It was revealed that supermarkets are charging up to 100 per cent more than competitors for the same item from Mr Kipling cakes to Pizza Express pizzas.
Other products found to have large price differences between retailers, such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda, include Nescafe coffee jars and Cadbury mini rolls.
The data puts the emphasis on customers to shop around for the best deals and sign up for grocers’ loyalty schemes such as Nectar and Clubcard for more affordable prices.
It comes after customers discovered a £2.17 difference for the exact pack of Mr Kipling Angel Slices which cost £4.15 at Waitrose but £1.98 at Asda, where they were on sale.
Research by a newspaper outlet looked at a further handful of products, some of which have been highlighted by social media users stunned by the price differences.
One of the biggest variations can be found with the Pizza Express margherita pizza (245g). This is on sale at Sainsbury’s for £6, or £3 with a Nectar card; £5.50 at Tesco, or £2.75 with Clubcard; and £3 at Waitrose to all shoppers.
Meanwhile, a 200g jar of Nescafe Intense Gold Blend Coffee is available at Sainsbury’s for £8.10, or at Asda for £6.
And a ten-pack of Cadbury Milk Chocolate Mini Rolls is £3.95 at Sainsbury’s or £2.95 at Co-Op.
A six-pack of Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells is £3 at Sainsbury’s compared with £1.99 at Tesco, or £1.50 with a Clubcard.
And an 880g bottle of Heinz Ketchup, sold at ’50 per cent Less Salt and Sugar’ is £4.50 at Waitrose or £4.25 at Tesco.
A newspaper outlet contacted the supermarkets with higher prices for comment and sources pointed out that comparing a limited number of products over a short time period would not give a true reflection of the price or value consumers can find.
A Tesco spokesman said that with household budgets under continued pressure, they remained absolutely focused on providing great value for their customers and that wherever there were opportunities to pass on savings to their customers they would do so, and earlier this month they cut the price of more than 500 household essentials.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said that they were acutely aware of the pressures facing millions of households right now and their number one priority continued to be doing all they could to keep prices low for their customers.
Before the cost of living crisis, some people would sneer at people using Lidl and Aldi (peasant stores), but now they have no choice but to use them because they can’t afford to shop in major supermarkets because they’re exploiting the current situation and treating the public for fools.
And the birth rate has gone down dramatically because those of breeding age don’t want any children because of uncertainty, and those that do work and might have degrees might only have one child.
There’s been a downward decline in future prospects for an extremely long time, and people that want to buy a home can’t because they don’t have enough collateral or just get gazumped, so why would anyone want to bring a child into this world where they can’t provide for that child because of the state of the economy?
Yet the government is letting migrants into this country and they get everything given to them on a plate, but if we ask for anything, we’re told to take a hike, so I don’t blame people for not having children, knowing the struggles that they will encounter.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 