Aldi and Lidl are often head-to-head when it comes to the UK's cheapest supermarket and one shopper wanted to find out once and for all.
The two German budget supermarkets are frequently hailed for offering the best value for shoppers, particularly with the current cost of living crisis.
Consumer expert Tom Church, from LatestDeals.co.uk, decided to pit the two stores against each other to find out which brand offered the best overall value.
Tom did this by picking up an identical list of groceries at both shops and comparing the prices.
He added: "I was surprised by the results - there was indeed a winner, and I thought it would be a lot closer than it was."
Beef Mince - ALDI
- Aldi: £1.75 (500g)
- Lidl: £1.95 (500g)
- Winner: Aldi
Tom said beef mince is always a "good option" if you want to get your protein in on a budget and has noticed that the price of chicken breasts has gone up.
He said: "I looked at the 500g packs of 20% fat beef mince in both shops - Lidl had it available for £1.95, but Aldi emerged victorious with their version at £1.75, 20p cheaper."
Baked Beans - LIDL
- Aldi: 26p (410g)
- Lidl: 26p (420g)
- Winner: Lidl
Baked beans are definitely classed as a "British staple" Whether you’re putting them with a jacket potato, on toast or with chips, they go with so many meals.
He added: "This was a close one - they were 26p at both shops, but you get 10g more at Lidl. That means they’ve beaten Aldi on this one.
"For whatever reason, Aldi offered a 410g tin while Lidl had a 420g one!"
Potatoes - TIE
- Aldi: £1.25 (2.5kg)
- Lidl: £1.25 (2.5kg)
- Winner: TIE
Tom explained how both Aldi and Lidl have a good reputation for "competitively priced" fruit and vegetables.
He said: "I usually spend about £20 less a month when I pick up my bananas, potatoes and tomatoes from one of these shops., and this time I found 2.5kg bags for the same price of £1.25 in both Lidl and Aldi."
Macaroni Pasta - ALDI
Aldi: 79p (500g)
Lidl: 85p (500g)
Winner: Aldi
Again Tom noted that macaroni past was a "staple" for any food cupboard, particularly for those who have children.
He added: "The difference in price may not seem like much, but it all adds up. I compared their 500g bags and noticed it was 85p in Lidl, but 79p in Aldi.
"You’ll save a couple of pennies by getting your pasta from Aldi instead of Lidl."
Chipolata Sausages - LIDL
Aldi: £1.75 (340g)
Lidl: £2.79 (681g)
Winner: Lidl
Tom explained how this was an interesting one and at first glance, it looked like Aldi was the winner.
He said: "Their chipolata sausages are £1.75, while Lidl’s product is £2.79. It seems like a no-brainer, right?
"But take a closer look at the packaging and you’ll notice that Lidl’s product is almost twice the weight. It’s 681g, while Aldi’s pork chipolatas are just 340g.
"In other words, you’re getting a lot more gram for gram at Lidl, so they win this time around."
Mushrooms - ALDI
Aldi: 95p (260g)
Lidl: 89p (200g)
Winner: Aldi
Tom said if you need sausages, then Lidl is your man but if you want mushrooms you're better off going to Aldi.
He said: "Aldi is offering 260g of British chestnut mushrooms for 95p, while Lidl has Scottish baby button mushrooms in a 200g pack for 89p.
"Again, it’s worth looking at more than the price. Aldi’s product is 6p more, but you’re also getting 60g more - so it’s better value for money!"
Chicken Leg - ALDI
Aldi: £1.99 (1kg)
Lidl: £2.09 (1kg)
Winner: Aldi
Chicken, and more particularly chicken leg is a cheaper cut, so great for when you want to cut costs, and it is a universal ingredient and works well in many dishes and cuisines.
Tom said: "I noticed that Lidl is offering 1kg for £2.09, but it’s 10p less at Aldi for £1.99. I wanted to pick some up to try them in the air fryer - plenty of bargain hunters are using air fryers at the moment and I’ve joined the trend."
Chopped Tomatoes -ALDI
Aldi: 32p (400g)
Lidl: 39p (400g)
Winner: Aldi
Tom said the chopped tomato was another "vital" for every food cupboard because they can "bulk up" every dish imaginable. It is also great that they’re cheap, too.
He said: "There’s always an opportunity to save a little extra, which is exactly what I did here.
"I found a tin for 39p in Lidl, but Aldi was offering its own version for 32p. If you’re buying several tins at once to stock up, this 7p saving will soon add up. It’s always worth keeping an eye on prices for staple items like these."
Plain Flour - ALDI
Aldi: 58p (1.5kg)
Lidl: 69p (1.5kg)
Winner: Aldi
Flour is one of those items that we only tend to pick up if we're running low, but Tom notes that it's definitely worth checking the prices as there can be huge differences depending on where you shop.
He said: "I found proof of this by checking out the offering in Lidl, where I would pay 69p and comparing it with Aldi, where I could get the same amount for 58p, 11p less!"
Custard Creams - ALDI
Aldi: 49p
Lidl: 37p
Winner: Aldi
Tom said that Aldi "strikes again" as its custard creams gave you more and worked out slightly cheaper.
He added: "Aldi's custard creams are 49p, while Lidl offers these biscuits for 37p, however, you get more at Aldi and they work out slightly cheaper.
"If you prefer bourbon biscuits, you can go to either store - they’re 66p at Lidl, or you can get half the amount for half the price at Aldi, paying 33p."
