Supermarket own-brand foods that have shot up in price as widow ‘struggles to eat’

Supermarkets have increased the price of more than 100 value range products in recent weeks, some by up to 30%, research has found.

The website NationalWorld tracked the price of almost 700 basic range groceries from Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Aldi.

It found just over 100 had gone up in price between the start of April and the beginning of May.

They included tinned vegetables, jam, pasta, coffee, fresh meat and cheese.

The price rises are a blow to millions of cost of living hit households.

However, higher prices for budget ranges particularly hammer low incomes families.

According to a NationalWorld price comparison, Asda increased the prices of 37 out of 158 Smart Price or Farm Stores products between April 4 and May 2 – the highest proportion of any supermarket tracked.

Asda was also found to have reduced the price of 18 products.

Sainsbury’s was said to have raised the price of 20 out of 137 value range products, and dropped the price of two.

Among those to go up were lasagne, cottage pie, fish pie, and macaroni cheese ready meals from its Stamford Street range.

All had risen from £1 to £1.25 – a 25% hike.

NationalWorld tracked 216 budget range products from Tesco, and found 42 had risen in price in the last month.

The chain’s Eastmans chicken and bacon pasta was found to have jumped from 99p up to £1.29, a rise of 30.3%

And Tesco’s Grower’s harvest pure apple juice (2 litres) had risen from £1.09 up to £1.35, an increase of 23.9%.

Morrisons was found to have increased the price of just one product out of 43 value items.

And discount chain Aldi had upped the price of two out of 90 everyday essentials lines, according to the website.

Official figures show food and drink inflation reached a near decade high of 5.9% in March.

However, experts predict the rate could hit between 8% and 12% this summer.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England last week warned overall inflation was likely to reach a 40-year high of more than 10% in the autumn, fuelled by another expected jump in energy prices.

It comes a week after Tory George Eustice sparked fury by telling hard-up households to buy cheaper food in the cost of living battle.

The out-of-touch Environment Secretary said swapping supermarket brand products for value brand ones “like spaghetti” would save cash.

A widow told how the price hike of budget line supermarket products has left her struggling to eat.

Alison Palmer, 49, from Lydney, Gloucestershire, says she has had to cut down her already tight budget following the increase of value line items in supermarkets and the recent death of her husband.

The mother-of-one set up a YouTube channel last year to show people how to cook “proper food” – even when money is tough.

Now on benefits herself, Alison used to cook a wide range of budget-friendly meals for her and husband Barry Preest, until he suddenly passed away two months ago.

The tragedy has struck Alison in more ways than one, as she revealed how the increase of budget products in supermarkets has been “very noticeable” and made a “detrimental” impact on how the rise has made life even harder.

Alison said: “I usually shop at Tesco and have noticed that the Tesco value products have all gone up.”

The family’s food budget is £40 a month – just £10 a week.

Alison said: “I am on Universal Credit, widow’s and housing benefits. I have to pay electric bills too which are only going up.

“It’s just horrific what is happening and I have had to cut down a lot. Everything is going up and nothing is coming down.

“I see and know families with children and the parents have gone without food so the kids can have something to eat.

“When Barry was alive, we used food banks on numerous occasions but now, nobody can donate the food anymore because they need it themselves – and quite right too.

“Even potatoes have gone sky high.”

Alison’s daughter, Charlotte, lives with her partner in Lydney and is expecting a baby in October – which Alison confesses is adding to their money crisis anxiety.

“Charlotte and her husband work but they are struggling too. Everyone is,” she said.

“People are having to stick to the same budgets as before the prices started going up – but they are not getting as much.

“It’s always been said ‘If you buy cheap, you get cheap’.

“Yet we have no other option. They are pricing us out and starving families out.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We know that now, more than ever, customers want great value when they do their food shop.

“That’s why we are committed to providing great value for our customers, whether it’s promising Low Everyday Prices on 1,600 staples, price matching 650 basics to Aldi prices, or offering exclusive deals and rewards through Clubcard Prices.”

Sainsbury’s said the analysis did “not give a true reflection of the price and value we offer”, because it sold more than 40,000 products.

A spokesperson said: “The cost of individual products is determined by a number of factors and prices can fluctuate, both up and down, as a consequence.

“We remain relentlessly focused on keeping prices low on the products that our customers buy most often such as meat, fish, poultry, dairy and fresh produce and are committed to doing everything we can to help our customers, colleagues and communities at this challenging time.”

A Morrisons spokesperson added: “We know that our customers are under real financial pressure at the moment and we want to play our part in helping them when it comes to the cost of grocery shopping.

“We recently reduced the price of over 500 products including a quarter of our entry-level range.”

Asda told The Mirror: “We know how much the cost of living is worrying our customers right now and we’re doing everything we can to keep prices grocery prices in check.

“Despite rising inflation, more than 150 of the 200 Smart Price and Farm Stores products we currently sell remained the same price or reduced in price during this period.”

Aldi said: “Value is the number one consideration for most households as they wrestle with rising costs and our promise to our customers is that we will always provide the lowest grocery prices.”

Full list of own brand price rises

*Source: National World

Asda:

Smart price mushy peas 300g tin – 18p up to 21p, rise of 16.7%

Farm stores kiwis pack of six – 67p up to 78p, rise of 16.4%

Farm stores green beans 240g – 75p up to 87p, rise of 16%

Smart price rice pudding 400g tin – 20p up to 23p, rise of 15%

Smart price sliced carrots in water 300g tin – 20p up to 23p, rise of 15%

Smart price sausage, mash and gravy 400g ready meal – £1.20 up to £1.35, rise of 12.5%

Smart price tomato soup 400g tin – 24p up to 27p, rise of 12.5%

Smart price gravy granules 200g – 25p up to 28p, rise of 12%

Smart price golden vegetable savoury rice 120g – 25p up to 28p, rise of 12%

Smart price beef lasagne 400g ready meal – £1.2 up to £1.34, rise of 11.7%

Smart price fine cut orange marmalade 450g – 27p up to 30p, rise of 11.1%

Smart price chicken curry and rice 400g ready meal – £1.20 up to £1.33, rise of 10.8%

Smart price strawberry jam 454g – 28p up to 31p, rise of 10.7%

Smart price past shapes 500g – 29p up to 32p, rise of 10.3%

Smart price stewed steak 392g tin – £1.59 up to £1.75, rise of 10.1%

Smart price ready to serve custard 385g – 30p up to 33p, rise of 10%

Smart price peach slices in light syrup 411g tin – 31p up to 34p, rise of 9.7%

Smart price new potatoes in water 550g tin – 33p up to 36p, rise of 9.1%

Smart price chicken roll 400g – £1.10 up to £1.20, rise of 9.1%

Smart price cottage pie 400g ready meal – £1.20 up to £1.30, rise of 8.3%

Smart price fish pie 400g ready meal – £1.20 up to £1.30, rise of 8.3%

Smart price baked beans and sausages in tomato sauce 405g tin – 39p up to 42p, rise of 7.7%

Smart price lard 250g – 39p up to 42p, rise of 7.7%

Smart price mayonnaise 500g – 41p up to 44p, rise of 7.3%

Smart price long-life skimmed milk 1L – 55p up to 59p, rise of 7.3%

Farm stores mixed peppers pack of 3 – 92p up to 98p, rise of 6.5%

Smart price cooked ham slices 400g – £1.59 up to £1.69, rise of 6.3%

Smart price wafer thin cooked ham slices 400g – £1.59 up to £1.69, rise of 6.3%

Farm stores plums 400g – 59p up to 62p, rise of 5.1%

Smart price clear honey 340g – 69p up to 72p, rise of 4.3%

Farm stores cherry tomaties 250g – 48p up to 50p, rise of 4.2%

Smart price wheat bisks 24x18g – 74p up to 77p, rise of 4.1%

Smart price pork luncheon meat slices 250g – 79p up to 82p, rise of 3.8%

Farm stores 8 pork sausages 454g – 83p up to 86p, rise of 3.6%

Smart price frozen chips 1.5kg – 90p up to 93p, rise of 3.3%

Farm stores seedless grapes 500g – £1.06 up to £1.09, rise of 2.8%

Smart price refuse sacks 75 litres – £1.07 up to £1.10, rise of 2.8%

Sainsbury’s:

Stamford Street lasagne ready meal 300g – £1 up to £1.25, rise of 25%

Stamford Street cottage pie 300g ready meal – £1 up to £1.25, rise of 25%

Stamford Street fish pie 300g ready meal – £1 up to £1.25, rise of 25%

Stamford Street macaroni cheese 300g ready meal – £1 up to £1.25, rise of 25%

Lovett’s madeira sponge cake 895g – £3.49 up to £3.99, rise of 14.3%

Hubbard’s foodstore mixed fruit 500g, £1.10 up to £1.25, rise of 13.6%

Hubbard’s foodstore chicken soup tin 400g – 40p up to 45p, rise of 12.5% (was previously 31p, as of 20 January)

Hubbard’s foodstore vegetable soup tin 400g – 40p up to 45p, rise of 12.5% (was previously 35p, as of 20 January)

J. James and family frozen cooked and peeled coldwater prawns 250g – £2.50 up to £2.75, rise of 10%

J. James and family British cooked chicken slices 12 pieces 300g – £1.45 up to £1.59, rise of 9.7%

Hubbard’s foodstore custard 385g tin – 32p up to 35p, rise of 9.4%

J. James and family British breaded cooked ham slices x 12, 300g – £1.49 up to £1.59, rise of 6.7%

J. James and family cooked ham slices x 12 300g – £1.49 up to £1.59, rise of 6.7% (previously £1.39, as of 20 January)

J. James and family British breaded cooked ham slices x 5, 120g – 60p up to 64p, rise of 6.7%

J. James and family British cooked ham slices x 5 120g – 60p p to 64p, rise of 6.7% (was previously 56p, as of 20 January)

Lovett’s apple pie dessert 550g – £1.50 up to £1.60, rise of 6.7%

Just Snax Tortilla Chips basic 200g – 45p up to 48p, rise of 6.7%

J. James and family British cooked ham slices 400g – £1.99 up to £2.12, rise of 6.5% (was previously £1.85, as of 20 January)

J. James free range eggs mixed weight x 10, £1.19 up to £1.26, rise of 5.9%

Mary Ann’s dairy red leicester cheese 600g – £2.69 up to £2.84, rise of 5.6%

Tesco:

Eastman’s chicken and bacon paste 400g – 99p up to £1.29, rise of 30.3%

Grower’s harvest pure apple juice 2 litre – £1.09 up to £1.35, rise of 23.9%

Grower’s harvest orange juice smooth 2 litre – £1.09 up to £1.35, rise of 23.9%

Hearty food co frozen potato croquettes 700g – 61p up to 73p, rise of 19.7%

Ms Molly’s chocolate cake – £3.49 up to £3.99, rise of 14.3%

Ms Molly’s madeira cake – £3.49 up to £3.99, rise of 14.3%

Stockwell and co soft spread 500g – 75p up to 85p, rise of 13.3%

Creamfields greek style natural yoghurt 500g – 49p up to 55p, rise of 12.2%

Eastman’s coleslaw 500g – 66p up to 74p, rise of 12.1%

Suntrail farms kiwi 6 pack – 67p up to 75p, rise of 11.9%

Creamfields French brie 200g – 85p up to 95p, rise of 11.8%

Ms Molly’s 8 chewy caramel wafer biscuits 224g – 85p up to 95p, rise of 11.8%

Redmere farms green beans 220g – 69p up to 77p, rise of 11.6%

Eastman’s minced beef and onion pasty 150g – 37p up to 41p, rise of 10.8%

Stockwell and co instant coffee 100g – 75p up to 83p, rise of 10.7%

Hearty food co chicken tikka masala and pilau rice 450g ready meal – £1.99 up to £2.19, rise of 10.1%

Hearty food co cottage pie 450g ready meal – £1.99 up to £2.19, rise of 10.1%

Stockwell and co plain flour 1.5kg – 45p up to 49p, rise of 8.9%

Stockwell and co self raising flour 1.5kg – 45p up to 49p, rise of 8.9%

Hearty food co chicken curry with rice 400g frozen ready meal – 69p up to 75p, rise of 8.7%

Hearty food co sweet and sour chicken 400g frozen ready meal – 69p up to 75p, rise of 8.7%

Hearty food co spaghetti bolognese 400g frozen ready meal – 69p up to 75p, rise of 8.7%

Willow farm chicken drumsticks 900g-1.2kg – £1.73 up to £1.88, rise of 8.7%

Hearty food co two garlic chicken kievs 260g – £1.65 up to £1.79, rise of 8.5%

Willow farm chicken thighs 99g-1.2kg – £1.94 up to £2.09, rise of 7.7%

Hearty food co spinach and ricotta tortelloni 250g – £1.04 up to £1.12, up to 7.7%

H. W. Nevills 8 plain tortilla wraps – 79p up to 85p, rise of 7.6%

Nightingale farms celery – 43p up to 46p, rise of 7%

Nightingale farms peppers 375g – 89p up to 95p – 6.7%

Eastman’s cooked ham 30 slices 400g – £1.59 up to £1.69, rise of 6.3%

Eastman’s wafer thin cooked ham 400g – £1.59 up to £1.69, rise of 6.3%

Stockwell and co chicken curry 392g tin – £1.19 up to £1.26, rise of 5.9%

Creamfields lighter mature cheese 400g – £1.79 up to £1.89, rise of 5.6%

Creamfields mature white cheddar 400g – £1.79 up to £1.89, rise of 5.6%

Creamfields medium white cheddar 400g – £1.79 p to £1.89, rise of 5.6%

Creamfields mild white cheddar 400g – £1.79 up to £1.89, rise of 5.6%

Creamfields red leicester 400g – £1.79 up to £1.89, rise of 5.6%

Redmere farms red onion 1kg – 67p up to 70p, rise of 4.5%

Willow farm chicken breast portions 990g-1.2kg – £5.45 up to £5.66, rise of 3.9%

Woodside farms eight pork sausages 454g – 80p up to 83p, rise of 3.7%

Redmere farms courgettes 350g – 81p up to 83p, rise of 2.5%

Stockwell and co tomato ketchup 540g – 51p up to 52p, rise of 2%

Morrisons:

Savers long life skimmed milk 1 litre – 50p up to 55p, rise of 10%

Aldi:

Everyday essentials cheese and tomato pizza 114g – 49p up to 55p, rise of 12.2%

Everyday essentials lightly salted tortilla chips 200g – 45p up to 48p, rise of 6.7%