Families in more than 200 UK towns are paying hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of pounds more a year for their grocery shopping because they do not have access to a discount supermarket, according to new research from Aldi.
Data from a price comparisons of a typical 68-item shopping basket tracked by consumer group Which? showed that households without an Aldi nearby are paying an average of £826 more a year on groceries.
This cost rose to as much as £2,437 in areas dominated by the most expensive supermarkets.
Aldi’s analysis identified 220 towns and communities across the UK affected by what it describes as a growing “postcode penalty”.
These locations range from Stonehaven in Scotland to Totnes in the South West, and cover every region of the country, including 35 towns in the South East, 30 in the East of England and 25 in Scotland.
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Aldi has been named the UK’s cheapest supermarket by Which? for the past five years. However, the discount retailer said the lack of access to a discounter is leaving many families paying significantly more for everyday essentials at a time when household budgets remain under pressure.
“No one should pay more for their weekly shop simply because of where they live. We believe every household should have access to high-quality, affordable food,” said Aldi UK managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK Jonathan Neale.
“With household budgets under intense pressure, local access to a discounter isn’t just convenient, it can save families hundreds of pounds a year. These findings show that expanding access to Aldi is one of the simplest ways to reduce the cost of living for many.”
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