The increase in food prices remains unrelenting in 2023 — admittedly it's felt more keenly at some chains than others.
Every month The Outlier, an independent publication that uses data to create public service stories and visualisations, issues a list of the in-store prices of the same basket of goods across six major retailers. These are Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Spar, Food Lover's and Woolworths.
For the second month in a row, Food Lover’s Market emerged as the most affordable of the six retailers, while Spar was the highest priced.
The same basket of nine items at Spar that cost R410.90 in December rose to R440.91 in January — an increase of R30. The same basket cost R389.37 at Food Lover's in January — R51.54 cheaper.
The standard trolley has:
- one 700g Albany Superior sliced white bread (or store brand);
- 2-litre store brand sunflower oil;
- 2.5kg Iwisa maize meal;
- 2.5kg Selati white sugar;
- one store-brand two-litre milk;
- 2kg Tastic rice;
- 2.5kg Snowflake cake flour;
- one 175g bar of Dettol Herbal soap; and
- a nine-pack of two-ply Baby Soft toilet paper (or store brand).
Where some brands weren’t available alternatives were used.
Food inflation in South Africa is a stark reality as reflected in the latest Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD).
This month the average cost of the PMBEJD’s Household Food Basket — which looks at prices all around the country — came out at R4,917.42. This is an increase of R64.25 (equating to a rise of 1.3%) on the December price.
The index was developed with women living on low incomes in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Springbok and Pietermaritzburg and reflects the typical monthly purchases for an average low-income sized household of seven members. The basket tracks 44 food items every month.
The index shows that in the past year only one of the items — sugar beans — was unaffected by price changes, while orange and butternut prices dropped by more than 10%. But the prices of half of the items increased by more than 10% in the past year.
The most significant price increases were onions’ 75% jump, cooking oil’s 32% and potatoes’ 30%.
According to Stats SA, food inflation is being driven by bread and cereal products, with maize meal prices rising by 33.7% last year alone.
But retail giant Checkers, taking a more global view, on Friday ran large adverts in the London Evening Standard and the Sydney Herald, punting local prices of goods such as matured rump steak, Champagne, butter, grapes, free-range chicken and Coca-Cola and comparing them with the prices charged by retailers there.
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While the service is obviously not offered in those cities, the advert is aimed at the large expat communities and those with SA connections to show how prices here compare with theirs in their currencies.
“Get groceries delivered to your loved ones in SA,” is the tagline punting the buzz bike service.
Commenting on the advertising campaign, journalist and author Gus Silber said: “It’s a brilliant initiative, showing yet again how far Checkers will go to stay ahead of the competition. In SA, this ad, comparing prices to [other] retailers, wouldn't be allowed. It would be seen as an infringement of the Trademarks Act, and would swiftly lead to action.”
Silber added: “So if you know anyone in Oz, now's the time to persuade them to send you some perfectly matured rump steak and a bottle of Moët & Chandon on a buzz bike, just in time for your next braai!”
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