Recent investigations by Which? reveal significant price hikes in branded food products over the past year.
- An examination of nearly 26,000 groceries from major supermarkets shows a marked increase in costs.
- Tesco’s Mr Kipling Chocolate Slices experienced the highest price surge among branded goods.
- Branded yoghurts and cheeses have also seen substantial increases at Asda and Morrisons respectively.
- Despite recent declines in food inflation, staple items have risen more than 30% in two years.
According to the consumer rights organisation Which?, branded food products have seen considerable price increases over the past year. This conclusion is drawn from an analysis of approximately 26,000 grocery items across leading supermarkets such as Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Tesco. Notably, these findings highlight that inflation on branded groceries remains high, impacting consumers widely.
The most significant price rise has been observed in Tesco’s Mr Kipling Chocolate Slices (6 pack), which surged from an average price of £1.16 during the three months to the end of July last year, to £2.66 within the same timeframe in 2023. A similar trend is noted with Mr Kipling Bakewell Cake Slices (6 pack) at Sainsbury’s, which increased from £1.38 to £2.75, marking a near 99% rise. Such dramatic increases underscore the growing burden on consumers purchasing branded goods.
In Asda, the cost of a branded yoghurt presented the most significant inflationary trend year-on-year. Specifically, Lancashire Farm Natural Yogurt (1kg) and its Fat Free counterpart both increased from £1 to £1.80, representing an 80% price hike. Moreover, Morrisons has seen a substantial increase in dairy prices, with Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature Grated Cheddar (180g) and its sliced variant both jumping from £1.20 to £2.11, a 76% increase, reflecting a broader trend in cheese pricing.
Despite the recent decline in food inflation, which has dropped to 14.9% in the four weeks to 9 July compared to 16.5% the previous month, basic food costs for items such as cheese, butter, and bread have surged more than 30% over the past two years. This suggests that although general inflation rates show a downward trend, the financial strain on consumers due to elevated prices of fundamental food items remains notable.
Sue Davies, Head of Food Policy at Which?, commented on the matter, stating that “With food prices expected to remain high for the rest of the year, Which? is calling on supermarkets to ensure expensive convenience stores are stocked with a range of budget items that support a healthy diet.” Her statement emphasises the need for retailers to take actionable steps towards helping consumers manage these unwelcome price increases.
The findings from Which? highlight ongoing challenges in food affordability, urging retailers to adopt strategies that ease consumer burdens.
