Tesco will match the prices on more than 2,000 Aldi and Lidl product lines, a sign of the grocer’s concern over the rising popularity of its discount rivals.

The supermarket giant, which has more than a 30 per cent UK market share, will begin matching prices this week. It has launched 300 no-frills Lidl-style products and will add a further 200 to the range. Tesco is also offering more than 400 food and non-food items at half price throughout January.

The low prices offered by discounters such as Aldi, which has a UK market share of only 3 per cent, have proved successful with middle-class shoppers. Tesco has, until now, focused traditionally on the pricing activities of the UK big three – Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Tesco commercial director Richard Brasher said: "We want to make sure that our customers don't start the new year worrying about how to balance the budget."