Choppies (Otjomuise) recorded the lowest overall grocery basket cost in July at N$1,008.78, followed by Shoprite (Independence) at N$1,024.78.
Checkers (The Grove Mall) ranked third with a basket cost of N$1,035.78, closely followed by Metro (Eros) at N$1,038.78.
Model (Wernhil) recorded a basket cost of N$1,073.78, while OK Foods (Independence) and Spar (Westlane) recorded the highest basket costs at N$1,095.78 and N$1,187.78, respectively.
Fresh Produce
Fresh produce prices were most competitive at Choppies, which recorded the lowest prices for all three products surveyed. Onions were priced at N$19.99/kg, potatoes at N$17.99/kg, and tomatoes at N$26.99/kg. These competitive prices contributed significantly to Choppies recording the lowest overall grocery basket for the month.
Staple Foods
Price competitiveness across staple foods was spread across several retailers. Metro and Choppies shared the lowest price for 2-litre cooking oil at N$72.99, while OK Foods offered the cheapest Top Score Maize Meal (5kg) at N$69.99. Model recorded the lowest price for White Sugar (2.5kg) at N$52.99, while Shoprite and Checkers shared the lowest price for Tastic Rice (2kg) at N$36.99. The lowest price for Polana Macaroni Pasta (3kg) was shared by OK Foods, Shoprite and Checkers, each at N$74.99.
Household Essentials
Household essential prices also varied across retailers. Choppies recorded the lowest price for 2-ply toilet paper (9 rolls) at N$59.99, while Shoprite offered the cheapest Sunlight Washing Powder (2kg) at N$52.99. Metro recorded the lowest price for Aquafresh Toothpaste (100ml) at N$21.99 and shared the lowest price for soap (175g) with Model at N$13.99.
OK Foods, Spar, Metro and Choppies all shared the lowest price for Sunlight Dishwashing Liquid (750ml) at N$29.99, while Shoprite and Checkers recorded the lowest price for Wellington’s Tomato Sauce (750ml) at N$29.99.
Protein and Dairy
Shoprite and Checkers offered the lowest price for 1.5kg chicken at N$79.99, while Metro and Checkers shared the lowest price for mince at N$99.99/kg. Checkers recorded the lowest price for Long Life Full Cream Milk (1L) at N$19.99, while Shoprite offered the cheapest Rama Butter (500g) at N$26.99. The lowest price for 18 medium eggs was shared by Shoprite and Checkers at N$54.99.
Canned Goods
Among canned food products, Spar recorded the lowest price for 400g canned pilchards at N$28.99, while Model offered the lowest price for 300g corned meat at N$28.99.
Conclusion & Consumer Takeaway
The July survey shows that competitive pricing varied across product categories, with no single retailer offering the lowest prices across all items. While Shoprite recorded the lowest prices across the highest number of individual products, Choppies secured the cheapest overall grocery basket through consistently competitive pricing, particularly across fresh produce and selected household essentials.
The findings continue to highlight the value of comparing prices across retailers, as consumers can achieve meaningful savings by shopping strategically rather than purchasing all items from a single store.
