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CONVENIENCE can be expensive, especially when you’re looking for that beloved barbecue.
Buying last-minute essentials like burgers, beer, firelighters and sunscreen from smaller branches of larger supermarkets can cost up to 60 percent more than going to a supermarket.
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This is because high street branches of the big chains rarely stock their cheaper, own-brand basics. In fact, a Which? study last year found that they were only available in one percent of smaller stores such as Tesco Express.
As we head into what could be one of the last or very few sunny weekends of the year, ALEX LLOYD visited the high street and supermarket versions of four major York supermarkets and compared the costs of 15 essential BBQ items…
Tesco – £13.93 difference – BIGGEST GAP
TESCO-EXPRESS
Tesco 8 Pork Sausages £2.45
Fire pit 4 Beef Quarter Pounders £2.80
Tesco 4 large seed burger buns 95p
Tesco 6 White Hotdog Buns £1
Tesco celebrates 25 extra strong paper plates £2.10
Tesco Celebrate 50 Napkins 2-ply £1.60
Tesco Celebrates 10 Party Cups £2
Zip 14 Individual Firelighters £5*
Tesco Diet Lemonade 2l 70p
Gordon’s Gin & Tonic 250ml £2.35
Carling Lager 4 x 440ml £4.50
Wall’s Soft Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream 1.8l £3.10
Rowntree’s 4 Fruit Pastilles Lollies £2.75
Tesco One-a-Day Hayfever & Allergy Relief 30 Tablets £3.30
Tesco Soleil SPF50+ Sunscreen 200ml £3.20
TOTAL = £37.80
TESCO-EXTRA
Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages £1.50**
Firepit 4 Beef Quarter Pounders £2.49 (Aldi price match)
Tesco 6 white rolls 49p (Aldi price match)
Tesco 6 white hotdog buns 89p
Tesco celebrates 50 extra strong paper plates £1.50
Tesco celebrates 100 napkins £1
Eco Recyclable Paper Cups 15 Pack £1.25***
Zip 24 Firelighters £2
Tesco Diet Lemonade 2l 60p
Tesco Gin & Tonic 250ml £1.20
Ashfield Lager 4 x 440ml £2.25
Ms Molly’s Soft Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream 2l £1.35 (Aldi price comparison)
Tesco 5 Fruity Helter Skelter Lollies £1.60
Tesco One-a-Day Hayfever & Allergy Relief 30 Tablets £2.95
Tesco Soleil SPF50+ Sunscreen 200ml £2.80
TOTAL = £23.87
Sainsbury’s – £12.78 difference
SAINSBURY’S LOCAL
The most expensive basket of its kind.
Sainsbury’s 8 Pork Sausages £2.45
Sainsbury’s 4 Quarter Pounders £3.15
Warburtons 6 soft white rolls £1.30
Sainsbury’s 6 Jumbo Hot Dog Rolls £1.30
Sainsbury’s 50 White Paper Plates £2.50
Sainsbury’s 50 White Napkins £1.75
Sainsbury’s 10 Clear Plastic Cups £2
TigerTim 18 Firelighters £4
Sainsbury’s Diet Lemonade 2l 85p
Sainsbury’s Gin & Light Tonic £1.80
Carling Lager 4 x 440ml £4.85
Carte D’Or Vanilla Ice Cream 900ml £4.40
Rowntree’s 4 Fruit Pastilles Lollies £1.75
Sainsbury’s 30 Hay Fever & Allergy Tablets £3.35
Nivea Sun Kids 50+ SPF Lotion 200ml £7
TOTAL = £41.15
SAINSBURY’S
Stamford Street 8 Pork Sausages £1.50
Sainsbury’s 4 Quarter Pounders £2.59
Stamford Street 4 white rolls 69p
Sainsbury’s 6 white jumbo hot dog buns 69p
Sainsbury’s Home 50 White Paper Plates £2.50
Sainsbury’s Home 100 White Napkins £1
Sainsbury’s Home 10 White Paper Cups £1.50
Bar-Be-Quick 24 Firelighters £2.50
Sainsbury’s Lemonade 2l 70p
Sainsbury’s Gin & Tonic £1.30
Sainsbury’s Crown Lager 4 x 440ml £2.25 (Aldi price match)
Stamford Street Soft Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream 2l £1.35
Sainsbury’s 8 rocket lollies £1.35
Sainsbury’s 30 Hay Fever & Allergy Tablets £2.95
Sainsbury’s Sun Protect 30SPF Lotion 200ml £5.50
TOTAL = £28.37
Morrisons – £13.81 difference
MORRISONS DAILY
Morrisons 8 Pork Sausages £2.50
Morrisons BBQ 4 Quarter Pounders £4
Warburton’s 6 soft white rolls £1.50
St Pierre 4 Brioche Hotdog Buns £2.20
Nutmeg Home 30 Paper Plates £1.75
Nutmeg Home 50 Red Napkins 75pcs
Morrisons 12 Union Jack Paper Cups 75p
Bar-Be-Quick 24 Firelighters £1.75
Morrisons Lemonade 2l £1.00
Gordon’s Gin & Tonic 250ml £2.65
Carling Lager 4 x 440ml £5
Carte D’Or Vanilla Ice Cream 900ml £3
Rowntree’s 4 Fruit Pastilles Lollies £2.75
Almus 30 Loratadine Allergy Tablets £2.90
Malibu 30 SPF Lotion Spray 200ml £6
TOTAL: £38.50
MORRISONS
Morrisons Savers 8 Pork Sausages £1.50
Morrisons 4 Handmade Butchers Beef Burgers £2.40
Morrisons 6 soft white rolls 89p
Morrisons 6 finger sandwiches 85p
Morrisons Essentials 30 Paper Plates £1.75
Nutmeg Home 100 White Napkins £1
Nutmeg Home 8 White Cups 80p
Bar-Be-Quick 24 Firelighters £2.50
Morrisons Lemonade 2l 65p
Mix Up Gin and Tonic 250ml £1.15
Morrisons Lager 4 x 440ml £2.50
Morrisons Savers Vanilla Ice Cream 2l £1.35
Morrisons 4 Super Fruities Lollies £1.35
Morrisons One-a-Day Hayfever Relief £3
Morrisons Sun Cream SPF30 200ml £3
TOTAL = £24.69
ASDA – £1.92 difference – SMALLEST DIFFERENCE
ASDA EXPRESS
Asda Just Essentials 8 Pork Sausages £1.50
Asda Succulent 4 Quarter Pounders £2.49
Asda Bakery 4 white rolls 85p
Asda Bakery 6 white finger rolls 85p
George Home 30 Paper Plates £1
George Home 100 napkins £1
George Home 15 Reusable Plastic Cups £1
Zip 20 All Purpose Firelighters £2
Asda Lemonade 2l 60p
Gordon’s Gin & Tonic can 250ml £2
Asda Pilsner 4-pack £3.75
Asda Just Essentials Vanilla Ice Cream 2l £1.35
Asda Just Essentials 8 Fruit Lollies £1.15
Asda 30 Allergy Tablets £2.50
Asda Protect 50 SPF Sunscreen 200ml £3.20
TOTAL: £25.24
ASDA
The cheapest basket in general
Asda Just Essentials 8 Pork Sausages £1.50
Asda Succulent 4 Quarter Pounders £2.49
Asda Just Essentials 6 white rolls 49p
Asda Bakery 6 white finger rolls 85p
George Home Value 30 Paper Plates £1
George Home 100 napkins £1
George Home 15 Large Plastic Cups £1
Zip 20 All Purpose Firelighters £2
Asda Lemonade 2l 60p
Gordon’s Gin & Tonic can 250ml £2
Skol Lager 4 x 440ml £2.55
Asda Just Essentials Vanilla Ice Cream 2l £1.35
Asda Just Essentials 8 Fruit Lollies £1.15
Asda 30 Allergy Tablets £2.50
Asda Protect 30 SPF Sunscreen 200ml £2.80
TOTAL = £23.32
The verdict
Senior writer Alex Lloyd says: “The weather has been unpredictable this summer, so all the BBQs we’ve done have been planned at the last minute.
“This means I can more easily go to Sainsbury’s Local, a two-minute walk from my home in York, than have to drive 15 minutes to one of the larger stores.
“But my price test shows just how much more expensive convenience stores really are. In fact, my nearest Sainsbury’s Local came out as the most expensive of the eight stores I visited.
“The biggest price difference was at Tesco, which often matches Aldi’s price in its Extra stores but not in its Express versions. This means identical products, such as beef burgers, can often be much cheaper if you buy them at the big box store.
“Morrisons had the second biggest price difference, but the difference in cost at Asda stores was just £1.92. Asda Express even stocked its own brand beer, as well as some Just Essential products.”
*Out of stock at the Tesco Express store we visited. Pictured: Zip 24 Firelighters, £2, Tesco Extra
**Out of stock at the Tesco Extra we visited. Pictured: Richmond 8 Thick Sausages £2.60, Tesco Extra
***Out of stock at the Tesco Extra we visited. Pictured: 10 red paper cups, £1.50, Tesco Extra
