WHY MINI SUPERMARKETS ARE A BIG SWIZZ

They charge up to 23% more than their full-size stores for the SAME product

supErmArkETS are shutting their larger outlets in favour of opening more convenience stores in a rush to take advantage of our increasing desire to do more ‘top-up’ shopping trips, and fewer big out-of-town shops.

Back in 2011, Sainsbury’s had fewer than 400 Sainsbury’s Local stores: now it has more than 800. Little Waitrose did not exist a decade ago, but now there are 64 outlets.

And last week, figures published by The Co-operative group confirmed that the biggest growth area for the grocery chains is these compact, predominately town-centre stores. The Co-op has shut 141 large supermarkets, but opened 112 new outlets — most of which are convenience stores.

But are shoppers getting a fair deal? The supermarkets all argue that while their aim is to maintain value for customers, the extra convenience of longer opening hours and more central locations mean increased running costs in these stores, which translate into higher prices.

yet the price differences between shops belonging to the same supermarket chain can be eye-watering — even though the outlets may be less than a mile apart. We surveyed supermarkets all located within a 2.5-mile radius in NorthEast London, with prices checked over a 48-hour period. Here, we reveal the hidden cost of your ‘convenience’ shop . . .

Caesar dressing, 180ml

Sainsbury’s Local: £1.45 Sainsbury’s supermarket: £1.25 Price difference: 16 per cent A SALAD dressing sold in the chiller cabinet alongside the bags of salad — aimed at time-poor, cash-rich busy commuters. Though some might suspect they pay a premium to shop at a Local, do they know there’s a 16 per cent hike in this instance?