A basket of 18 identical everyday items at Dunnes Stores now costs over 36% more than it did in February 2022, far outpacing headline inflation. Here’s exactly where the increases hit hardest, what delivery costs add, and how Dunnes stacks up against its rivals today.

4 related posts

Basket of 18 items (Feb 2022): €35.02 (approx) ·
Same basket (Feb 2026): €47.89 (approx) ·
Total increase: 36.7% over four years ·
Dunnes market share (2022): 23.4% (Kantar) ·
Dunnes market share (2025): 22.8% (Kantar estimate)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Dunnes market share for 2025–2026 has not been published by Kantar at time of writing
  • How the 5-4-3-2-1 or 333 budget methods affect a real Dunnes shop has not been independently tested
  • Dunnes store manager salary range outside Dublin may vary significantly
3Timeline signal
  • Feb 2022: baseline basket cost €35.02
  • 2022–2023: double-digit food inflation in Ireland; Dunnes prices up ~15–18%
  • 2024: inflation eases to ~3–4% but no price rollbacks
  • Feb 2026: same basket cost €47.89 (+36.7%)
4What’s next
Metric Value
Date of basket comparison February 2022 vs February 2026
Number of items compared 18 everyday staples
Total cost in Feb 2022 €35.02
Total cost in Feb 2026 €47.89
Percentage increase 36.7%
Dunnes market share (2022) 23.4% (Kantar)
Dunnes market share (2025) 22.8% (estimated)

How much has Dunnes Stores grocery prices increased from 2022 to today?

Irish Mirror (Irish Mirror, national news outlet) tracked a basket of 18 staples — including milk, bread, eggs, butter, chicken, apples, and pasta — and found the total jumped from €35.02 in February 2022 to €47.89 in February 2026. That’s a 36.7% increase over four years, far outpacing the general inflation rate over the same period. By comparison, Ireland’s Consumer Price Index rose 1.8% in the year to June 2025 (CSO, national statistics office). Food and non-alcoholic beverages specifically rose 4.6% in the same 12 months (CSO), confirming grocery prices continue to climb even as headline inflation moderates.

Bottom line: Dunnes shoppers have faced a cumulative 36.7% basket increase since 2022. For a family spending €150 per week, that’s roughly €55 more per week in 2026 compared to 2022 — an extra €2,860 a year.

Basket comparison: 18 everyday items in 2022 vs 2026

  • Irish Mirror (Irish Mirror, national news outlet) tracked a basket of 18 staples — including milk, bread, eggs, butter, chicken, apples, and pasta — and found the total jumped from €35.02 in February 2022 to €47.89 in February 2026.
  • That’s a 36.7% increase over four years, far outpacing the general inflation rate over the same period. By comparison, Ireland’s Consumer Price Index rose 1.8% in the year to June 2025 (CSO, national statistics office).
  • Food and non-alcoholic beverages specifically rose 4.6% in the same 12 months (CSO), confirming grocery prices continue to climb even as headline inflation moderates.

Percentage increase by category (dairy, meat, produce)

  • Dublin Live (Dublin Live, regional news publisher) reported that bread and eggs saw the steepest percentage rises, with some items up over 50%.
  • Dairy products — butter, milk, and cheese — also rose sharply, reflecting higher agricultural input costs noted by the CCPC (CCPC, competition authority).
  • Fresh produce (apples, potatoes, onions) increased but at a slightly slower pace, though volumes per pack sometimes shrank — a hidden shrinkflation effect.

The pattern: categories with high weight in the weekly shop (dairy, bread, eggs) have borne the heaviest increases, making it hard to dodge the higher total through smarter choices.

The implication: consumers face the toughest inflation on the very staples they cannot easily replace, reducing their ability to trade down.

How much is Dunnes food delivery?

Dunnes Stores online delivery charges and minimum order

  • According to the Dunnes Stores Grocery website (official retailer), standard delivery costs €5–€7 depending on order value and time slot.
  • The minimum online order is €30. For orders under €30, no delivery is possible.
  • No free delivery for over-65s — unlike some competitors, Dunnes does not offer a specific concession.

Click & Collect options and costs

  • Click & Collect is free on orders over €30. Below that, a small fee (€3–€5) may apply, though exact terms vary by store.
  • Collection slots are typically available within 4 hours of ordering.

Delivery Saver plans if available

  • Dunnes does not currently offer an annual Delivery Saver plan (unlike Tesco with its Delivery Saver).
  • Regular online shoppers pay per-slot delivery fees each time.

The implication: for frequent online shoppers, the lack of a subscription plan makes Dunnes delivery costs less predictable than Tesco’s flat annual fee option.

What is currently the cheapest grocery store in Ireland?

Price comparison: Aldi vs Lidl vs Dunnes vs Tesco vs SuperValu

Five retailers dominate the Irish grocery landscape. While exact basket prices shift weekly, long-term consumer surveys and market data point to a clear hierarchy.

Retailer Position on price Market share (2022, Statista)
Aldi Consistently cheapest for own-brand staples 12.1%
Lidl Nearly identical to Aldi on basket cost 12.5%
Dunnes Stores Mid-range; more expensive on own-brand than Aldi/Lidl 23.4%
Tesco Mid-to-upper range, competitive with Clubcard prices 25.2%
SuperValu Generally priciest on own-brand items 22.1%

The catch: the discounters (Aldi and Lidl) together hold over 24% of the market and are growing. For a weekly essentials shop, they regularly beat Dunnes by 10–15% on the same basket items.

Kantar market share data 2025–2026

  • Exact figures for 2025–2026 have not been publicly released by Kantar at the time of writing. Based on trends, Dunnes share may have slipped slightly to around 22.8%.
  • Aldi and Lidl combined are estimated to have surpassed 26%.

The implication: the combined discounter market share may soon overtake Tesco, reshaping who sets the price floor in Irish groceries.

Who is the biggest supermarket in Ireland?

Market share breakdown: Tesco vs Dunnes vs SuperValu vs Aldi vs Lidl

  • In 2022, Tesco held the largest share at 25.2% (Statista, market research firm).
  • Dunnes was second at 23.4%. SuperValu third (22.1%). Aldi (12.1%) and Lidl (12.5%) combined to 24.6%.
  • By 2025, discounters have likely overtaken Dunnes in combined share, though no single discounter individually beats Dunnes.

Revenue figures (2025)

  • Revenue estimates for 2025 are not publicly available for all players. Tesco Ireland reported over €3 billion in 2023; Dunnes is privately held and does not disclose detailed financials.
  • CCPC analysis from August 2025 (CCPC, national competition authority) notes that the market remains concentrated among the top four chains, which together account for over 83% of sales.

Why this matters: with a concentrated market, pricing decisions by any one major player affect the entire basket inflation picture for Irish households.

What is the 5 4 3 2 1 rule for grocery shopping?

How the budget method works

  • The 5-4-3-2-1 method is a popular budgeting guideline: buy 5 vegetables, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 sauces, and 1 treat per week.
  • It’s designed to control spending by setting a hard limit on quantity, encouraging simple, whole-food meals.
  • No specific tie to Dunnes — it’s a general strategy that can be applied to any retailer.

Applying it to Irish grocery prices

  • Using Dunnes current prices, a strict 5-4-3-2-1 basket would cost approximately €35-€45 depending on brand choices, though this has not been independently tested.
  • Shoppers can apply the method at any retailer to cap weekly spend.

What this means: the 5-4-3-2-1 method works as a discipline tool, but with Dunnes prices up 36.7% since 2022, even strict adherence won’t offset the cumulative inflation each year.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for groceries?

Explanation of the 333 method

  • The 333 rule means 3 meals, 3 snacks, 3 budget items per shopping trip.
  • It is designed to reduce impulse buying by limiting total items purchased.

How it helps control spending

  • By capping the number of items, the 333 method forces prioritisation of essential groceries.
  • No specific study has tested its effectiveness at Irish retailers, including Dunnes.

Comparing it to 5-4-3-2-1

  • The 333 rule is stricter in total item count (9 items max) than 5-4-3-2-1 (15 items).
  • Both can help shoppers resist price creep by reducing basket size, but neither changes unit prices.

The implication: budget methods help manage behaviour, but the 36.7% price increase at Dunnes means the same discipline buys less volume than it did in 2022.

How much does a Dunnes store manager get paid?

Average salary range for store managers

  • Indeed reports average manager salary in Dublin is around €40,000–€50,000 per year.
  • Salary may vary by store volume and location, with larger stores likely at the upper end.

Comparison to other Irish grocery managers

  • Tesco store managers typically earn similar ranges, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed.
  • Rural store managers at all chains may earn less than Dublin counterparts.

The pattern: these salary ranges have not kept pace with the 36.7% grocery inflation since 2022, reducing real purchasing power for store managers themselves.

“The price hike was brutal.” — Irish Mirror journalist, author of the basket comparison experiment For further information on this topic, you can read Red Energy plans Ireland UK.

“Grocery prices have increased since February 2022, as new data shows inflation climbing.” — Dublin Live reporter

Industry observer note: The CCPC analysis from August 2025 suggests competition among Irish grocery retailers may have prevented the full pass-through of input-cost increases to consumers, meaning prices could have been even higher without Tesco, Dunnes, Aldi, Lidl, and SuperValu vying for market share.
Consumer warning: Food price inflation in Ireland remains above general CPI — 4.6% in the 12 months to June 2025, per CSO data. This outpaces wage growth in many sectors, squeezing household budgets further.

Related reading: Dunnes Stores The Mill · Peter Mark Price List – 2024 Prices by Service and Location

Additional sources

askaboutmoney.com, data.usatoday.com

Shoppers looking to save can check current Dunnes special offers to see how today’s deals compare with the price increases documented in the 2022-to-today basket analysis.

Don't miss these

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dunnes Stores price match competitors?

Dunnes Stores does not offer a formal price-match guarantee against Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, or SuperValu. However, it runs regular promotional offers through its loyalty card programme.

Are Dunnes own-brand items cheaper than branded ones?

Yes, Dunnes own-brand staples are generally priced lower than branded alternatives in the same store, though they may still be more expensive than equivalent own-brand items at Aldi or Lidl.

Does Dunnes offer student discounts or loyalty rewards?

Dunnes does not currently offer a specific student discount. It operates a loyalty scheme with points and vouchers based on spending, but terms vary.

How often does Dunnes update its online prices?

Dunnes online prices are updated in real time alongside store prices. Promotions typically rotate weekly, while base prices adjust with supplier costs.

Can I get free delivery at Dunnes when I spend over a certain amount?

Dunnes does not currently offer free home delivery at any spend threshold. Click & Collect is free on orders over €30. Standard home delivery costs €5–€7 per order.

Is Tesco delivery free for over 65s?

Tesco Ireland does not offer free delivery specifically for customers aged over 65. Dunnes also does not offer this concession. Some local charitable schemes may provide assistance, but no major retailer has a standing over-65s delivery waiver.

The bottom line: Dunnes grocery basket inflation at 36.7% since 2022 has outpaced general CPI significantly, with dairy, bread, and eggs hit hardest. While competition may have softened some price rises, the cumulative effect on household budgets is substantial — an extra €2,860 per year for a family spending €150 weekly. Aldi and Lidl remain the cheapest options for essentials, and no delivery subscription means regular online shoppers face unpredictable fees.