Supermarket Sweep #1
Understanding Grocery Price Trends
Welcome to the first edition of "Supermarket Sweep," where we take a deep dive into the trenches of grocery pricing. Each month, we venture into two different grocery stores, purchase the same eleven items, and indulge in the thrill of comparing receipts.
Over time, we'll paint a comprehensive picture of grocery prices, revealing where to shop and how seasonality affects costs. In the short term, we aim to uncover intriguing pricing quirks and pit national chains against neighbourhood joints.
🛒The Grocery List 🛒
- 1 Pound of Bananas
- 2L 2% Milk
- 1 Avocado
- 1 Box of Cheerios
- 1 Pound of Chicken Breast
- 12 Eggs
- 1 Loaf of Bread
- 1 Pint of Strawberries
- 1 Pound of Potatoes
- 400 g of Cheese
- 1 Bag Tortilla Chips
🥊Loblaws v. FreshCo 🥊
Here we go... Our first battle features the seasoned heavyweight, Loblaws, squaring off against FreshCo, a discount chain owned by Sobeys.
First up, the receipts:
Next, the groceries:
Of course, the final bill isn't the full story. We normalized the portions of produce and chicken to ensure a fair comparison.
| Items | Loblaws | FreshCo |
|---|---|---|
| Tostitos | 5.49 | 2.99 |
| Cheerios | 5.99 | 3.49 |
| Eggs | 2.88 | 3.89 |
| 2% Milk | 5.34 | 5.39 |
| Cheese | 5.77 | 4.77 |
| Strawberries | 4.99 | 4.99 |
| Banana (1 pound) | 0.69 | 0.59 |
| Avocado | 2.99 | 1.99 |
| Chicken Breast (1 pound) | 8.62 | 6.80 |
| Bread | 3.99 | 2.49 |
| Potatoes (1 pound) | 2.99 | 2.49 |
| Total | $49.74 | $39.88 |
Verdict
We anticipated FreshCo's more competitive pricing, but the staggering 25% difference exceeded our expectations. The difference makers this time were the Tostitos, Cheerios, bread and chicken breast. The first three were on sale at Freshco, so we'll have to see if this ends up being a regular thing, or a sale anomaly.
So, there you have it, our maiden voyage into the world of grocery pricing! FreshCo emerges as the budget-friendly champion, offering substantial savings over Loblaws. Stay tuned as we continue to navigate the intricacies of grocery shopping, uncovering unexpected pricing patterns and revealing which grocery stores deserve your hard-earned cash.
Until next time, may your Cheerios stay crunchy in the milk!