UK Shoppers Switch to Basic Meals as Annual Grocery Bills Set to Rise by £275 Pounds

British consumers are increasingly adopting simpler meal preparation strategies at home as soaring food prices threaten to add £275 to annual household grocery expenses, according to recent research findings.

The shift in consumer behaviour comes as grocery inflation reached 5.2% in July, up from 4.7% in June, marking the highest level since January 2024. Research company Worldpanel reports that shoppers are gravitating towards supermarket own-label products in their efforts to manage tightening budgets.

The average household grocery bill now stands at £5,283 annually, with nearly two-thirds of households expressing serious concerns about their food shopping costs. Own-label products have emerged as clear winners, demonstrating growth of 5.6% compared to branded products at 4.9%.

The trend towards simplified meal preparation is particularly noteworthy, with approximately 70% of dinner plates now containing fewer than six components. This behavioural change directly correlates with consumers’ efforts to reduce spending amid inflationary pressures.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics reinforce these findings, showing UK inflation unexpectedly rose to 3.6% in June. Food price inflation specifically increased for the third consecutive month, reaching 4.5%, driven by price hikes in staples such as cakes, meat, milk, eggs and cheddar cheese.

The German discounter Lidl has capitalised on this cost-conscious environment, achieving a record market share of 8.3% in July and attracting over 500,000 new customers. Meanwhile, Tesco maintains its market leadership with a 28.3% share, whilst Ocado leads growth rates with an 11.7% increase in sales over the 12-week period to 14 July.