)
- Malt Wheaties - was 69p, now 72p (4%)
- Red Gala apples - was £1.29, now £1.19 (reduction of 8%)
- Pizza - was £1.69, now £2.39 (41%)
- British mild cheddar - was £1.79, now £2.75 (54%)
- Carrots - was 43p, now 49p (14%)
- Wafer thin cooked ham - was £1.69, now £1.69 (same)
- Warburtons Toastie loaf - was £1.10, now £1.25 (14%)
- Malted craft bloomer - was 99p, £1.25 (26%)
- Walkers Wotsits - was £2.25, now £2.75 (22%)
Total cost - was £20.14, now £24.88 (increase of 23.5%)
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