Overview
- Aldi launched the year with permanent cuts on about 40 items and trimmed meat prices from 7 January, including pork mince to €3.79 and Basmati rice to €2.49 per kilo.
- Price tracking by Lebensmittel Zeitung finds no recorded branded product cheaper year over year, while most relief sits in own brands despite pockets of increases in chocolate, meat and coffee.
- A Handelsblatt/Smhaggle review reports over a quarter of Lidl’s May 2025 reductions have slipped back, averaging about 3.9% higher than at the start, citing items like Dulano liverwurst, Strolchi gummies and Chef Select potato salad.
- Lidl rejects that reading and says around 900 products are currently cheaper than before, though it has not provided a verifiable list for comparison.
- A Forsa survey for the consumer group vzbv shows 58% worry about rising living costs and 68% feel food prices most, with cases such as Milka’s smaller bars at €1.99 reinforcing distrust.