Good news: private-label products are getting cheaper and cheaper
A full bag of groceries is costing less and less. At least if you toss those cheap private-label products from the bottom shelves into your basket. Recently, private-label products have become increasingly affordable, according to research by the Consumers’ Association.
The Consumers’ Association regularly conducts research into average supermarket prices. In complete secrecy, because otherwise the big retailers would quickly adjust their prices just before the research, only to raise them again afterwards. This time, they compared products from fifteen major supermarkets in the Netherlands, from Albert Heijn to Lidl and from Plus to Poiesz.
Price difference is shrinking
What does it show? The price differences between supermarkets are getting smaller. In 2016, the cheapest supermarket was 21 percent cheaper than average, but now that figure is only 10 percent. Still, buying private-label products at the right supermarket can save you a considerable amount: at one supermarket you pay 17 percent more, while at another you pay 10 percent less. If you fill your entire cart with private-label products, you pay 45 percent less than for the same cart filled exclusively with premium brands. Sometimes a premium-brand product is as much as 80 percent more expensive than a comparable private-label product. The biggest outliers: dishwasher tablets and washing powder.
Fresh is expensive
Overall, groceries have become more expensive over the past year, according to research by market research agency GfK. Fresh products such as cold cuts and dairy have become particularly expensive. Is that hurting your wallet? Head to Lidl from now on, because according to the Consumers’ Association, it has the cheapest private-label products. The most expensive supermarkets? Poiesz and Spar. But take note: Jumbo and Hoogvliet lower their prices when a cheaper competitor has opened nearby, so they can surprise you too.
Read also:
- They also call it the diabetes aisle: you can find these American products in supermarkets all over the world
- 13 reasons to go to Lidl more often
- Why your AH groceries are now so much more expensive
Source: AD, Consumers’ Association, Parool
