Household staple price war spreads across Ireland as major supermarkets churn out savings

Four major Irish supermarkets have slashed the price of butter in a welcome post-Christmas boost for households, with ALDI, Lidl, SuperValu and Centra all cutting costs on their own-brand ranges.

The move announced yesterday means shoppers will now pay significantly less for one of the most-used items in Irish households, with savings of up to 60 cent per pack coming into effect across stores.

Musgrave, which owns SuperValu and Centra, confirmed a 15 per cent cut across its own-brand Irish creamery butter, covering both salted and unsalted options in 227g and 454g packs.

That means SuperValu and Centra shoppers will now pay €3.39 instead of €3.99 for 454g packs, while the smaller 227g size drops from €2.39 to €2.09.

A spokesperson for Musgrave said: “We understand the ongoing cost pressures facing households and remain focused on delivering value for customers.

"We continue to invest heavily in our own-brand range to ensure shoppers can access great quality products at the best possible prices.”

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ALDI Ireland also confirmed price cuts across its private label butter range with immediate effect.

The retailer said its Kilkeely Pure Irish Creamery Butter 454g has dropped from €3.99 to €3.39, while the 227g size is now €2.09, down from €2.39.

Niall O’Connor, Country Managing Director at ALDI Ireland, said the cuts are part of a wider drive to lower everyday prices.

“This reduction in butter price is the latest in our ongoing dedication to price cuts on household essentials,” he said.

“Our aim is to always have a discount versus the more expensive full price supermarkets and to keep our prices as low as possible, and our continual focus on the market means we can and will respond quickly.”

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Lidl Ireland has also joined the price war, cutting the price of its own-brand Dairy Manor butter in-store. Its 454g pack has fallen from €3.99 to €3.39, while the 227g size is now €2.09.

The retailer said the move is part of a wider €21 million investment across more than 300 everyday items, including pasta, cereals, nappies and pet food.

Robert Ryan, chief executive of Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, said: “This price drop represents a significant investment; but we are determined to support our loyal shoppers and reduce prices on the products that matter the most to demonstrate our commitment to always being the best value retailer in the country.

“Our customers will continue to see further price drops in the coming months.”