The cost of living crisis has seen the price of many grocery items skyrocket with cheese being one of the products to have risen significantly in price. According to the Office for National Statistics, the price of cheese has risen by 42% in the year leading up to April 2023.
And despite a recent slight decrease, it’s still far from the pre-crisis prices. There are countless brands of cheese available, each with its own price tag.
However, most supermarkets offer a basic cheddar in their budget ranges. So which supermarket mature cheddar is the best? Below we compare six main supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl.
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Given the varying pack sizes, the MEN calculated the price per 100g for fairness. The results were quite similar, with Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Asda priced at 54p per 100g, while Morrisons and Tesco were slightly higher at 62p per 100g.
Comparing this to Cathedral City, which costs £3.50 for a 350g block at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s (equating to £1 per 100g), it’s clear that substantial savings can be made by opting for the budget ranges. Visually, there’s not much difference between them when sliced and served on a tray. If anything, the Sainsbury’s option appears to have a more appealing, crumbly texture.
We may not be cheese connoisseurs, but among the 10 of us who sampled them, we’ve all had our fair share of cheddar over the years, which unsurprisingly is the UK’s favourite cheese. Opinions varied on a few – some enjoyed the taste and texture of Lidl’s offering, while others found it ‘bitter’.
Tesco’s cheese was deemed somewhat bland by some, yet others praised its ‘nice creamy’ texture. Aldi’s and Asda’s offerings were satisfactory, with the latter described as slightly ‘powdery’.
Sainsbury’s cheddar from its Stamford Street Co range came in second place with many of us appreciating, not just its appearance, but also its robust flavour. However, the top spot went to Morrisons’ Savers cheese.
It’s crumbly, flavoursome, creamy – everything you’d want from a good cheddar – and at £2.18 for a 350g block, it won’t break the bank either.
Supermarket/ brand or range / weight / price / price per 100g
- Aldi Everyday, Essentials, 900g, £4.88, 54p
- Lidl, Simply, 900g, £4.88, 54p
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Sainsbury’s, Stamford Street Co, 600g, £3.25, 54p
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Asda, Just Essentials, 825g, £4.47, 54p
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Morrisons, Savers, 350g, £2.18, 62p
- Tesco, Creamfields, 400g, £2.49, 62p
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
