Shoprite Woolies Checkers Groceries

Woolworths has some cheap items compared to other retailers. Image via Pixabay.com

Low-income households spend R331 more on basic food items

A comparison of three retailers showed the cheapest milk option is the Pick n Pay label brand while Woolworths’ milk costs R24 more.

Shoprite Woolies Checkers Groceries

Woolworths has some cheap items compared to other retailers. Image via Pixabay.com

Business Insider did some research on the average prices of food staples in some homes since inflation hit.

The retail chains the publication looked at included Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Woolworths and they found that the Shoprite-owned Checkers had most of the cheapest options for consumers.

The Insider explained that on average, a low-income household now spends 11% or R331 more for basic food.

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The publication noted that the commonly purchased items that have been most hit by inflation include items such as margarine, legumes, canned pilchards, teas and juice. This has been reported in the BFAP’s latest inflation brief.

On average, consumers are to be spending just over R17 for brown bread. Sunbake bread at Checkers and Blue Ribbon bread at Pick n Pay were the cheapest at just under a rand cheaper than the average price.

The cheapest milk option emerged out of Pick n Pay. Its private label brand pack was R24 cheaper than Woolworth’s least expensive milk. On average, consumers currently spend almost R103 for a pack of six one-litre milk cartons. 

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PICK N PAY PRICED BETTER THAN WOOLIES

Margarine, that falls into the category that saw the highest inflation rise over one year, costs an average of R56. The Flora brand is generally more expensive and the cheapest is at Pick n Pay, while Woolworths’ tub is R12 pricier. 

While the Five Roses brand was cheapest at Checkers and Woolworths, Checkers’ Housebrand teabags are the cheapest. The Joko brand was at the same level at all the stores, costing R46.99. 

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The average price for 2.5kg white sugar is R54. The three retailers charge a similar price for sugar, with Selati costing the same at all three. 

When it comes to the two-litre sunflower oil, the price is now stabilising and costs an average of R96 when at some point it retailed at R120 at some stores.

Image via Business Insider

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