With the cost of food continuing to rise, one reporter decided to replicate the same Tesco big shop from four months ago and was left 'appalled' by what she discovered. She found that 27 of the 52 items on her shopping list had gone up in price, with some rising by as much as 50%.
For an article written for the Manchester Evening News, parents editor Emma Gill reported that a four-pint bottle of skimmed milk had risen from £1.35 to £1.55 while a 500g pack of pasta had soared from 80p to 95p, painting what she describes as a 'pretty bleak picture' for customers'.
A can of Heinz tomato soup, which had been just 85p at the time of Emma's previous big shop, was now £1.20, while a tin of Heinz Spaghetti and Sausages had surged from £1.40 to £1.70. Luckily for Emma, Tesco's 3 for £4 Clubcard offer meant these were actually reduced.
Indeed, Emma says out of the seven items with a decreased price, five were thanks to these being on offer through her Clubcard. Had Emma not had her Clubcard on her, she says the overall price difference would have been far greater. Even with the offers, however, Emma noted a 7.8% hike, spending £97.72 this week on the exact same shop that set her back £90.62 in June.
Burgers and chicken had risen by 33.3% and 21.8% respectively, while fruit and vegetables had also seen a price hike, with items such as potatoes, carrots, broccoli, bananas, and pineapple having gone up in price.
Emma added: "But the biggest rises were on those sweet treats we allow ourselves from time to time, especially when it comes to putting things away for Christmas.
"Quality Streets, Jelly Babies, and Cadbury Mini Rolls have all risen by 50% - the latter being £3 for a ten-pack last time, whereas this time there were only five-packs available costing £2.25 each.
"Many people are no doubt leaving any sort of luxury item out of their shopping baskets already, and with prices continuing to rise - not just at Tesco but across the board - it's those basic staple items that they'll soon be forced to leave behind."
A Tesco spokesperson told the publication: “With household budgets under increasing pressure we are absolutely committed to helping our customers, by keeping a laser focus on the cost of the weekly shop.
“So whether it’s price matching Aldi on the basics, freezing the price of more than a thousand household staples until 2023, or offering exclusive deals and rewards through thousands of Clubcard Prices – we’re more committed than ever to providing our customers with great value.”
Shopping bills June 22nd 2022 / November 2nd
Gone up in price (% increase of product)
- Tesco Finest Pizza and Garlic Bread Meal Deal was £5.50 / now £6 (9.1%)
- Tesco 30% Reduced Fat Cheese 400G was £2.50 / now £3 (20%)
- Tesco Skimmed Milk 2.272L/4 Pints was £1.35 / £1.55 (14.8%)
- Cadbury Mini Rolls Milk Chocolate 10 Pack £3 / now 2 x 5-pack £4.50 (50%)
- Broccoli Loose was 52p / 72p (38.4%)
- Tesco British Diced Chicken Breast 650G was £4.85 (£4.35 Clubcard) / £5.30 (21.8%)
- Tesco Tomato And Mascarpone Sauce 350G was £1.60 / £1.80 (12.5%)
- Onken Biopot Fat Free Mango & Yogurt 450G was £1.60 / £1.75 (9.4%)
Lloyd Grossman Tikka Masala Sauce 350G was £2 / now £2.15 (7.5%)
Quality Street 232g was Clubcard £2 / now £3 220g (50%)
Tesco Salt & Vinegar Crisps 6X25g was 85p / now £1 (17.6%)
Tesco Ripe Bananas 5 Pack was 71p / now 75p (5.6%)
Grower's Harvest Chopped Tomatoes 400G was 28p each (£1.12 for 4) / now 32p each (£1.28 for 4) (14.2%)
Tesco Bramley Apple Pies 6 Pack was 79p / now 95p (20.2%)
Cadbury Wispa Gold Chocolate 4 Pack was 98p / now £1.25 (27.6%)
Highland Spring Sparkling Water 8X500ml was £2.75 / now £3 (9.1%)
Tesco Maris Piper Potatoes 2.5Kg was £1.39 / now £1.49 (7.2%)
Tesco Apple Cider 4X440ml Can was £2.20 / now £2.50 (13.6%)
Heinz Cream Of Tomato Soup Mug Size 300G was 85p each (£1.70 for 2) / now £1.20 each (£2.40 for 2) (41.2%)
Tesco Carrots 1Kg was 43p / now 45p (4.7%)
Tesco Tomato & Herb Pizza Sauce 200G was £1.10 / now £1.50 (36.4%)
Tesco Spirali Pasta 500G was 80p / now 95p (18.8%)
Maynards Bassetts Jelly Babies 400G was £2 / now £3 (50%)
Cadbury Caramilk Chocolate Bar 90G was 98p / now £1.25 (27.6%)
Tesco Angel Layer Cake was £1.45 / now £1.60 (10.3%)
Tesco Pineapple was 85p / now 89p (4.7%)
Tesco Finest 4 British Beef Steak Burgers 454G was £3.50 (£3 Clubcard) / now £4 (33.3%)
Price has remained the same
- Tesco Baby Corn 130G £1.20
- Eastmans Wafer Thin Cooked Ham 400G £1.69
- Tesco Cheese & Chive Dip 200G £1.20
- Woodside Farms Unsmoked Back Bacon 300G £1.25
- Peperami Original 5 Pack 5X22.5G was £2.30 (£2 Clubcard) / £2.50 (£2 Clubcard)
Natural Confectionery Co Jelly Snakes 160G £1
Cadbury Dairy Milk Orange Giant Buttons £1.25
Jammie Dodgers 140G 70p (60p Clubcard)
Hovis Soft White Thick Bread 800G £1.20
Rowntrees Randoms Pouch 150G 89p
Clay Oven Bakery 2 Garlic & Coriander Naan £1.60
Tesco White Chocolate Cookies 5 Pack was £1 / now £1.20 (Clubcard £1)
Tesco Distilled Vinegar 568Ml 29p
Old El Paso Crispy Chicken Fajita Spice Mix 85G £1
Tesco Ibuprofen 200Mg 16 Tablets 39p
Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste 100Ml 98p
H.W Nevills 8 Plain Tortilla Wraps 85p
Large White Bap 4 Pack 80p
Gone down in price
- Growers Harvest Orange Juice Smooth 1L was 79p (£1.58 for 2) / now 75p (£1.50 for 2)
- Growers Harvest Pure Apple Juice 1 Litre was 79p (£1.58 for 2) / now 75p (£1.50 for 2)
Mccain Crispy French Fries 900G was £3 / now £3 (£2 Clubcard)
Birds Eye 2 Crispy Chicken 170G was £1.80 / now £2.15 (£1.25 Clubcard)
Magnum White Ice Cream 4 X 110Ml was £3.25 / now £3.25 (£2.75 Clubcard)
I Heart Prosecco 75Cl was £8.50 / now £8.50 (£7.50 Clubcard)
Heinz Spaghetti & Sausages 400G Can was £1.40 each (£4.20 for 3) / now £1.70 each (3 for £4 Clubcard)
Total: £90.62 in June/ £97.72 in November (7.8% increase)
Do you have a cost-of-living crisis story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
