The analysis of the annual bulk shopping basket cost across four wholesalers shows a significant difference in annual average pricing.
NAMICA offered the cheapest annual average basket price at N$1,264.68, making it the clear market leader in cost-effectiveness. Windhoek C & C was the runner-up, while Metro and Wecke & Voigts were the most expensive options.
NAMICA emerged as the clear price leader, with an average basket cost that was N$58.15 lower than its closest competitor, Windhoek C & C. Over the course of the year, consistently purchasing the bulk basket from NAMICA resulted in savings of approximately N$109.78 compared to the most expensive wholesaler, Metro.
NAMICA was the cheapest option for nearly the entire year, with Windhoek C & C briefly offering the lowest prices in April. No other wholesaler recorded the lowest basket price in any month, reinforcing NAMICA’s position as the dominant cost leader.
All four wholesalers recorded their lowest prices in October, aligning with trends observed in the A-Stores and pointing to a broad promotional or price-cutting period across the market. NAMICA also posted the lowest single basket price of the year at N$1,189.42. Conversely, prices across all wholesalers peaked in the January–February period, indicating a clear early-year price surge.
What’s in the basket?
The price comparisons are based on a compact basket of eight high-volume staple items that are commonly purchased in bulk. The basket includes 5L cooking oil, 10kg Top Score maize meal, 10kg Marathon sugar, 4kg chicken, 10kg Tastic rice, 5kg Polana macaroni pasta, a six-pack of 1L full-cream fresh milk (Nammilk), and 10kg Vetkoek wheat flour.
