Tesco tops Celt secret shopper survey

There’s some good news for Cavan consumers in the New Year as competition heats up in the local grocery market. A price war appears to be breaking out; while a number of major development projects are also in the pipeline for supermarkets across the county. Tesco has emerged as the most competitive supermarket in the county town this week, according to a secret shopping survey carried out on a dozen popular food items in the grocery basket.

The survey was conducted after a price cut was announced by some of the leading supermarkets last week that promised hundreds of everyday food items slashed across the board. There is clear evidence of ‘price matching’ across stores for several staple items.

The Celt’s price analysis was conducted on Monday, January 8, across the five main supermarkets in Cavan town: Lidl, Aldi, Supervalu, Dunnes Stores and Tesco. Twelve common grocery items were selected including bread, milk, butter, tea, coffee, cornflakes, fresh chicken, pasta, pasta sauce, bananas, eggs and a packet of chocolate digestive biscuits with the cheapest items selected from the supermarket’s own brand range in each store.

The basket was almost identical to a similar survey conducted by this newspaper last May in the midst of the cost of living crisis and high inflation.

All stores came well under €20 for the items selected. The cheapest basket checked out at €17.58 in Tesco; while the most expensive on the day was €19.37 at Dunnes Stores - a 10% difference in price. Lidl came in second place, 91 cent behind Tesco at €18.49. The total for the same goods was €18.79 in SuperValu and €18.96 in Aldi ~

* Better price available as part of Double Savers offer

** No own brand instant coffee on shelf, substituted cheapest visible alternative

*** Also available in a ‘three for €10’ offer with Clubcard

**** Only 200g option available in-store on day (price per 100g quoted)

SURVEY CONDUCTED MONDAY, JANUARY 8

The price analysis noted some loyalty schemes and in-store promotions on the day but did not take them into account while costing.

Perhaps the most shocking result from the exercise is that the same basket of shopping has gone up by over €3 in just eight months representing an average rise of over 21.7% at the checkout.

An additional couple of points worth noting include the fact that a 500g pack of own brand corn flakes costs €1.19c in all five supermarkets. Price matching with Aldi on some products was obvious in Tesco and heavily promoted in store.

In May of last year, the Celt carried out a similar analysis of supermarket prices. On that occasion SuperValu came out on top for value with the basket of goods amounting to €14.44; while Dunnes Stores checked out as the most expensive on the day at €16.10. In between those, the items cost €14.58 in Tesco; €14.68 in Aldi; and €15.72 in Lidl.

Footnote from Aldi ~

We’ve been asked to point out by Aldi that it stocks three cheaper versions of some of the projects counting in its basket for our survey.

These included Ballymore Crust white sliced pan, at 89c; Gold Roast Freeze Dried Coffee Alcafé 100g at €1.33 and Tomato Passata Cucina 500g, at 62c.

These products were not visible on the shelf the day the Celt called.

Had these products been available on the day, the total cost of the shopping basket at Aldi would have been €17.11 - some 47 cent cheaper than the Tesco basket.

Major developments

Aside from the potential for a price war, the retail sector is set to expand locally over the next 12 to 24 months. Tesco has secured planning permission for a new superstore in Cavan Town, though the project is currently with An Bord Pleanála. Lidl also plans to build a new store on its existing site on the Ballinagh Road.

A new €6.5m Aldi will begin construction in Cootehill this year; while SuperValu in the town also has plans for a significant extension. In nearby north Longford, Granard is set for a retail boost after Aldi lodged planning permission for a new store that is hoped to be completed in 2025.