School uniform 'price wars' between suppliers and supermarkets

School uniform once had to be purchased from a traditional supplier - but can now be found in most supermarkets. Credit: PA Wire

A traditional school uniform supplier has spoken of his "frustration" at facing increasing competition from supermarkets.

Merlin Sports Ltd in Pontypridd supplies 40 schools in the area - with ties, embroidered badges and sports kits available under one roof, all year round.

But director Alan Horder claims small-scale suppliers are being undercut by supermarkets selling budget uniforms in the six-week summer holiday before the school year begins.

With most major supermarkets now selling a clothing range, parents can purchase their children's school jumpers, shirts and shoes at the same time as doing the weekly food shop.

At one budget supermarket, our reporter Alex Lodge purchased a jumper, two polo shirts and a skirt or pair of trousers for a total of £3.50 - with the company saying it wanted to offer parents "top quality items at the lowest possible price".

But Alan argues traditional suppliers offer a specialist, higher-quality product that's available all year round - meaning parents can spread the cost over time - and that the knowledge and expertise of traditional suppliers can't be rivalled.

The debate comes as new research shows the average price of a full primary school uniform in Wales is now £31.19, with secondary school uniform at £46.72.

Adding PE kit puts the figures up to £37.68 for primary school and £92.03 for secondary school.

By contrast, figures show parents typically spend more on outfits their children wear outside of school than they do on uniform, with the average non-uniform outfit coming in at £107.08.