- A new study has crowned Aldi as the most cost-effective supermarket for your summer BBQ shopping, with a total cost of £57.60.
- Meanwhile, Waitrose is identified as the costliest choice for your summer BBQ shop. Waitrose shoppers can expect to pay £103.80 for their basic BBQ shop – almost double the price of an Aldi shop.
- The research has also revealed that the average cost to cook a basic summer BBQ is now almost £78, over 50% more expensive than the average cost of £51 back in 2021.
With the start of the summer holidays commencing across the UK, new research has revealed the best supermarkets for your BBQ shopping.
Firstly, the research team at Fruity King created a list of basic foods and drinks needed for a summer BBQ, including burgers, sausages, beers, and side dishes such as potato salad and coleslaw.
The research then obtained information via each leading UK supermarket’s online shop to determine how much it would cost to buy the essential ingredients for a BBQ. The supermarkets with the cheapest overall costs then determined the final ranking.
According to the study, Aldi is the most cost-effective choice for your summer BBQ shopping in 2025. In order to buy the essential ingredients needed for a basic summer BBQ, you would only need to spend £57.60 at Aldi. The supermarket offers the cheapest prices for nine fundamental BBQ ingredients, including sausages, veggie burgers, and hot dog buns.
Aldi also has the cheapest overall prices for alcohol, with a bottle of white wine costing £3.55 and a bottle of prosecco for £5.35 – almost five times cheaper than Waitrose’s wine selection.
Asda is revealed to be the second most cost-effective supermarket choice, with a final cost of £69.40 for various summer BBQ essentials. The research found that the supermarket has the cheapest prices for five BBQ items, including veggie sausages, ribs, and ketchup. In terms of side dishes, shoppers can buy a tub of coleslaw for only 98p at Asda, which is over 88% cheaper than Waitrose’s prices.
Morrisons is in third place, with a total cost of £73.71 for a complete BBQ shop. The supermarket offers the cheapest prices for extras like cheese slices, with a cost of only £1.25 per pack.
Tesco follows closely behind, with a cost of £74.52 for a basic summer BBQ shop. The study found that a pack of six burger buns at Tesco is a staggering 135% more expensive than Aldi’s prices.
The complete ranking:
| Rank | Shop | Total Cost for a BBQ | Number of Cheapest Items |
| 1 | Aldi | £57.60 | 9 |
| 2 | Asda | £69.40 | 5 |
| 3 | Morrisons | £73.71 | 1 |
| 4 | Tesco | £74.52 | 0 |
| 5 | Sainsbury’s | £80.15 | 0 |
| 6 | Co-op | £84.81 | 2 |
| 7 | Waitrose | £103.80 | 1 |
Sainsbury’s appears further down the ranking in fifth place. Shoppers will find that a basic BBQ shop at Sainsbury’s will set them back by £80.15, which is over £22 more expensive than Aldi’s prices. The research found that Sainsbury’s offer some of the highest prices for certain veggies, with a single onion setting shoppers back by 99p.
The Co-op is crowned as one of the costliest options for a summer BBQ shop, with a total cost of £84.81. According to the study, the Co-op has the most expensive prices for a pack of beer cans. While Asda’s prices equate to a cost of £2.04 per litre of beer, the Co-op charges £3.13 per litre. The shop also has the most expensive prices for five other BBQ items including veggie sausages, corn on the cob, and potato salad.
Despite this, the Co-op’s price for a pack of four beef burgers beats Aldi’s prices by over 40%.
Waitrose is crowned as the costliest option for your BBQ shopping this summer, with a basic shop setting you back by £103.80. The supermarket offers the most expensive prices for 11 BBQ items, including sausages, burgers, chicken skewers, and halloumi. The research found that shoppers could save almost 50% by switching to Aldi for their summer BBQ shop.
The research also reveals that the average cost for a basic BBQ is now £77.71. According to a 2021 study, the average cost for a BBQ was reported to be £51, demonstrating a cost increase of over 50%.
The study also highlights the cost benefits of switching to a veggie diet. In total, the combined average cost for a pack of four burgers and sausages would be £7.77, while the combined average total for a pack of veggie burgers and sausages would be £6.53. This means that shoppers can save almost 19% by sticking to the veggie options this summer.
A spokesperson for Fruity King has commented on the research and has offered tips on how Brits can save money during their summer BBQ shopping:
“With the summer holidays now in full swing, this research serves as a reminder to be mindful of where you choose to do your shopping during the summer months.
“This research also demonstrates the UK’s rapid rates of inflation within recent years. It’s shocking to see how the average cost of a basic BBQ has increased by over 50% within just four years, depicting the UK’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis as prices continue to surge.
“It’s crucial that you’re being financially conscious to help keep costs down over the summer months. As the study highlights, switching to a veggie-based diet over the summer may be a worthwhile option for some families looking to cut back on costs over summer.
“Remember to make a shopping list before you head out on your BBQ shop to prevent you from overspending on unnecessary items. It’s also important to consider portion sizes before heading to the shops to minimise food waste. Always plan your menu in advance based on how many people you’re catering for and don’t let any leftovers go to waste.
“Bulk-buying items like meat and then freezing them can also help you to save money in the long-run. Remember that items like chicken and sausages are often significantly cheaper than steaks or ribs. Rather than buying pre-prepared salad bags, it’s also cheaper to buy salad items individually.
“If you’re planning on hosting a last-minute BBQ over the summer holidays, then always check the reduced section. Shopping during the early evening, rather than first thing in the morning, is a fantastic opportunity to save money on discounted stock.
“It’s astonishing to see how the cost of a basic BBQ could vary so much from one shop to another, which is why it’s so important that you’re actively comparing costs between supermarkets to help seek out the best deals. For example, while Aldi is the cheapest supermarket overall, the Co-op actually has a better deal on beef burgers. Signing up for cashback and loyalty schemes can also end up saving you a fortune in the long run, so ensure that you’re making use of these throughout the summer.”
This information was provided by the research team at Fruity King.