Grocery basket showdown July 2024 – Woolies vs Checkers vs Pick n Pay and more

For the seventh consecutive month, Makro remains the most affordable grocery retailer in South Africa for a basket of essential items compared to its top seven competitors.

This is according to BusinessTech’s grocery basket comparison, which collected the online prices of nine staple foods and products in a typical middle-income grocery basket as of July 2024.

The comparison included seven of South Africa’s major retailers – Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Spar, Woolworths, Food Lover’s Market, and Makro.

The grocery basket comparison includes the following:

• 700g loaf of Albany Superior sliced white bread
• 2-litre sunflower oil (cheapest option)
• 2.5kg Iwisa maize meal
• 2.5kg Selati white sugar
• 2-litre milk (cheapest option)
• 2kg Tastic rice
• 2.5kg Snowflake cake flour
• 175g bar of Dettol herbal soap
• 9-pack of two-ply toilet paper (cheapest option)

In certain instances, not all retailers may carry specific brands.

For example, Woolworths may not offer Albany Superior sliced white bread, but they may provide a similar alternative for comparison purposes.

To ensure consistency, each store selects the most affordable version of sunflower oil, milk, and toilet paper available.

If any substitutions are necessary, these are clearly outlined and justified in the table below.

It’s important to note that it’s possible to discover the same basket of products at a lower price or opt for less expensive non-branded options.

Prices may also vary from one region to another or within different franchises, such as in the case of Spar.

The basket is, therefore, not a representation of the absolute cheapest version of every item. The specific brands are chosen for consistency across retailers and their recognisability among middle-class shoppers.

The pricing in the analysis comes from retailers in Gauteng and is collected in the middle of the month. The normal price of items was used, and limited-time specials were not considered.

The results

According to the data collected, the average cost for our basket of nine staple items in June was R416.65, which is slightly less than in April 2024 (R412.14).

Makro offered the cheapest basket in July 2024, totalling R360.60, which was R18.99 less than last month. This is also R38.32 less than the second cheapest retailer – Spar (R398.92).

It must be noted that Spar is franchised, meaning prices and items can vary from store to store. Food Lover’s Market was the third cheapest retailer (R410.33).

Woolworths had the most expensive basket at R439.91, R4.00 more than last month, and R79.31 more than Makro. Checkers is the second most expensive at R437.91.

The table below breaks down the prices for each item from the eight grocery retailers and who is the cheapest.

Although the price of many food items has cooled since the start of the year, some other essential items are still facing price pressures in South Africa, including domestic and personal hygiene products.

The most recent household affordability index published by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has indicated a notable improvement in food prices across the country, with a decrease in year-on-year inflation.

The PMBEJD index, which is based on a selection of 44 essential food items commonly purchased by the majority of South African households, revealed a 1.5% month-on-month price decline.

Year-on-year, the prices increased by only 3.9%, which is well below the headline inflation rate.

As of June 2024, the average cost of the Household Food Basket was reported at R5,252.77, representing a decrease of R77.53 (-1.5%) from May 2024, when it was R5,330.30.

In comparison to June 2023, the average cost rose by R196.32 (3.9%) from R5,056.45.

Out of the 44 food items included in the basket, prices for 30 items decreased between May and June 2024, while prices for 14 items increased during the same period.

However, between June 2023 and June 2024, 13 food prices decreased; one remained the same, and 30 others increased, showing that food items are still experiencing some price pressures.

These items include key food categories like rice, sugar, and sugar beans, which have all seen double-digit increases due to global crop pressures. Eggs also remain high.

Despite the overall increases, Stats SA has reported that food and NAB inflation is slowing, as most categories have recorded lower annual rates, except for hot beverages and oils and fats.

Inflation for food & NAB slowed to 5.1% in March 2024.

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