Tesco and Sainsbury’s now more expensive than Waitrose

Which? compared a list of 245 branded items, such as Heinz, Nescafé, and Mr Kipling in February, finding that it was, on average, most expensive for customers at Sainsbury’s and Tesco who were not using the loyalty schemes.

The watchdog acknowledged that most shoppers are part of a membership scheme, but said some may be unwilling to sign up to loyalty cards for reasons such as data privacy, while others have no choice because of eligibility criteria.

Tesco customers who are under 18 can not sign up to a Clubcard, although the supermarket has announced it will review this before the end of the year.

The Which? list of items was most expensive at Sainsbury’s for non-Nectar members at £942.66 – 14% more than the cheapest retailer in the study, Asda, which cost £823.58.

Tesco followed behind Sainsbury’s, with its non-Clubcard price totalling 11% more than Asda at £916.56.

Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s – the UK’s two largest grocers – were more expensive for non-members of their loyalty schemes than Waitrose, which cost £899.05.

Waitrose was 9% more expensive than Asda and emerged as a “more competitive option”, Which? said.

Which? said the figures showed the “dramatic price gulf” created by loyalty pricing.

Meanwhile, Which? found customers who used a Nectar card at Sainsbury’s could expect to pay only 3% more than Asda at £848.56 for the entire list of items.

Which? retail editor Reena Sewraz said: “Our analysis reveals a shocking truth and shows the impact loyalty schemes have had on grocery pricing.

“Branded favourites can actually be cheaper at Waitrose than at the UK’s biggest supermarkets for shoppers who don’t use a loyalty card – something that would have seemed unthinkable until a few years ago.

“If you’ve got your heart set on specific brands, your best bet is to shop around, keep a close eye on the unit price, and stock up whenever you see a good deal – otherwise, you’re likely to end up paying way over the odds.

“While loyalty cards definitely offer some savings, if you don’t use one you’re better off heading to Asda, where the pricing is usually cheaper on a range of branded goods.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We have invested over £1 billion in recent years to help keep prices low and we know more customers are choosing to do their shop at Sainsbury’s.

“We are committed to helping customers access great quality at lower prices and remain focused on offering outstanding value across thousands of products through our Aldi price match scheme, Nectar prices, Your Nectar Prices and our own-brand value lines.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “It’s no secret that Tesco Clubcard unlocks exceptional savings for the 24 million UK households who have one.

“More than 80% of our sales are made with a Clubcard – but it’s just one of the ways our customers get great value.

“Though everyday low prices we keep prices consistently low on thousands of branded products, and our Aldi price match ensures shoppers can be confident they’re getting competitive prices.”