Woolworths vs Pick n Pay: A Look at Who Is Cheaper After Viral TikTok Video
- Woolworths is the second cheapest shop in South Africa according to a study done recently
- A woman recently showed off on TikTok how much she got at Woolies for R2 100, and it sparked a debate on whether Pick n Pay and Checkers are still cheaper
- According to data, Food Lovers Market is the cheapest store to shop at, with Woolies coming in second
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Woolworths has a rep for being the posh grocery shop in South Africa. If stores were schools, Woolies would be the private school. It's where rich people buy organic veggies, freshly baked tiramisu cakes and grass-fed ground beef.
Source: TikTok
However, somewhere along the line, things changed, and we're now seeing a shift in Mzansi's paradigm. Woolworths still delivers the same quality foods, but according to recent studies, the store now ranks as the second cheapest place to do grocery shopping in South Africa.
Woman goes viral with TikTok showing what she got for R2 100 at Woolworths
TikTok user Kristy Geyser, aka @kirstygeyser, went viral in February when she showed how much goods she bought at Woolworths for R2 100. Briefly News reported that some social media users were surprised by the amount of food Geyser got for R2 100 at Woolworths. The reaction proved that many people still thought Woolies was way too expensive.
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Some people wanted the receipts - literally. Geyser had to share another video proving that she did spend only R2 100.
Take a look at the video below:
Geyser's video can be backed by data from The Outlier, which concluded that Woolworths is cheaper than PnP and Checkers. However, Woolies isn't the bargain king just yet. The study concluded that Food Lover's Market gave the most bang for your buck.
The Outlier looked at how much a basket of nine staple foods would have cost in February. The items cost R393.87 at Food Lover's Market and would have been R48.04 more at SPAR.
SPAR was the most expensive, coming in at R441.91, followed by Pick n Pay at R416.21, Shoprite at R408.91, Checkers at R406.24 and Woolworths at R404.91.
Source: Instagram
Woolworth vs Pick n Pay: A look at who is cheaper
Geyser's video sparked a debate on social media. Even with statistics that show Woolies is not that expensive, many South Africans in her comment section still did not believe Woolworths is cheaper than Pick n Pay. We decided to list the food and cleanings Geyser bought and took a trip to Pick n Pay in Bethlehem.
Here is Geyser's video with her groceries:
Here is the comparison in prices at PnP:
The potatoes, butternut, onions and sweetcorn can be bought as part of a combo deal for R125.00.
Source: Original
Tomatoes - R29.99
Two packs of butternut - R40.00
Lettuce - R22.99
Source: Original
Bananas - R33.99
6 x Yoghurt Pick n Pay brand - R21.99 (we need two, which equals R43.98)
2 Litre PnP Sunflower oil - R94.99
2kg PnP White rice - R33.99
Source: Original
Pasta Twirls - R19.99
2 x Macaroni - R14.99 (R29.98 for two)
Spaghetti - R 14.99
Source: Original
2 x Livewell Baked Beans - R12.99 (R25.98)
2 x PnP tomato puree - R19.99
Mayonnaise - R34.99
Source: Original
Bottle PnP Crushed Garlic - R 35.47
Wholewheat tortilla wraps -R49.99
2 x Brown bread - R16.99 (R33.98)
Source: Original
PnP Coffee - R99.99
Source: Original
Chicken drumsticks - R62.07 (However, the pack at Woolies was about three times bigger, so the price is +- R186.21)
Kassler chops - R44.19 for two (Geyser bought a pack of eight. Thus, R44.19 x 4 = R176.76)
Mince - Cheapest is R67.06 (two packs are equal to the amount Geyser bought at Woolies. So, R67.06 x 2 = R134.12)
Source: Original
Beef strips - R111.43
Steak - +- R78.84
2x Pack pork grillers (6 in a pack) - R64.99
250g Ham - R42.99
Source: Original
Crumbed chicken schnitzels - R79.55
900g cheese - R158.21
1 x box of six chicken burger patties - R71.99
Source: Original
Pick n Pay 2L Fabric Softener - R49.99
Ariel liquid - R114.99
Handy Andy - R32.99
Source: Original
We could not find her plant at our local PnP. However, according to Woolworths' website, the plant costs R34.99. To get as close as possible to the accurate price difference, we deducted the herb plant's price from R2 123.82 (which was Geyser's exact receipt) and got R2 088.83. The same items at Pick n Pay worked out at R2 162,33.
Consumers are paying over R500 more for basic items
South Africans spend more on basic goods, no matter where they shop. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity (PMBEJD) Household Affordability Index, consumers paid R516.40 or 11.7% more for essential items in January 2023 compared to the previous year.
According to Business Live, PMBEJD collects data from 44 supermarkets and 30 butcheries in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Springbok to determine how inflation affects food prices.
IOL reported that the data also showed a significant increase in the prices of basic items from December 2022 to January this year. South Africans paid an additional R64.25 for basic food goods in January compared to a month prior. It might not sound like a lot, but it is a 13% price increase.
BusinessTech added that the price of necessities in Mzansi continued to rise from January 2023 to February with R10.91 (0.2%). A basic food basket costs a whopping R572.64 (13.1%) more this year compared to February 2022.
Woolworths groceries on "student budget" in TikTok has Mzansi riled up, man spends nearly R5k at supermarket
In similar news, Briefly News reported on a TikTok user who had Mzansi up in arms over a shopping haul at Woolies on a "student budget". TikTok creator @tonydacar made a vlog about his Woolworths shopping spree. The dental student bought various food and household items totalling R4 900.
Bemused people pointed out that @tonydacar's groceries on a supposed 'student budget' cost more than most families spend in South Africa.
TikTok user Rato commented:
"You forgot "rich" before student."
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Source: Briefly News
