Which is the cheapest supermarket in France?
A new study shows just how close prices for common food items can be across brands
One brand stood out from the rest, but it still makes sense to check prices carefully for the best deals
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A new study of supermarket prices across major brand France has found that E.Leclerc is 7% cheaper than average across almost all categories, but some other popular brands are not far behind.
The study by the consumer magazines Linéaires and 60 Millions de Consommateurs analysed thousands of prices at major supermarkets throughout France.
This included national brands, own-brand products, and departments in which the product is charged by weight, such as bakery, fish, meat, cheese, and fruit and vegetables.
Cheapest supermarket
E.Leclerc was found to be the cheapest supermarket in absolute terms and in almost all departments, the study found. It was 7% cheaper than average.
The differences were most evident when comparing the supermarkets’ own-brand items. These are typically up to 20-30% cheaper than their branded equivalents.
Intermarché and Super U were close behind.
For example:
Mild butter, 250 g: €2.30 (E.Leclerc), €2.35 (Intermarché)
Coulommiers cheese, 350 g: €2.12 (Intermarché), €2.13 (E.Leclerc), €2.18 (Super U)
Cassoulet: €2.19 (E.Leclerc), €2.25 (Intermarché), €2.26 (Super U)
It comes after another study from 60 Millions de Consommateurs recently found that own-brand products sold in E.Leclerc stores are 5.5% cheaper than the average of all own-brand products sold.
This was closely followed by Carrefour (2.7% cheaper), and Intermarché (2% cheaper).
Read also: Supermarket brand products ‘cheaper but less healthy’
In contrast, own-brand products sold in Monoprix stores are on average 16.7% more expensive than their equivalents in other supermarkets, the study said.
Prices very competitive
However, it still makes sense to check prices because in some cases products at E.Leclerc are not always the cheapest.
For example:
Puget oil, 1 litre, is cheaper at E.Leclerc. €13.04 (E.Leclerc), €13.11 (Super U), €13.17 (Carrefour)
In contrast:
Nutella 400 g: €3.12 (Intermarché), €3.14 (E.Leclerc), €3.17 (Super U)
Activia nature yoghurts x 4: €1.39 (Intermarché), €1.41 (E.Leclerc), €1.42 (Super U)
In addition, E.Leclerc was not always found to be cheapest for fruit and vegetables. For example:
Low-cost supermarket brands Lidl and Aldi were not included in the survey, because they offer far fewer products than a conventional supermarket. Similarly, a large proportion of their products are sold under their own brand, and they do not always have a butcher's, fishmonger's or delicatessen counter.
Fluctuating prices
Supermarket and food prices have fallen slightly in recent months, but still largely remain higher than they were before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Read more: How lower inflation rate is affecting food prices in France
Prices rose 10% in 2022, and 6.7% in 2023, show figures from consumer intelligence company NielsenIQ.
In contrast, the director general of INSEE, Jean-Luc Tavernier, said that purchasing power had increased in the latter end of 2024. “Not everyone is fully aware of it, but in 2024 [final statistics showed that there was] an increase in the purchasing power of French households,” he said on December 23.
Similarly, in its latest Economic Outlook, statistics and economics institute INSEE said the downward trend in the rate of inflation would continue in 2025.
