Supermarket price comparison: how costs compare to other European nations


Updated on 28 June 2023 | 0 Comments

Study digs into how the prices we pay for things like egg, milk and nappies compare with those on the continent.

It has been difficult of late not to feel like we’re being ripped off by our supermarkets.

The prices we pay for our groceries have gone up at such an alarming rate that the level of trust we feel in supermarkets has dropped to the lowest level in almost a decade.

There have been calls for price caps or for the competition authorities to get involved too, in order to prevent supermarkets from milking us unfairly.

But are we really being ripped off? How do grocery prices in the UK compare with those we might pay in other countries?

Shopping at the supermarche

Research by the BBC and Circana dug into the costs of 23 household goods, like loo roll, ketchup, nappies and pasta in a handful of countries across the continent.

And it found that with some items we are paying more than our European cousins.

Ketchup is a good example here. In the UK, we pay a typical £1.92 for ketchup, and while that’s only 3p more than you would pay in Italy, it’s certainly at the costly end.

In France for example, ketchup would set you back a typical £1.37.

Toilet paper is another item that we appear to be paying through the nose for. Our typical £3.80 spend compares poorly with Germany (£2.87) and Italy (£2.66) for example.

Here are some of the other items pinpointed by study which we appear to be paying a premium for, compared to those on the continent.

Item

Typical price in the UK

Average price in a European nation

Mayonnaise

£1.92

£1.35 (Italy)

Butter and margarine

£2.44

£1.84 (Germany)

Cheese

£2.21

£1.37 (Netherlands)

Pet food

£2.86

90p (Germany)

Sugar and sweeteners

£1.39

£1.02 (Germany)


Saving at the supermarket

However, it’s worth noting that this wasn’t a uniform trend.

Indeed, there were all sorts of items where the prices we pay in the UK were substantially cheaper than would be the case in supermarkets and hypermarkets overseas.

Below are some of the clearest examples where the price in the UK is much cheaper than elsewhere:

Item

Typical price in the UK

Average price in a European nation

Nappies

£5.57

£12.43 (France)

Frozen pizza

£1.92

£2.83 (France)

Rice

£1.26

£2.21 (Italy)

Canned fish

£1.62

£3.15 (Italy)

Eggs

£1.90

£2.53 (Netherlands)

 
When looking at the combined cost of those 23 items, the UK actually performs pretty well overall.

Here’s the breakdown by nation:

  • France ‒ £67.57
  • Spain ‒ £52.75
  • Italy ‒ £52.16
  • UK ‒ £51.72
  • Netherlands ‒ £50.68
  • Germany ‒ £47.25

Dealing with rising costs

It’s worth emphasising that this study is a relatively small snapshot, but also that it doesn’t cover how those prices have changed over the last year.

Because what’s put household finances under great strain is not just the actual cost of the food, but the speed with which it has risen. 

Thankfully the pace of food price inflation seems to be slowing.

The latest data from Kantar World Panel shows that, in the four weeks to 11 June, like-for-like grocery inflation fell to 16.5%. 

That’s the lowest rate seen in 2023 which is welcome, but still represents the sixth-highest monthly figure in the last 15 years.

That is always going to hurt, but even more so when costs are rising in so many other areas of our lives.

It’s also important to note that the Circana study didn’t include the German deep discounters Aldi and Lidl when putting together prices for the UK.

These stores are winning a lot of customers over though because of the low prices and decent quality of the produce.

Kantar research into supermarket market share shows that since Christmas Aldi’s share has grown from 9.1% to 10.2%, making it the fourth biggest supermarket in the country. Lidl meanwhile has grown from 7.2% to 7.7%.

By contrast, the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons have all seen their share drop over the same period.

Essentially shoppers are far more likely now to shop around for their groceries, and particularly utilise deep discounters where possible, in order to keep costs low. 

While we might not have the low prices enjoyed by German shoppers, we do now have some of their budget supermarkets in place within the UK which can help us all save a few quid on our food.

Comments


Be the first to comment

Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature

Copyright © lovemoney.com All rights reserved.

 

loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with Firm Reference Number (FRN): 479153.

loveMONEY.com is a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number: 7406028) with its registered address at First Floor Ridgeland House, 15 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1DY, United Kingdom. loveMONEY.com Limited operates under the trading name of loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited. We operate as a credit broker for consumer credit and do not lend directly. Our company maintains relationships with various affiliates and lenders, which we may promote within our editorial content in emails and on featured partner pages through affiliate links. Please note, that we may receive commission payments from some of the product and service providers featured on our website. In line with Consumer Duty regulations, we assess our partners to ensure they offer fair value, are transparent, and cater to the needs of all customers, including vulnerable groups. We continuously review our practices to ensure compliance with these standards. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and currency of our editorial content, users should independently verify information with their chosen product or service provider. This can be done by reviewing the product landing page information and the terms and conditions associated with the product. If you are uncertain whether a product is suitable, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a regulated independent financial advisor before applying for the products.