Major Price Gaps Found Between Israeli Supermarket Chains for Basic Goods
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
A new report reveals significant price differences for basic consumer goods across Israeli supermarket chains, with some products costing nearly twice as much at one retailer compared to another. The analysis of 40 essential items found that the most expensive chains charge an average of 38% more than the cheapest. While numerous promotions exist, many are conditional and not always beneficial for small purchases. A consumer calculator has been launched to help shoppers identify the cheapest options available.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli supermarkets show price gaps of up to double for identical basic products.
- The average price difference between the cheapest and most expensive chains is 38%.
- A comparison of 40 essential items revealed significant price variations.
- Many supermarket promotions are conditional and may not offer true savings.
- A consumer calculator is available to help shoppers find lower prices.
A comparison of 40 basic products across Israeli supermarket chains reveals significant price discrepancies, with some items costing nearly double depending on the retailer. For instance, an 80-gram bag of Bamba snacks was priced at 3.90 shekels at Osher Ad but 7.90 shekels at Super Yuda, based on average prices per chain. Similarly, Elite's baked Fritters ranged from 4.90 to 10 shekels, Bissli Grill from 6.50 to 12.90 shekels, and Wissotzky tea from 6.90 to 12.90 shekels.
The study, which included items from dairy and pantry staples to diapers and dish soap, analyzed prices reported by chains with at least three branches selling the products. These prices are sourced from mandatory public filings. On average, the most expensive chains charge about 38% more than the cheapest for identical products, with over 12 of the 40 items showing price differences exceeding 50%.
The report highlights specific examples, such as a 750-gram bottle of Ossem ketchup costing 10.90 shekels at Victory versus 18.40 shekels at City Tzafrir. In Tel Aviv, Bissli Grill was 6.50 shekels at Osher Ad and 12.90 shekels at Fresh Market, while Bamba was 3.90 versus 7.90 shekels.
While approximately 1,800 promotions are currently active across the chains for these 40 products, many are conditional, requiring membership, coupons, specific payment methods, bulk purchases, or minimum spending amounts. The average discount in these promotions is around 23%, but often these are not genuine product discounts, especially for smaller purchases. The article notes that prices can fluctuate daily and vary between branches, and the price at the checkout may differ from advertised prices, a situation that has led to legal disputes.
To aid consumers, a calculator is available allowing users to compare prices for each of the 40 products, view low, average, and high prices per chain, identify the cheapest branch in 12 major cities, track price changes, and see active promotions. The article also mentions that lower prices in some instances originate from Eilat branches, which are exempt from 18% VAT, influencing the decision to rely on average chain prices rather than the absolute lowest price for comparisons.
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