Going shopping weighs more and more on family budgets, but carefully choosing where to buy can allow you to save without necessarily giving up your usual products. It’s not just the current offers that make the difference: even the choice of sign can have a significant impact on the final cost of the shopping cart.
The new survey by Altroconsumo comes to photograph the situation, which analyzed millions of prices to understand which supermarkets are most convenient in 2026.
Shopping costs more, but choosing well can save you money
The Altroconsumo survey compared 1.5 million prices recorded in 1,158 supermarkets, hypermarkets and discount stores in 67 Italian cities.
According to the association’s estimates, a family of four people spends on average around 9,450 euros a year on food and everyday products.
However, the choice of store can significantly change this figure: by purchasing the most convenient products in the chain that came first in the general ranking, Eurospin, the potential savings can reach up to 3,790 euros per year, around 40% compared to spending in the most expensive chain.
Naturally, there is no increasingly cheaper supermarket for every type of consumer: the result depends on the type of products purchased, the brands chosen and the habits of each family.
Even between traditional supermarkets there are big differences
Those who prefer to shop in traditional supermarkets and hypermarkets can still obtain significant savings by choosing the store carefully.
According to Altroconsumo, in some cities the distance between the cheapest and most expensive point of sale can be very large. In Milan, for example, the difference detected reaches up to 1,390 euros per year, equal to 18%.
A significant figure especially considering that prices continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years. Between February and March 2026, the average increase detected in the discounts, supermarkets and hypermarkets analyzed was 1%, compared to 2% in 2025 and the strong increase of 12% recorded in 2023.
Supermarket brand products: Spazio Conad wins
@altroconsumo
In addition to the general ranking, Altroconsumo also analyzed the products with the brand, i.e. the so-called distributor brands in their standard line, thus excluding the premium ranges.
In this category, first place goes to Spazio Conad, which is the most convenient brand. The difference compared to the most expensive chain is significant: by choosing Spazio Conad brand products you can save around 19% compared to the same expense purchased from Eurospar, which is in last place in the ranking.
This is a particularly interesting category because it concerns products frequently purchased by families, often with a competitive quality-price ratio compared to better-known brands.
Esselunga improves, Carrefour loses ground
Among the most significant changes that emerged from the survey is the improvement of Esselunga. Compared to the previous survey, the brand has gained positions in the ranking of own-brand products, moving from the ranges considered more expensive to those considered more convenient. The opposite path instead concerns Carrefour: in 2025 it was at the top of the ranking for this category, while in the following survey it drops with an index of 105.
How to read the ranking of the most convenient supermarkets
Altroconsumo’s results show that savings do not only depend on the supermarket chosen, but also on the type of trolley. Those who primarily purchase supermarket brand products may find convenience differently than those who exclusively prefer big brands or premium products.
Even small changes in daily habits can therefore impact the family budget: comparing prices, knowing the available alternatives and evaluating distributor brands can help limit spending without necessarily reducing the quality of purchases.
