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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Emma Gill

Supermarket is the cheapest for fresh turkeys and it's not Aldi or Lidl

*UPDATE Sainsbury's undercut by Aldi to stop it being cheapest for fresh turkeys

With just a fortnight to go until Christmas many people will be thinking about that all-important festive dinner.

If it's a traditional turkey that takes centre stage on your table then you may well be on the lookout for where to buy yours this year.

Frozen ones have been available for some weeks now, but fresh ones aren't generally in stores until December 19 or 20.

Of course nobody wants to pay over the odds, which is why we've been comparing the prices in every supermarket.

Read more: We tried chocolate Santas from every supermarket and there was only one winner

We've looked at the cost of a whole medium turkey - both fresh and frozen - at Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Sainsbury's.

Because the weights differ we've judged it on the price per kg, as that's the most accurate way to find the cheapest.

The quality of birds may vary, so we're looking at price alone.

We price checked fresh and frozen turkeys at every supermarket (Getty)

With the frozen ones there are two winners - you guessed it, Aldi and Lidl. Both are selling the birds from 4kg, for £15.99 - which works out at £2.96 per kg.

Morrisons is the third cheapest, costing £21.99 for a medium bird weighing 3.9kg-5.2kg, which works out at the top end as £4.23 per kg. But from Monday, December 12 the price is being reduced to £20.99, bringing it down to £4.03 per kg.

Sainsbury's and Asda prices are quite similar, at £4.40/kg and £4.49/kg respectively, while Tesco is most expensive at £4.62/kg.

With the fresh ones though it's perhaps surprising that Sainsbury's is cheapest - selling a 5kg turkey for £21.25, which equates to £4.25 a kg, even cheaper than the retailer's frozen version.

Aldi and Lidl are selling their medium fresh ones for £22.25, which works out at £4.95 a kg for an average 4.495kg one.

The bargain Sainsbury's price is part of the supermarket's mission to make Christmas more affordable for families this year - with an 'inflation-busting' two-course festive meal working out at less than £4 a head.

It will also be offering 19p veg, as are Aldi and Lidl, but Sainsbury’s is offering even better value on its white potatoes – offering a 2.5kg bag for 19p, versus Aldi's 2kg and Lidl's 1.5kg.

As well as the turkey, the under £4 per person festive roast, which feeds six, includes roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, carrots, sage and onion stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, sprouts and parsnips, as well as gravy and cranberry sauce. And there's also a trifle to top off the celebrations.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “We really understand that millions of households are having to make really tough decisions this Christmas and our job is to do everything we can to help with the rising costs of living.

"We know everyone wants to enjoy a special Christmas meal together which is why we’re keeping inflation at bay and offering Christmas roast dinner for less than £4 per head - cheaper than it was last year."

Frozen medium basted whole turkey (prices based on top end weight)

Aldi 4kg-5.4kg £15.99 (£2.96/kg)

Lidl 4kg-5.4kg £15.99 (£2.96/kg)

Morrisons 3.9kg-5.2kg £21.99 (£4.23/kg) - reduced from Monday, December 12 to £20.99 (£4.03/kg)

Sainsbury's 3.9kg -5.2kg £22.88 (£4.40/kg)

Asda 3.9kg £17.50 (£4.49/kg)

Tesco 3.9kg-5.2kg from £18 (£4.62/kg)

Lidl and Aldi are joint cheapest for fresh and frozen turkeys (Getty)

Fresh medium basted whole turkey (available from Dec 19/20)

Sainsbury's 5kg £21.25 (£4.25/kg)

Lidl average 4.495kg £22.25 (£4.95/kg)

Aldi average 4.495kg £22.25 (£4.95/kg)

Morrisons 4.5kg-5.49kg £23.45 (average £4.99/kg)

Asda from 4kg from £20 (£5/kg)

Tesco 4.5kg-5.99kg £29.95 (£5/kg)

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