Shopping at local convenience stores could cost you significantly more.
- A study by Which? found local stores charge up to 21% more.
- Morrisons showed the steepest price hike at smaller outlets.
- Tesco and Sainsbury’s smaller stores also marked up prices.
- Loyalty schemes fail to bridge the price gap for regular shoppers.
A recent analysis by Which? uncovers a striking price disparity between local convenience stores and their larger supermarket counterparts. Consumers who rely on these smaller outlets may end up paying considerably more, with costs escalating by as much as 21% for identical products.
Morrisons Daily outlets exhibit the largest price increase. Shoppers are paying an average of 21% more for both branded and own-label items compared to larger Morrisons stores. Moreover, participants in Morrisons’ More loyalty scheme could see a staggering 22% price rise, as this scheme currently excludes their smaller store formats.
Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local also reflect a noticeable mark-up, though to lesser extents. At Tesco Express, the average price stands 10% above that in the full-sized stores. Those using the Clubcard loyalty scheme may still encounter an 11% increase. Sainsbury’s Local follows with a 5% overall price rise, and Nectar users could experience costs inflated by 14%.
Tesco has indicated that its loyalty offers in the smaller stores are curated to meet differing customer needs at these locations, yet this does not fully alleviate the price burden for regular patrons.
Which? retail editor Ele Clark highlights a significant issue: many individuals lack easy access to larger supermarkets or online deliveries. This leaves them reliant on local stores where they pay substantially more annually on essential purchases. Clark notes, “Convenience stores may often be easier to travel to and handy for shoppers who need to stock up on a few essentials, but people who have to use them regularly will be spending significantly more over the course of a year than those with access to larger supermarkets.”
The stark price differences at convenience stores highlight a significant cost for consumers dependent on these outlets.
