It is risen! Cost of traditional Easter Sunday roast increases by 11% in a year – see how much YOU will be paying for your lunch favourites

The cost of buying food for an Easter lunch at Britain’s supermarkets has risen by more than a tenth in a year – mostly driven by the soaring price of lamb.

An own-label whole leg of lamb is now an average of £14.44 per kilogram, up by £1.81 or 14 per cent from £12.63 when compared to the same period last year.

A bag of carrots has increased by 7p or 12 per cent from 62p to 69p; while a jar of mint sauce is also up by the same percentage or 10p from 85p to 95p.

Chocolate has been hit by significant price rises with an 80g bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs increasing from an average of £1.50 to £1.80, a jump of 30p or 20 per cent.

Cocoa prices have been badly affected by poor harvests in parts of Africa, while lamb supply issues include a smaller breeding flock, unpredictable weather and disease.

Meanwhile hot cross buns have slightly fallen in price by 6p or 5 per cent from £1.17 to £1.11, but unsalted butter has risen by 23p or 13 per cent from £1.77 to £1.99.

Three other products had a lower price this year – with potatoes down 5p or 3 per cent from £1.89 to £1.84; cauliflower and broccoli dropping 7p or 5 per cent from £1.34 to £1.27; and a tub of gravy granules falling 4p or 5 per cent from 88p to 84p.

Data compiled by market research firm Assosia for MailOnline examined the average pre-promotion price of nine items across Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.

Eight of these were own-label products, including a whole leg of lamb, Maris Piper potatoes (2kg), carrots (800g-1kg), cauliflower and broccoli florets (240-400g).

The other four were mint sauce (185-280g), gravy granules (170-200g), hot cross buns (six pack) and British unsalted butter (250g). The ninth product was Mini Eggs.

The prices for all nine were then compared for April 9 this year against the same date in 2024, giving an overall increase of £2.28 or 11 per cent, from £22.65 to £24.93.

The data was compiled more than a week before the Easter weekend, meaning prices could change before people shop for Easter Sunday.

For example, Sainsbury’s is putting its spring vegetables on offer for 15p with Nectar Prices, while its whole leg of lamb is half price.

MailOnline has contacted the named supermarkets and Cadbury owner Mondelez International for comment. 

An Asda spokesperson said: ‘Asda is consistently recognised as the UK’s cheapest traditional supermarket according to independent price comparisons run by Which? and The Grocer. We’re already offering the lowest priced lamb of all the supermarkets featured in this comparison and have more great offers to come ahead of the Easter weekend.’ 

And Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, told MailOnline: ‘Retailers are working hard to keep prices down for consumers this Easter.

‘There are continuing price pressures on certain products such as chocolate, with cocoa prices around four times higher than they were in 2023, and lamb, which is seeing continued supply challenges and high consumer demand.

‘However, there are many other customer favourites which have decreased in price over the last year. 

Ewes and newborn lambs in the Warwickshire village of Bishop’s Itchington last month

‘Supermarkets will be running a variety of promotions in the run up to Easter, and strong competition means customers will continue to get the best value over the period.’

It follows a separate study by Assosia in The Grocer which found the price of some lamb products in supermarkets has soared by nearly 50 per cent over the past year.

Heightened consumer demand and a supply crunch are contributing to significant inflation for lamb after UK sheep meat production declined by 7 per cent last year.

The cost of lamb joints is up by an average of 15 per cent across Tesco , Morrisons , Sainsbury’s, Asda, Lidl, Aldi and Waitrose, according to that study. Some 74 per cent of lamb joint stock-keeping units (SKUs) are now more expensive year on year.

It comes after UK sheep meat production fell by 7 per cent in 2024 according to data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

Figures from research firm NIQ also revealed lamb sales volumes increased by 4 per cent last year. Value sales were up by £37million or 18 per cent to £242million.

Further data from supply chain consultancy Inverto earlier this month revealed there had been a 22 per cent rise in the cost of a tradition Sunday roast in the past 12 months – while it was up by 76 per cent over the past five years.

Beef has increased by 27 per cent in a year and by 177 per cent since 2019. The past half-decade has also seen an 84 per cent rise in the price of potatoes and a 29 per cent increase for cabbage. 

It comes after a separate investigation from consumer group Which? found Easter eggs had gone up in price by as much as 50 per cent on last year while shrinking in size.

The price of chocolate has risen by 16.5 per cent in a year – compared to a 4.4 per cent increase for supermarket food and drink overall – according to inflation tracking by Which?.

That follows a steep fall in global cocoa production, driven by higher temperatures hindering the quality and quantity of beans, which started driving wholesale costs to record highs.

Supermarket industry figures published by data firm Kantar earlier this month showed overall grocery price inflation climbed to 3.5 per cent for the four weeks ending March 23.

This was up from 3.3 per cent a month earlier. Kantar said prices were rising fastest for goods such as chocolate, butters and spreads, and chilled smoothies and juices.