The best grocery specials to save money this payday

Celebrate good times, c’mon! Another month done, another month-end here. This payday, make sure every Rand goes further with these grocery specials.

Grocery Specials: Where to Shop to Save Money After July’s Payday

Until there’s a reliable way to compare grocery specials, you’ll be stuck going from store to store and checking catalogues. Thankfully, that’s not something you’ll have to do today.

To determine which shop is best to buy groceries this month-end, we’ve compared 16 common grocery items at Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Checkers, and Shoprite.

The comparison includes promotions on common items, including combos. Therefore, each total has a cost per item and a total cost.

The verdict is in: Shoprite is the cheapest option among the four. However, Pick n Pay offers the most value for money. The retailer has the cheapest cost per item. Pick n Pay was 15.68% (R8.97) cheaper per item than Shoprite.

As the two most expensive shops, Checkers and Woolworths were 18,59% (R215) and 30.47% (R377) more expensive than Shoprite, respectively.

In the comparison, Woolworths is cheaper than Checkers on pantry staples. However, because of the cost of products like lamb, eggs, and chicken, they didn’t make the cut.

Don’t Buy Meat and Eggs at This Retailer

If you choose to shop at Woolworths, consider avoiding their meat and eggs, especially if you’re price-conscious.

Woolworths lamb is 32% more expensive than Checkers and Pick n Pay. Woolworths’ large eggs are 68.95% more expensive than Pick n Pay, the only other retailer with a promotion on their large eggs. The price difference was based per egg. Woolworths doesn’t sell a tray of 30 eggs. So, the comparison was between their cheapest 18 large eggs and Pick n Pay’s special on 30 large eggs.

Chicken was just as expensive at South Africa’s premium store. Woolworths fresh chicken pieces sell for R119 per kg, compared to R49.99 at Shoprite and R74.99 at Checkers.

However, Woolies made a comeback with their pantry staples. Overall, they were 9% (R59.01) cheaper than Checkers. But, price per item, they were the cheapest shop on pantry staples, thanks to their combos and affordable coffee.

Grocery Specials Comparison

The prices for these specials are based on Gauteng. Also, every item marked with an asterisk needs a loyalty card to access.

In some instances, the promotions are only available in-store, not through the app or online; so you can’t skip the queues.

Shoprite: R1048.86 / R61.69 per item

Pick ‘n Pay: R1159.88 / R52.72 per item

Checkers: R1263.88 / R66.52 per item

Woolworths: R1425.89 / R67.89 per item