By Mark Green

Last updated at 13:57, Sunday, 23 November 2008

The cost of a traditional Christmas dinner will cost little more than it has for the past two years despite recent massive increases in food prices, according to new figures.

Christmas Turkey

Compared to 2006, turkey and all the trimmings will cost seven per cent more at Tesco, three per cent more at Asda and just 93p more at Sainsbury’s.

mySupermarket.co.uk reports that the traditional dinner with all the trimmings from the turkey crown through to bread sauce and mince pies has increased from £55.99 in 2006 to £62.33 at Asda, £66.02 to £66.95 at Sainsbury’s and £63.59 to £67.47 at Tesco.

While the overall prices haven’t climbed too much, the turkey crown has increased in price by an average 25.6 per cent per kilo since last year, according to the price comparison website.

I decided to do a quick shop of my own round some local stores to compare prices.

I stuck to the meat and veg needed for the main meal, and did not include the beer, chocolates, pudding, cranberry and apple sauce and all the other extras that made up the full shopping list.

But I did try and stick to the menu provided by mysupermarket.co.uk which was: frozen turkey crown (I guessed four kilos), chipolatas (between 340g and 400g) and 750g of smoked gammon joint (costing £26.18 at Asda, £31.59 at Tesco and £23.60 at Sainsbury’s).

The vegetables are: carrots (one kilo); brussels sprouts (300g); parsnips (500g); potatoes (2.5kilo of Maris Piper).

The total cost comes to £30.94 at Asda; £37.14 at Tesco and £33.21 at Sainsbury.

If you go to Cranstons for your meat, a fresh, local turkey crown will cost about £32 (£7.98 per kilo, compared to £7.48 last year).

Chipolatas cost £2.50 for 400g while a 750g gammon joint (unsmoked) weighs in at £4.40.

The cost of all the veg at Bill Lightfoots greengrocers in Wigton costs £4.63 compared to £3.76 at Asda; £3.02 at Sainsbury’s and £5.55 at Tesco.

Cranstons managing director Philip Cranston was baffled by the huge increase in supermarket turkey prices.

He said: “Our prices are approximately five per cent up on last year.

“There have been increases in feed, but at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch we have sharpened our pencils a bit and cut our margins.

“It is part of business to have good days and bad days, it is part of a business cycle.

“We don’t want people to be thinking about buying a frozen turkey from a supermarket.

“When putting our Christmas range together we have been very mindful of the economic climate and tried to ensure good value on all products.

“The vast majority of products are from local tried and trusted suppliers who we have dealt with for many years.”

My local shopping list cost more than all the supermarkets, but there are some key points to remember.

The veg bill compared favourably against the big stores and you have to remember that greengrocers often stock local produce which is usually fresher, tastier and sweeter than something shipped across country or flown in from abroad.

Obviously, the turkey was responsible for the biggest difference in prices, costing between £7 and £13 more at Cranstons than in a supermarket.

But you have to remember that the local butcher’s bird is fresh and local, not frozen and possibly a foreign import.

And you also have to remember that fresh not only tastes better, but you don’t have to worry abut it being properly defrosted before cooking.

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 22 November 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk