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| Cost of Christmas dinner rises 5% – but there’s good news from Brussels … sprouts | Cost of Christmas dinner rises 5% – but there’s good news from Brussels … sprouts |
| (4 months later) | |
| The big supermarkets have raised the cost of Christmas dinner by around 5% this year, according to analysis for Guardian Money, far outstripping the 2.1% rise in average wages in 2017. But while Brexit may be blamed for food price rises, there is good news from Brussels – sprouts are down by as much as a third. | The big supermarkets have raised the cost of Christmas dinner by around 5% this year, according to analysis for Guardian Money, far outstripping the 2.1% rise in average wages in 2017. But while Brexit may be blamed for food price rises, there is good news from Brussels – sprouts are down by as much as a third. |
| You may, however, have to be parsimonious with the parsnips this year. Our analysis, carried out by price comparison site mysupermarket.com, found that the cost of the vegetable at Sainsbury’s is 67% higher than last year. But the data also reveals sharp deviations between the major groups, with Morrisons charging less compared to last year. | You may, however, have to be parsimonious with the parsnips this year. Our analysis, carried out by price comparison site mysupermarket.com, found that the cost of the vegetable at Sainsbury’s is 67% higher than last year. But the data also reveals sharp deviations between the major groups, with Morrisons charging less compared to last year. |
| Brexit and price hikes push up the cost of Christmas for Britons | |
| Despite generalised food price inflation, largely brought about by the fall in the value of the pound since Brexit, our survey found that supermarket shoppers can still pick up everything they need for a dinner for six – other than a bottle or two of celebratory fizz or wine – for as little as £25. Note that we’re assuming the family scoffs just 3kg of the turkey, not the whole bird. If you buy a big turkey and use it all on Christmas Day that £25 easily turns into £30. | Despite generalised food price inflation, largely brought about by the fall in the value of the pound since Brexit, our survey found that supermarket shoppers can still pick up everything they need for a dinner for six – other than a bottle or two of celebratory fizz or wine – for as little as £25. Note that we’re assuming the family scoffs just 3kg of the turkey, not the whole bird. If you buy a big turkey and use it all on Christmas Day that £25 easily turns into £30. |
| Mysupermarket.com tracked the average price of 10 Christmas essentials, in quantities to serve six, across five major supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) between 1 and 12 November, as it did last year, allowing a year-on-year comparison. Separately, Money checked Lidl and Aldi, although as they post limited amounts of price data online, precise comparisons are difficult. | Mysupermarket.com tracked the average price of 10 Christmas essentials, in quantities to serve six, across five major supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) between 1 and 12 November, as it did last year, allowing a year-on-year comparison. Separately, Money checked Lidl and Aldi, although as they post limited amounts of price data online, precise comparisons are difficult. |
| The items price-checked (with apologies to vegetarians) were: Brussels sprouts, carrots, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, cranberry sauce, mince pies (box of six), parsnips, potatoes, stuffing mix and a whole frozen turkey (per kg). | The items price-checked (with apologies to vegetarians) were: Brussels sprouts, carrots, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, cranberry sauce, mince pies (box of six), parsnips, potatoes, stuffing mix and a whole frozen turkey (per kg). |
| Using the supermarkets’ own data, we checked the average prices of “comparable” products – primarily own-brand items – that could be directly compared, rather than the very cheapest “value” ranges or the pricier “premium” foods. We did not include multi-buys. | Using the supermarkets’ own data, we checked the average prices of “comparable” products – primarily own-brand items – that could be directly compared, rather than the very cheapest “value” ranges or the pricier “premium” foods. We did not include multi-buys. |
| Why Britain is ditching the weekly shop | |
| Compared to 2016, mysupermarket found that this year’s basket of Christmas essentials was 5% more expensive in Asda and Tesco. Sprouts, however, were 30% cheaper in Asda and 21% cheaper in Morrisons, but 25% more expensive in Tesco. Mince pies are static at Asda and Morrisons but have gone up in Sainsbury’s (10%) and Tesco (12%), | Compared to 2016, mysupermarket found that this year’s basket of Christmas essentials was 5% more expensive in Asda and Tesco. Sprouts, however, were 30% cheaper in Asda and 21% cheaper in Morrisons, but 25% more expensive in Tesco. Mince pies are static at Asda and Morrisons but have gone up in Sainsbury’s (10%) and Tesco (12%), |
| The most expensive for our basket of goods? It was not Waitrose, but Sainsbury’s, where our basket of goods cost £28.35. Asda was cheapest, at £22.56, while Waitrose was the surprise second cheapeast. Its Christmas pudding was pricier than own-brand ones at Waitrose’s main rivals, but its sprouts were cheaper than Tesco and mince pies cheaper than Sainsbury’s. | The most expensive for our basket of goods? It was not Waitrose, but Sainsbury’s, where our basket of goods cost £28.35. Asda was cheapest, at £22.56, while Waitrose was the surprise second cheapeast. Its Christmas pudding was pricier than own-brand ones at Waitrose’s main rivals, but its sprouts were cheaper than Tesco and mince pies cheaper than Sainsbury’s. |
| It also pays to buy certain things in Aldi and Lidl, while perhaps doing most of your big Christmas shop at the traditional big supermarkets. This week Lidl is selling Oakland-branded carrots at 29p a kilo, compared to 50p in Morrisons. Tesco’s cheapest carrots are 45p a kilo. At Aldi sprouts are 49p for 500g, or half the price of Tesco and Sainsbury’s. | It also pays to buy certain things in Aldi and Lidl, while perhaps doing most of your big Christmas shop at the traditional big supermarkets. This week Lidl is selling Oakland-branded carrots at 29p a kilo, compared to 50p in Morrisons. Tesco’s cheapest carrots are 45p a kilo. At Aldi sprouts are 49p for 500g, or half the price of Tesco and Sainsbury’s. |
| The turkey will be the single priciest item (apart from the booze). Mysupermarket tested the price per kg for frozen turkeys – the fresh ones won’t be in the shops for a while – and found that Asda was far cheaper at £1.89 per 1kg, compared to £3.20 at Sainsbury’s and £3.53 at Waitrose. | The turkey will be the single priciest item (apart from the booze). Mysupermarket tested the price per kg for frozen turkeys – the fresh ones won’t be in the shops for a while – and found that Asda was far cheaper at £1.89 per 1kg, compared to £3.20 at Sainsbury’s and £3.53 at Waitrose. |
| The cheapest prosecco is at Asda and Morrisons. They are knocking out bottles of the Italian fizz starting at £5 – surprisingly cheaper than the £5.25 at Aldi and £5.79 at Lidl. Waitrose has the highest entry price at £6.99 and also sells the priciest, at £20.99 a bottle. Below we highlight which prosecco is rated best on taste rather than price. | The cheapest prosecco is at Asda and Morrisons. They are knocking out bottles of the Italian fizz starting at £5 – surprisingly cheaper than the £5.25 at Aldi and £5.79 at Lidl. Waitrose has the highest entry price at £6.99 and also sells the priciest, at £20.99 a bottle. Below we highlight which prosecco is rated best on taste rather than price. |
| Despite it being 37 shopping days to Christmas, the supermarkets have already turned the tinsel on big time, with mince pies and biscuits, in particular, piled in the aisles. Consumers stocked up on Christmas biscuits in October as shopping for the festive season “well and truly started”, according to Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at market researchers Kantar Worldpanel. “They bought 10.1m packs of traditional Christmas biscuits in October alone,”, he said. “Alcohol sales have ramped up, too, increasing by 5.3% year-on-year as shoppers parted with an extra £142m on their favourite tipples.” | Despite it being 37 shopping days to Christmas, the supermarkets have already turned the tinsel on big time, with mince pies and biscuits, in particular, piled in the aisles. Consumers stocked up on Christmas biscuits in October as shopping for the festive season “well and truly started”, according to Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at market researchers Kantar Worldpanel. “They bought 10.1m packs of traditional Christmas biscuits in October alone,”, he said. “Alcohol sales have ramped up, too, increasing by 5.3% year-on-year as shoppers parted with an extra £142m on their favourite tipples.” |
| But that’s clearly just the tip of the looming festive iceberg. “The British public is only just getting started,” McKevitt went on, “and is expected to shell out a whopping £28.7bn at the grocers in the final 12 weeks of 2017.” | But that’s clearly just the tip of the looming festive iceberg. “The British public is only just getting started,” McKevitt went on, “and is expected to shell out a whopping £28.7bn at the grocers in the final 12 weeks of 2017.” |
| We bought 10.1m packs of Christmas biscuits in October … and alcohol sales have ramped up with £142m spent | We bought 10.1m packs of Christmas biscuits in October … and alcohol sales have ramped up with £142m spent |
| Many retailers make more than half of their sales and profits in the three months before Christmas, and despite the marked shift in shopping habits to “little and often”, and going online for grocery and “ambient” items, the festive fresh-food shop still tends to be a large one, done in person at the supermarket. | Many retailers make more than half of their sales and profits in the three months before Christmas, and despite the marked shift in shopping habits to “little and often”, and going online for grocery and “ambient” items, the festive fresh-food shop still tends to be a large one, done in person at the supermarket. |
| The average family will spend £821.25 (including food, drink and gifts) – a 1.3% increase on last year and almost double the European average, according to The Centre for Retail Research and Vouchercodes. | The average family will spend £821.25 (including food, drink and gifts) – a 1.3% increase on last year and almost double the European average, according to The Centre for Retail Research and Vouchercodes. |
| Food prices generally have been driven down in recent years as all the big supermarkets have had to react to the rise of German discounters Aldi and Lidl with aggressive price cutting. | Food prices generally have been driven down in recent years as all the big supermarkets have had to react to the rise of German discounters Aldi and Lidl with aggressive price cutting. |
| Despite this, the major players have had little choice but to pass on price rises as the falling value of the pound against the dollar and euro, following the vote to leave the EU, pushes up the cost of imported products and ingredients. | Despite this, the major players have had little choice but to pass on price rises as the falling value of the pound against the dollar and euro, following the vote to leave the EU, pushes up the cost of imported products and ingredients. |
| And higher prices inevitably push shoppers into the discounters. Last year, Aldi managed to boost its Christmas sales by more than 15%, which it claims was partly due to the popularity of its advertising campaign, featuring the plucky root vegetable Kevin the carrot (who returns to find love with Katie in this year’s version). | And higher prices inevitably push shoppers into the discounters. Last year, Aldi managed to boost its Christmas sales by more than 15%, which it claims was partly due to the popularity of its advertising campaign, featuring the plucky root vegetable Kevin the carrot (who returns to find love with Katie in this year’s version). |
| “The latest Kantar Worldpanel data shows that Aldi customers buy more items when they visit our stores than at any other retailer,” says Julie Ashfield, joint managing director of corporate buying at Aldi. | “The latest Kantar Worldpanel data shows that Aldi customers buy more items when they visit our stores than at any other retailer,” says Julie Ashfield, joint managing director of corporate buying at Aldi. |
| Spar is on sparkling form | Spar is on sparkling form |
| Christmas is not complete without a bottle of fizz, but this year a humble prosecco from convenience store Spar outshone its rivals to be crowned the best-tasting Italian sparkling wine by an independent panel of experts. | Christmas is not complete without a bottle of fizz, but this year a humble prosecco from convenience store Spar outshone its rivals to be crowned the best-tasting Italian sparkling wine by an independent panel of experts. |
| Spar Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG at £12 scored 78% in a blind taste test. It was awarded the coveted Which? best-buy for prosecco this Christmas. The panel commended its “pleasant balance” and “savoury style”. | Spar Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG at £12 scored 78% in a blind taste test. It was awarded the coveted Which? best-buy for prosecco this Christmas. The panel commended its “pleasant balance” and “savoury style”. |
| Also rated highly was Asda’s Fillipo Sansovino Prosecco (£7.98) and Waitrose’s San Leo Prosecco Brut NV Italy (£10.99), both scoring 77%. Aldi’s Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (£7.99) was the lowest-scoring at 66%. | Also rated highly was Asda’s Fillipo Sansovino Prosecco (£7.98) and Waitrose’s San Leo Prosecco Brut NV Italy (£10.99), both scoring 77%. Aldi’s Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (£7.99) was the lowest-scoring at 66%. |
| “It just goes to show that you don’t have to be a leading supermarket to achieve a best-buy accolade” says Nikki Stopford, director of research at Which? “You can now enjoy a glass of best-buy Christmas fizz from your local Spar – so get yours while stocks last.” | “It just goes to show that you don’t have to be a leading supermarket to achieve a best-buy accolade” says Nikki Stopford, director of research at Which? “You can now enjoy a glass of best-buy Christmas fizz from your local Spar – so get yours while stocks last.” |
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