Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco shoppers warned over buying 'weekly essentials'

Which?, a consumer watchdog, has warned convenience store shoppers over being overcharged for items.

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons shoppers have been issued warnings over shopping for weekly essentials at convenience stores. Which?, a consumer watchdog, has warned convenience store shoppers over being overcharged for items.

Sainsbury's Local, Morrisons Daily and Tesco Express stores were all ranked and rated by the consumer group. It warned milk, butter and bread could set you back more at supermarket convenience stores than their larger shops.

Consumer champion Which? said: "We checked the cost of 42 branded and own-label products - from cheese and pasta to blueberries and ice cream - on three occasions in June and July." The Which? team found that a grocery shop at Tesco Express set them back £10 (11 per cent) more than the same shop at larger stores.

READ MORE Martin Lewis urges people who have a mortgage to complete 'must do' task

And customers could expect to pay £16 more for a basket of groceries at Morrisons Daily than at Morrisons supermarkets. Sainsbury's shoppers were paying £11 (14 per cent) more at Sainsbury’s Local than at Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Experts revealed: "Overall, Tesco Express was the cheapest of the convenience stores – but only if you have a Clubcard. The total cost of our shop averaged £108.28 for members and £117.30 for non-members. As Sainsbury’s and Morrisons don’t currently offer member-only discounts in their convenience stores, the total average cost of the convenience basket was the same regardless of membership: £111.83 at Sainsbury’s and £119.29 at Morrisons."

The study focused on everything from milk and butter to bread, cream cheese, and more. Which? added: "A medium white Hovis loaf cost 12 per cent more at both Sainsbury’s Local and Tesco Express, and 14 per cent more at Morrisons Daily.

"Loyalty members would have forked out 20 per cent more at Tesco for a 400g tub of Lurpak Spreadable butter, while all shoppers would have paid 33 per cent more at Morrisons Daily." Other products analysed included chickpeas, crisps and squash, as well as instant coffee.