A survey found that those who do their grocery shopping at convenience stores could be paying more than those who stick to a big shop at a larger supermarket

Tesco is putting security tags and nets on boxes of Quality Street and Celebrations at its Covet Garden store amid the shoplifting epidemic - despite them costing just £3 and £3.75 respectively.

Which? compared the cost of 42 popular grocery items – from cheese and pasta to blueberries and ice-cream – on three occasions in June and July.

Which? compared the cost of 42 popular grocery items at convenience chains Morrisons Daily, Sainsbury's Local and Tesco Express against prices at their full-sized supermarkets.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s were found to have fewer price differences on the key items, with the average price difference 10% at Tesco and 5% at Sainsbury’s.

More than half of consumers shop at convenience stores at least once a week, a survey for Which? found.

A food shop could be costing customers more depending on whether they do it at a small branch or at a supermarket, according to new research from watchdog Which?

The retailer is the cheapest for these essentials out of the six main supermarkets, including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's

Which? compared the cost of 42 popular grocery items

The UK consumer champion compared the prices of 42 shopping items

Consumers who buy their food at convenience stores could be paying up to a fifth more than at larger branches of the same supermarket, according to a study from Which?