Battle of the food prices

[Sackboy]

Decreased overheads. The engen would of been open anyway, and the rental has already been paid for by the garage. So basically now its only used to stock the items, but you can do it for less

Are you sure? The prices are supposed to be the same as any other WW.

 

[Kalvaer]

But most people have to get milk/bread every couple of days, so what I'm saying is have a look around then.

My Wife gets the bread and milk, If I walk into checkers for bread and milk, I always walk out with something else while I was looking around.

If I tell her i'm going to the shops quick and i'll be back in 5 min.. she now laughs at me

 

[Kalvaer]

Are you sure? The prices are supposed to be the same as any other WW.

Not sure what the prices are supposed to be. Just believe the will have cheaper running costs because everything was in place to begin with. (ie: Staff to work 24 hours a day, and the buildings in place)

 

[Browser]

...
But the second problem is the Consumers themselves. Against all rational expectation and despite their whining and complaing, CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO PAY THE HIGH PRICES....

Yes we'll just starve ourselves instead, or dig into our WW3 emergency rations stored in out fallout shelters, oh wait...

 

[LazyLion]

Yes we'll just starve ourselves instead, or dig into our WW3 emergency rations stored in out fallout shelters, oh wait...

Read the rest of the thread before making a fool of yourself

 

[Albereth]

Interesting call that came into the radio station this morning where the caller said that PnP charges a premium for eye-level shelving. Perhaps if PnP did away with this premium the prices could come down.

But there is possibly another thing that adds to the cost of items and that is the rebate strucutre that is typically built into retail deals. At the end of the year the supplier will give back a fat chunk of money based on volumes sold. The thing is is that the consumer doesn't see this equating to lower prices. In fact it is worse for the consumer because the cost of the rebate is factored into the wholesale price in advance.

I suppose that someone may argue that the cost of the item already includes all the costs involved so how can the consumer ever get it cheaper? Simple. Ban all rebates right now. And ban all advertising too. That advertising is paid for by the supplier.

Look at this:

Cost of item + cost of rebate + cost of advertising + shelving perium = cost to PnP
PnP applies margin to cost to PnP = cost to consumer.

versus

Cost of item = cost to PnP
PnP applies margin to cost to PnP = cost to consumer. This will be a lower price.

Of course this will affect the print media and maybe a few of those tacky radio spot ads. But people are still going to buy food whether you advertise it or not. And maybe word of mouth advertising that your food really is cheaper wil get around

 

[noxibox]

What is eye level?

You're assuming shops like Pick n Pay do not already factor in the rebate themselves.

 

[Paul_S]

I've read this thread and I don't agree that the consumer has much of a choice if they're already skimping and saving.

I eat a lot of bread (my staple diet) and out of interest I decided to see what starch I could replace it with that is cheaper. I took a look at rice (one of the poster's suggestions) and found that a 1kg bag of rice is about R14.
A 700g loaf of bread is about R9 so mass vs price wise there isn't much difference.
I think I'd only see a saving if I ate maize meal instead of bread.
I only eat a little bit of meat (nearly always chicken) about two or three times a week.
I don't eat fruit and very little vegetables because it's way too expensive!
I'd say that 80% of my diet is bread.
I spend about R1000 per month for my measly diet (fast metabolism).
If I ate a healthy diet (more fruit and vegetables) I recon I'd need to spend about R1500 to R2000 per month just for myself.

For those of you with a slow metabolism : consider yourself fortunate in this current economic climate!

 

[LazyLion]

I've read this thread and I don't agree that the consumer has much of a choice if they're already skimping and saving.

I eat a lot of bread (my staple diet) and out of interest I decided to see what starch I could replace it with that is cheaper. I took a look at rice (one of the poster's suggestions) and found that a 1kg bag of rice is about R14.
A 700g loaf of bread is about R9 so mass vs price wise there isn't much difference.
I think I'd only see a saving if I ate maize meal instead of bread.
I only eat a little bit of meat (nearly always chicken) about two or three times a week.
I don't eat fruit and very little vegetables because it's way too expensive!
I'd say that 80% of my diet is bread.
I spend about R1000 per month for my measly diet (fast metabolism).
If I ate a healthy diet (more fruit and vegetables) I recon I'd need to spend about R1500 to R2000 per month just for myself.

For those of you with a slow metabolism : consider yourself fortunate in this current economic climate!

Just out of interest... Do you eat White bread or Brown bread?

Based on what you have posted I would say, you seem to have little choice since you have ALREADY made all the sacrifices you can. My comments were not intended at you. I was aiming at those who buy "Soft-white pre-sliced, premium Blue Label" bread imported from Switzerland... and then they complain about the high prices. What I meant was... don't complain about high prices if you can make sacrifices and substitutes. In your case, you have obviously already done that.... I don't know how you survive on a thousand bucks a month for food. Our food bill is four or five times that.

 

[Nod]

I eat a lot of bread (my staple diet) and out of interest I decided to see what starch I could replace it with that is cheaper. I took a look at rice (one of the poster's suggestions) and found that a 1kg bag of rice is about R14.
A 700g loaf of bread is about R9 so mass vs price wise there isn't much difference.

You do realize that you can't compare the dry weight of rice with bread, as you don't eat it raw/uncooked. You'll have to work out how many meals you get out of 1kg of rice vs. 700g bread.

 

[Albereth]

What is eye level?

You're assuming shops like Pick n Pay do not already factor in the rebate themselves.

Yeah, right!

The rebate is 'earned' at the end of the period so cash flow would be negatively impacted by PnP if they factored it in.

 

[DragonLogos]

Did two posts the other day (on another site) one on food and oil prices, the other on the banking thing

anyway... when prices go up, both suppliers and shops know there will be less shopping, so they add this into the cost factor to maintain profits. How many times have you heard " managed to maintain profits dispite a down turn in the market " - cost cutting can help, but there is only so much that can be done

 

[2CentsWorth]

I've read this thread and I don't agree that the consumer has much of a choice if they're already skimping and saving.

I eat a lot of bread (my staple diet) and out of interest I decided to see what starch I could replace it with that is cheaper. I took a look at rice (one of the poster's suggestions) and found that a 1kg bag of rice is about R14.
A 700g loaf of bread is about R9 so mass vs price wise there isn't much difference.

You should probably reconsider that - one cup of uncooked (around 270 - 300g) rice equates to roughly 720 - 900g once cooked. So given that 1 kg of rice can produce up to around 3kg @ an average cost of ~ R5.30 per kilo including water and cooking time, it is far more cost effective than an average loaf of bread @ R9 a loaf = R12.86 per kilo. I'm sure you don't just eat bread without at least margerine on it, so this is actually not a fair price reflection as with rice I've included the costs to get it cooked.

I think I'd only see a saving if I ate maize meal instead of bread.

Given the ratio of uncooked to cooked volume expansion, maize meal would be the most cost effective starch, which is the reason it is the country's number one selling staple food.

I only eat a little bit of meat (nearly always chicken) about two or three times a week.

Which chicken do you buy? Bulk pack (2Kg, etc) frozen chicken is the most cost effective meat in SA, but given the meat to bone ratio, pork and various stewing meat is per kilo more cost effective than many poultry products.

I don't eat fruit and very little vegetables because it's way too expensive!

Vegetables are very easy to grow, so why not grow your own? Fruit can be expensive agreed, but if you actually just look out for specials such as the 3 for R10 specials at Fruit & Veg city then you can save a lot. Often bananas are still sold @ under R5 per kilo, making it more cost effective than bread.

I'd say that 80% of my diet is bread.

You should probably get some fruit in before winter comes. And definitely look at a vitamin C supplement.

I spend about R1000 per month for my measly diet (fast metabolism).

There's no reason why R1000 cannot buy you (a single person I'm guessing here) more than bread and a bit of chicken. Diversity and health in diet = diversity and health in your immune system.

If I ate a healthy diet (more fruit and vegetables) I recon I'd need to spend about R1500 to R2000 per month just for myself.

I disagree.

For those of you with a slow metabolism : consider yourself fortunate in this current economic climate!

 

[2CentsWorth]

Given Paul_S R1000 budget I've decided to put together a shopping list for a single person to see if it can be done while trying to eat more healthily:

Budget: R1000
Assumptions: Single person, fast metabolism, 3 meals a day, prices based on Gauteng retail prices
For reference, I've used the promotional prices as advertised by the leading retailers (retailer in brackets)
Note: fruit & veg prices are not the cheapest on the market - fruit & veg city doesn't have specials & prices on their website.
Also, I haven't included sauces, condiments and cooking oils. But given that the total came in at well under the R1000 budget, it is possible to include these inside the budget as well.

Staple Foods
=======================================================================
Item:					Qty:	Subtotal

Tastic Rice 2kg (Checkers)			1	24.95
	min 18 servings

Maize Meal 1Kg (Pick 'n Pay)			1	4.69
	min 8 servings

Macaroni 500g (Pick 'n Pay)			1	7.99
	min 2 servings

Couscous 500g (Pick 'n Pay)			1	15.39
	min 7 servings

White Bread Sliced				8	72.00
	min 32 servings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal						125.02


Meat & Poultry
=======================================================================

Chicken mixed portions 2Kg (Checkers)		3	89.97
	min servings: 7

Frozen Fish Fillets (Checkers)			2	59.98
	min servings: 5

Stewing Beef hindquarter 2.5Kg (P 'n P)		1	R74.98
	min servings: 5

Beef Mince 2kg (Checkers)			1	R62.98
	min servings: 4

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal						287.91


Dairy & Eggs, etc
=======================================================================
Milk 1 liter sachet (P 'n P)			15	97.35
Cheddar Cheese 400g (Checkers)			2	36.00
Eggs 18 XL Free Range (P 'n P)			2	59.98
Margerine 1Kg Flora				1	38.99

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal						232.32


Breakfast Cereals
=======================================================================
Corn Flakes 1Kg (P 'n P)			1	28.99
Muesli 1Kg (P 'n P)				2	35.69
Oats 1Kg (Checkers)				1	13.99

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal						78.67


Fruit & Veg
=======================================================================
Bananas 1.5Kg (P 'n P)			1	12.99
Apples 1.5 Kg (P 'n P)			2	33.98
Papaya per pack of 2 (P 'n P)			1	11.99
Pineapples per pack of 2 (P 'n P)		1	9.99
Cabbage fresh whole head (P 'n P)		1	6.99
Carrots 2.5Kg (P 'n P)			1	15.49
Spinach 300gr Washed/cut (P 'n P)		2	13.98
Sweetcorn pack of 4 (P 'n P)			1	15.99
Onions 2Kg (P 'n P)				1	11.99
Sweet Potatoes 1Kg (P 'n P)			1	11.99
Potatoes 4kg (P 'n P)				1	35.99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal						181.37


[SIZE="2"]Total: 125.02 + 287.91 + 232.32 + 78.67 + 181.37 = [B][COLOR="Red"]905.29[/COLOR][/B][/SIZE]

From this it is clear that it is possible to buy a month's groceries for 1 with a R1000 budget, and still eat relatively well. You may need to learn how to cook though

 

[LazyLion]

so this is for one person for one month?

/me steals list! Thanks!

 

[Albereth]

Shot on the list!

Thnx