The THREE supermarkets shoppers are flocking to as the price of food staples soar
Data shows inflation is continuing to push up the cost of a supermarket shopping trip
SHOPPERS are flocking to bargain supermarkets Aldi, Lidl and Iceland, to cut the cost of their increasingly expensive grocery shops.
With inflation continuing to drive up prices, Brits are having to seek out "cheaper alternatives", new data shows.
Figures from market analysts show that grocery inflation is up 2.3 per cent compared to the same time last year, with butter, fish and tea some of the household staples that have seen the biggest price hikes.
Rising food prices mean the average UK household has had to pay an extra £21.31 at the tills over the past three months.
Discount chains Aldi and Lidl have benefited most from rising food costs, as a growing number of cash-strapped Brits are choosing to shop in their stores to save on their weekly grocery haul.
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The German duo both hit record high market shares over the past 12 weeks and now have a collective 11.7 per cent share of the market.
Together, they attracted an additional 1.1 million shoppers during the past three months.
Frozen food giant Iceland also saw a sales boost earlier this year. It posted its strongest sales growth since March 2013 – up 9.8 per cent since last year.
Supermarket own label goods are also expected to benefit as shoppers trade down from the big brands for cheaper own brand basics.
Aldi boss Matthew Barnes said: "As inflation begins to stretch household budgets, consumers will increasingly look for opportunities to reduce their grocery bills.
"Our model means that we can continue to offer our customers outstanding value for money and guarantee the prices they pay ... are the lowest in Britain."
Tesco is still the UK's biggest supermarket, but sales at the superstore were down 0.4 per cent overall.
Asda sales fell by 1.8 per cent, while Sainsbury’s' declined by 0.7 per cent.
Kantar's research also found that there has been a greater demand for gluten or dairy-free products, particularly from younger shoppers, which has boosted the "free from" food category by 36 per cent since last year.
In fact, 54 per cent of the population purchased a "free from" product during the past three months – that’s 3.3million more people than last year.
The five ways you can save on your grocery shop
- COMPARE food prices online. As with any purchase you’re about to make, you should always compare retailers to see who’s offering the best prices.
- Use discount codes. It pays to check sites like MoneySavingExpert and VoucherCloud to nab supermarket discounts and voucher codes. A simple search online could help you save £10 or £20 off an online order.
- Buy own-brand goods. Unbranded goods are significantly cheaper than their branded counterparts, so opting to buy the former could cut your bill down considerably.
- Use cashback websites. You can earn cashback each time you make a grocery order online, giving you extra savings on your weekly shop.
- Find yellow sticker bargains. Reduced items with the magic yellow sticker can be up to 75 per cent cheaper than the retail price, and if you have a big freezer then its the perfect way to stock up on the best brands for less.
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