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UK supermarket price changes as Aldi, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons all hit

The government has introduced new UK supermarket pricing law changes that will impact all major supermarkets on unit pricing and shelf labels, but smaller shops and convenience stores will not be affected

[A shopper carries her purchases at an Asda store in Leyton,]

A law change governing supermarket price labels is now in force(Image: Getty)

Aldi, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and all other major supermarkets will be required to adhere to a law change that was brought in during April.

Every major supermarket must conform to fresh retail regulations from the government which specify how products must be labelled on shelves under Price Marking Order reforms.

The legislative change controls how items' prices are shown, with particular emphasis on making it simpler for shoppers to compare two or more products and determine which offers the best value. This is because the lowest price isn't always the most economical, as products can have varying pack sizes, different weights or different liquid volumes and in recent years, manufacturers have increasingly resorted to reducing item sizes or volumes while maintaining the same price (or even increasing it as well) in a practice that has become known as 'shrinkflation'.

[Tesco Announce Record Profits]

Tesco will also be impacted by the new law(Image: Getty)

Last year, the Express reported how Asda was selling products in breach of the legislation for several weeks, until it refreshed its shelf labels and issued an apology following our reporting, reports the Express.

The Price Marking Order 2004 has, as of April 2026, been revised to alter the rules surrounding unit pricing further. The alterations have standardised unit rates, banning the practice of mixing two different measurements on the same shelf - for instance, some shops previously priced one item in KG and another in grams, making comparisons trickier. Going forward, all price labels must use KG, litres, metres, square metres or cubic metres.

Loyalty schemes, including the Tesco Clubcard and the Sainsbury's Nectar Card, are also now subject to the new regulations, including making it unlawful to give 'undue prominence' to loyalty prices on shelf labels.

[The legislative change controls how items' prices are shown]

The legislative change controls how items' prices are shown(Image: Getty Images)

Solicitors Herrington Carmichael explains: "Where a product is offered at more than one price for example, a standard price and a loyalty price, traders must display both selling prices together and, where unit pricing applies, show the corresponding unit price for each.

"Traders should state the eligibility conditions clearly and next to the prices, for example, that the loyalty price is available with a valid loyalty card, and ensure neither price is given undue prominence."

The legislation has also been expanded to cover more products. The firm adds: "Obligations extend to more packaged goods including cereals, pasta, dried fruits, detergents, cleaning products and cosmetics. This is intended to support like for like comparisons on a wider range of everyday items."

[Every major supermarket must conform to fresh retail regulations]

Every major supermarket must conform to fresh retail regulations(Image: UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The regulations do not apply to smaller retailers which have a floor space of less than 280msq, so don't apply to corner shops and convenience stores. The legislation will also permit blanket reductions, such as "20% off all paint" without requiring retailers to alter every individual label.

Herrington Carmichael explains: "The Price Marking Order 2004 is designed to ensure consumers can make informed purchasing decisions by requiring clear and transparent price information. This is particularly important where products are sold in different sizes, or where promotions, discounts, and loyalty pricing apply.

"...The purpose behind the recent Price Marking Order reforms is to strengthen this transparency. The changes expand the scope of unit pricing to more product categories, clarify how selling and unit prices should be displayed where multiple prices apply, and introduce updated definitions, including a new requirement to display deposits separately."

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