Now, every Lidl helps..

sundaymirror.co.uk 29/06/2008

Supermarkets have been one of the great drivers of the lifestyle so many Britons enjoy nowadays.

They provide a fantastic variety of food and drink which has changed the eating habits of the nation.

But it comes at a price. The family shopping basket takes a major slice of household income which is growing alarmingly as the cost of many foods rockets.

The result has been that discount chains, such as Aldi and Lidl, are now taking large numbers of customers away from the big four - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons.

Now Aldi, which has seen a 21 per cent sales surge in the past year as families tighten their belts, is planning to open a new store every week.

Competition is healthy for the industry and good for the consumer, particularly when it involves a challenge from lower prices.

The major supermarkets may feel that their huge profits are justified by their efficiency and the service they provide.

But the growth of the low-cost stores will make them think more deeply about their prices.