Aldi Emerges as the Cheapest Supermarket for Easter Roast Dinner
As Easter approaches, many families are planning the traditional Sunday roast, but with food prices straining household budgets, shoppers are seeking affordable ingredients. A new price comparison by finance experts at Fast Loan UK shows that choosing the right supermarket can significantly reduce the cost of a classic Easter meal, especially when lamb is the centrepiece.
Price Comparison Details and Key Findings
The research analysed the cost of key ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Easter dinner for four people across major supermarkets. The basket included a 1kg half leg of lamb, potatoes, carrots, petit pois, parsnips, gravy, and mint sauce, based on recommended serving sizes per person.
Aldi was found to be the cheapest overall, with the full Easter dinner basket costing £18.14 as of March 25. Lidl came second at £18.55, just pennies more, while Asda ranked third at £20.06. At the other end of the scale, Marks & Spencer was the most expensive, with the same meal costing £29.25—over £11 higher than Aldi.
Price Fluctuations Throughout March
The analysis also revealed notable price changes during March. Earlier in the month, on March 2, Morrisons was the cheapest supermarket, with the basket costing £16.31. However, that price has since risen significantly by £5.67. Waitrose, which was the second most expensive option at the start of March with a meal costing £27.05, has reduced prices to £21.96, representing a saving of £6.56.
Expert Insights and Shopping Advice
Joe Brunt, a consumer finance expert at Fast Loan UK, commented: "With food prices still a concern for many households, seasonal meals like Easter dinner can quickly become more expensive than people expect. Our research shows that while discount supermarkets are often assumed to be the cheapest overall, that isn't always the case once you look at the full basket of ingredients."
He added: "The biggest price differences tend to come from the main item on the plate, such as lamb, so shoppers who want to keep costs down may benefit from comparing prices on key ingredients rather than assuming one supermarket will be the cheapest for everything."
For households aiming to control Easter spending, these findings suggest that shopping around—particularly for the main meat—can help cut the cost of the traditional holiday meal.
