Cheapest supermarket Christmas turkeys 2024 revealed as dinner prices rise – as there’s a battle between the discounters
FAMILIES are set to fork out a hefty £32.57 for their Christmas dinner this year after food prices have crept up.
This is up 6.6% on last year when it was £31.71, significantly higher than overall grocery inflation of 2.6%.
This is up again to November’s 2.3%, according to analysts Kantar.
The hike has been attributed to the rising price of turkey and vegetables over the past year.
But there is a huge disparity in the price of these items between different supermarkets, and some have even slashed costs this year, so you can still keep your bill down if you're willing to shop smart.
For example, we found a medium-sized bird could cost you anywhere between £14.75 and £87.50 depending on which high street chain you choose and whether you opt for fresh or frozen.
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To help your festive food budget stretch as far as possible, we've crunched the numbers to crown the cheapest turkeys on offer this year.
We compared the cost per kilogram of turkeys at the major supermarkets – for fresh, frozen and extra fancy birds.
Supermarkets do offer smaller or different cuts, such as turkey crowns and joints, which may be cheaper, depending on your needs.
It’s also important to note that the quality of birds will vary, too — this comparison is purely based on cost.
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It could be worth bearing in mind that prices may change the closer to Christmas we get too.
- Prices correct at the time of publication
FRESH TURKEYS
It’s the battle of the bargain chains as Aldi and Lidl have ranked first for the cheapest medium-sized fresh bird.
Aldi’s British Fresh Whole Turkey is available for as little as £2.95 per kg from December 19.
While, Lidl's Birchwood Whole Turkey is available for the same price per kg from December 19 too.
This is down from £3.75 per kg for last year’s lowest price, which was also from Aldi and Lidl.
It means that for a medium 5kg turkey you’d pay £14.75 this year, compared to £18.75 last Christmas – a juicy £4 saving.
The discount chains narrowly beat both Morrisons and Asda to first place, with the supermarkets charging £3 per kg, or £15 for the same size bird, although at the former you have to be armed with a Morrisons More card.
Third up is Sainsbury’s, which is offering a 5kg bird for £20, or £4 per kilogram.
In fourth place is Tesco at £5 per kg or £25 for a 5kg turkey.
Unsurprisingly, M&S has the biggest price tag on the high street at £8.70 a kilogram – or £43.50 for 5kg, which is 70p more than last year.
FROZEN TURKEYS
Aldi and Lidl were again the joint winners of the cheapest frozen turkeys at £15.99 – which works out to around £4 per kilogram.
That’s a price freeze from the past two years when Aldi also held the top spot.
Unlike fresh turkeys, where the price tag varies depending on the exact weight, frozen birds have a fixed price.
We worked out the price per kg based on the lowest weight in each chain’s range to make it fair.
In second place is Asda with a bird costing £16, or £4.10 per kg.
In third and fourth place are Tesco and Sainsbury’s at £4.49 and £4.74 respectively - but only if you’re signed up to their loyalty schemes, otherwise they’ll cost £5.13 and £5.64.
At the other end of the scale, Waitrose has the most expensive whole frozen bird at £12.50 a kg.
M&S isn’t selling a whole frozen turkey this year but its crown is the most expensive at a whopping £19.08 per kg.
FANCY TURKEYS
If you’re looking to treat the family to a posher bird this year, Aldi wins again with the cheapest premium turkey.
It costs £7.99 per kg or £39.95 for a 5kg bird.
That’s the same price it charged last year and the year before.
Coming in second is Morrisons at £8.50 per kg or £42.50 for a bird of the same size.
Lidl then narrowly came third at £8.95 per kg, or £44.75 for the whole bird.
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Then, joint fourth place is Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco at £9 a kg, although the latter requires a Clubcard to get that price - otherwise costing £10.50.
At £17.50 per kg, M&S and Waitrose have the most expensive premium birds – so it would cost you £87.50 for an equivalent-sized turkey.
How to save money on Christmas shopping
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents - buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead - if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales - some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores - you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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