Israeli Supermarket Price Differences for Rosh Hashanah Shopping Revealed

A new study by the Israel Retail Trade Research Institute has found that the cost of a basket of 150 common household and grocery items for Rosh Hashanah can vary by as much as 600 shekels between different Israeli supermarket chains. The analysis, reported by Maariv, compared prices across 20 retail chains.

The basket included dairy products, pantry staples, produce, beverages, coffee, tea, spreads, canned goods, cereals, baked goods, snacks, and cleaning and home care products. Meat, poultry, and fresh or frozen fish were excluded due to variations in origin, quality, and kashrut requirements.

"Rami Levy" emerged as the cheapest chain, with the basket costing 1,632.61 shekels. "Osher Ad" followed at 1,652.51 shekels, and "Neto M'hison" at 1,660.89 shekels. At the higher end, "Freshmarket" was priced at 2,065.46 shekels, "King Store" at 2,129.91 shekels, and "Tiv Taam" at 2,209.79 shekels. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive basket was 577.18 shekels, approximately a 35% variation.

However, the overall ranking does not reflect consistent pricing across all categories. For instance, "Carrefour Hyper" offered the lowest prices on dairy products (245 shekels), while "Rami Levy" led in groceries and baked goods (187.08 shekels), and "Neto M'hison" in cleaning supplies (240.77 shekels).

Significant price disparities were noted on individual items, such as pomegranates, which ranged from 6.90 shekels per kilogram in chains like "Rami Levy" and "Freshmarket" to 19.90 shekels at "Zol V'Badol". Researchers cautioned that attractive deals on a few items might mask higher prices on others within the same store, and that individual family needs influence the overall cost.

Experts advise consumers to create a shopping list, compare the total basket cost rather than individual items, and be wary of multi-buy promotions that may encourage unnecessary purchases. While price is a factor, convenience, store location, and hours also play a role in consumer choices.