Three supermarket giants are making major changes to baby food after the shake-up
THREE major supermarkets have made a major change to baby food after it was branded a ‘moral imperative’.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Aldi are the latest supermarkets to join frozen food giant Iceland in cutting formula prices.
Tesco has announced it will cut the price of 1.2kg boxes of Cow & Gate to £12, and 1.2kg boxes of Aptamil to £16.
The food giant has claimed that the move makes both types of baby food “cheaper per kg than any other major UK supermarket”.
These cuts come in addition to the reduction in 800g packs of SMA Little Steps infant formula, which now cost £7.95 from £9.75.
Tesco’s Chief Commercial Officer Ashwin Prasad said: “We are very focused on reducing the cost of the weekly shop for our customers, and we know it can be particularly difficult for those with young families who have all the extra costs that come with with welcoming customers, a new baby.
“That’s why today we’ve reduced the prices of baby formula across pack sizes and brands to help new parents who need to buy formula stretch their budget a little further.”
Aldi has also reduced the price of its Mamia Infant First formula, with customers can now buy the supermarket’s own brand formula for just £8.49.
At this price, the 900g barrels retain the title of “the lowest priced formula available on the market”.
Aldi remains the only supermarket in Britain to offer own-brand infant formula.
Aldi’s managing director Julie Ashfield said: “New parents have to make tough choices about how they spend their money, but Aldi’s Mamia range offers the best quality products for the early stages of parenthood, at an unbeatable price.”
Sainsbury’s has also recently added its Little One own-brand baby range to the Aldi Price Match programme.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “We know families are still struggling and we are working harder than ever to reduce our costs, putting money back into our customers’ pockets through lower prices on the products they buy. buy most often.”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently revealed that formula prices have risen by 25 percent in the past two years.
The regulator has been investigating the baby milk market after finding it vulnerable to price increases higher than inflation.
It also revealed that the baby food market was dominated by just two companies, accounting for a total of 85 percent of sales.
Parents could save more than £500 during their baby’s first year by buying cheaper formula, although few switched as prices rose.
The news comes just a week after Iceland slashed the price of SMA baby food powder, making it the cheapest chain to sell the brand at the time.
Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland Foods, said: “Families with babies are still struggling with the cost of living and we have a moral obligation to take action.
“That is why we are putting further pressure on manufacturers, regulators and the market as a whole to reduce prices, just as Iceland is doing.”
You can compare prices on websites such as Google Shopping and Trolley.co.uk, which compare the prices of 130,000 products in 14 major supermarkets.
Last week The Sun looked at the cheapest places you can buy several major brands to help you compare costs.