BARGAIN-hunters often pay more for their favourite treats at pound stores because they are increasingly being undercut by big-name supermarkets.
Shoppers fork out up to 75 per cent extra for some products at chains such as Poundshop, Poundland and Sam99p than at major retailers.
Examples include a pack of 240 Tetley teabags, which are £5 at Poundshop but just £3.49 at Tesco.
And Nescafé Azera coffee is £3.99 at Poundshop but just £3 at Sainsbury’s. After Eight Straws were £3.49 at Poundshop but £2 at Asda.
The comparisons, by Supermarket Own Brand Guide author Martin Isark, show just how competitive the big-name retailers are.
In some cases, shoppers may be fooled by different-size packs as pound stores often have smaller bags or tubs to sell them for £1.
For example, a pack of Milkybar White Buttons is £1 at both Poundland and Asda but Poundland’s are 80g bags while Asda’s are 94g.
Mr Isark said: “To hit the £1 price point, the brand products at pound stores are often smaller than the norm but gram for gram they can work out more expensive.
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“These stores often don’t bother to put the price per 100g or 100ml on their website. This is not helpful for the savvy shopper to see if they are getting a bargain.
“Their Mickey Mouse sizes make it difficult to compare prices.”
“Thirty years ago, when these stores sold most of their products for just £1 they were a real bargain but today the big supermarkets can match and beat their cheap prices. Surely the writing is on the wall.”
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