SAINSBURY’S and Tesco have hiked prices for hundreds of products after they scaled back on their money-saving price match schemes.
In a huge blow to shoppers, the number of products offered on both major supermarkets’ Aldi price match schemes have fallen since last year.
Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco have reduced the number of products on their Aldi price match schemes[/caption]
This means hundreds of products, previously tied to the typically lower prices of parallel Aldi products, may now see their prices go up.
The Sainsbury’s scheme covered a total of 681 products back in November last year before falling to now just 606 items, according to analysis by The Grocer.
This fall of 75 items is understood to primarily have come from Sainsbury’s own-brand lines.
The supermarket, however, also became the first to extend its scheme to convenience stores when it did so in November.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s told The Sun: “Much like the price of individual products, the number of items in our Aldi Price Match campaign can go up as well as down.
“That doesn’t stop us offering outstanding value throughout the year across thousands of items, whether that’s through Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices, Nectar Prices or our value Stamford Street range.
“We have invested £1 billion into value in recent years which we know customers are noticing as more and more customers are choosing to do their shop at Sainsbury’s.”
This comes just a week after Tesco confirmed more than 100 items from its own Aldi price match scheme had been removed.
The number of products available dropped from a peak of 790 in August last year to just 645 in February, according to Paul Stainton, partner at private label consultancy IPLC.
Tesco explained that its 145-item decline was caused by a change in its methodology to determine which products would be available under the scheme.
Products are now only included if the claimed Aldi equivalent can be found in at least 10 of the budget supermarket’s stores, whereas previously Tesco only required five stores to approve a match.
Tesco said the change was made to so that it could focus its price match campaign on more key lines that are most important to customers.
A spokesperson for Tesco told The Sun: “We work hard to offer our customers the best possible value, quality, and service with every shop.
“Our powerful combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices and Clubcard Prices ensures we deliver great value for our customers as the UK’s cheapest full line grocer.”
INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE
This comes as inflation in January skyrocketed to the highest rate in ten months, putting pressure on shoppers.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured 3% in the 12 months to January.
Meanwhile, inflation is expected to hit 3.7% in the summer, driven by increases in the price of energy and food.
Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: “Inflation increased sharply this month to its highest annual rate since March last year.
“The rise was driven by air fares not falling as much as we usually see at this time of year, partly impacted by the timing of flights over Christmas and New Year.”
He added: “After falling this time last year, the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks increased, particularly meat, bread and cereals.
“Private school fees were another factor, as new VAT rules meant prices rose nearly 13% this month.”
How to save money on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
