Cupboard staples including baked beans, tea bags and pasta can cost more than three times as much if the budget versions are unavailable, according to Which?.
The consumer group has urged supermarkets to ensure its value ranges are stocked in all stores as it found how much more shoppers were paying when the cheaper alternatives were not available.
It said this was often the case for consumers who relied on local convenience shops.
Which? found shoppers would have to pay 247% more for Asda’s own-brand Easy Cook 1kg long grain white rice at £1.80, compared to its 1kg Just Essentials 52p version.
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Alternatively, consumers could face paying 833% more than the grocer’s value range option with Ben’s Original Long Grain Rice 1kg at £4.85.
In Tesco, shoppers could face paying 140% more for its own-brand rice if its budget 52p Grower’s Harvest long grain rice (1kg) was not available, or pay 910% more for the branded Ben’s Original version.
Which? found similar price differences at Sainsburys with Hubbard’s Foodstore spaghetti (1kg) at 56p was 168% cheaper on a price per 100g basis than its own-brand alternative, Quick Cook spaghetti (500g) at 75p.
If neither were available, Napolina spaghetti (1kg) at £2.50 was 346% more expensive than the budget option.
The consumer group acknowledged that the quality and ingredients would differ between the ranges but that shoppers who rely on the local format stores were likely to have a more limited choice than those who shop in the larger stores or online.
Which? head of food policy Sue Davies said: “As millions struggle with increased food prices and other high household bills, it’s staggering that shoppers face paying over three times more for items if they can’t get to a larger supermarket.
“Which? is calling on all major supermarkets to ensure expensive convenience stores are stocked with a range of essential budget ranges so that hard-pressed customers can afford important staple foods to feed themselves and their loved ones healthily.”
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