Branded food products have seen significant price increases over the past year.
- Tesco’s Mr Kipling Chocolate Slices led the surge with a 129% increase.
- Sainsbury’s Mr Kipling Bakewell Cake Slices reported a 99% price hike.
- Lancashire Farm yoghurts at Asda rose by 80% year-on-year.
- Morrisons saw a 76% increase for Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature Cheddar.
The cost of branded food products has escalated notably over the past year. According to a study by the consumer rights organisation, Which?, significant price hikes were observed across major UK supermarkets, including Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Tesco.
At the forefront of this inflationary trend, Tesco’s Mr Kipling Chocolate Slices (6 pack) witnessed the most substantial rise. The price increased from £1.16 on average in the three months to the end of July last year to £2.66 in the same period of 2023. This represents a staggering 129% increase, underscoring the rising cost burden on consumers.
Similarly, Sainsbury’s experienced a sharp price escalation with Mr Kipling Bakewell Cake Slices (6 pack) jumping from £1.38 to £2.75. This increase of £1.37 or 99% reflects the ongoing pressure on household budgets.
At Asda, Lancashire Farm Natural Yogurt (1kg) and Lancashire Farm Fat Free Natural Yogurt (1kg) experienced the steepest year-on-year inflation among the surveyed items. The price moved from £1 to £1.80, marking an 80% increase. This trend is indicative of broader market pressures impacting everyday items.
Morrisons also reported significant price inflation, particularly for Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature Grated Cheddar (180g) and its sliced variant (150g), both of which saw their prices rise from £1.20 to £2.11. This 76% increase highlights the challenging landscape for grocery affordability.
Despite these increases, Which? noted that branded groceries generally saw a lower rate of inflation compared to own-brand and budget ranges. Head of food policy, Sue Davies, commented on the situation, urging supermarkets to stock more affordable items in convenience stores to support healthy diets. Davies emphasised the importance of supermarkets working towards key tests to demonstrate their commitment to aiding customers most in need. Meanwhile, it was reported that overall food inflation had slightly decreased recently, dropping from 16.5% to 14.9% in the four weeks to 9 July.
These price hikes highlight the growing financial strain on consumers amid persistent food inflation.
