I recreated my £15 Lidl shop from 5 years ago - this is how much food basics have gone up by

Five years ago I set myself a challenge to see what £15 could really buy you in a supermarket, if you gave it some thought.

It was in response to criticism of the Government’s £15 food packages sent out to families during lockdown, who would have ordinarily received free school meals.

I chose low-cost supermarket Lidl in Preston, and armed with a knowledge of what my then three-year-old liked, and some recipe ideas in mind, managed to purchase 23 items for £14.75. Products were basic and of Lidl’s ‘Simply’ budget line where I could get them. They included milk, bread, apples, carrots, tuna, ham and child-friendly crisps.

Now, five years later, food inflation is on everyone’s mind, with a weekly shop costing 30 per cent more than just a few years ago, according to research this week by Kitchen Warehouse UK. Inflation is normal, but the problem is, wages haven’t kept up, with families feeling the pinch every time they’re at the checkout.

So, I went back to Lidl with my receipt from five years ago, to find out how much food has really gone up.

What did I find? Well, yes, almost everything has shot up in price, apart from tuna, surprisingly (one tin now 55pm, and in 2021 I paid 75p). Some items had changed a little - for instance the ‘fun’ sized apples are now ‘kid’s Pink Ladies’ and they only sell genuine Pengiun bars not ‘milk chocolate sandwiches’- but the same list of 23 items now costs £24.28, and that’s with some items discounted this week.

In all, that’s a 64.6 per cent increase on basic food items from a budget supermarket. No wonder then, that 92 per cent of consumers reportedly identified food prices as a top concern in December 2025.

I also felt there was a change in the kind of foods on offer in Lidl from five years ago, with many more ‘Deluxe’ options available, rather than the ‘Simply’ range.

Which items had gone up the most?

Six pack of free range eggs - 82 per cent (85p to £1.55)

Cherry tomatoes 101 per cent (67p to £1.35)

Tinned rice pudding 127 per cent (33p to 75p)

Milk doubled from 60p to £1.20

Loose baking potatoes (25p for half a kilo to 40p)

What effect is this having on families?

Daniel Beadle from Kitchen Warehouse UK says:“What we’re seeing in the latest figures is that, even as inflation begins to ease, the day-to-day reality for households hasn’t caught up. When a weekly shop is still more than 30 per cent higher than it was a few years ago, people feel that every time they’re at the checkout.

“Eating out becomes harder to justify, small extras get reconsidered, and more of that responsibility naturally moves back into the home.​ As home cooking becomes a regular part of life, people start experimenting and building confidence. Simple recipes evolve into more ambitious meals, routines become part of the day, and cooking starts to feel rewarding rather than a chore. Those who hadn’t considered themselves home cooks before are now engaging with the process, learning techniques, and finding genuine enjoyment in preparing their own food.”