Foodtown v Silver Bell: the cost of convenience
An NZBC Consumer Report
If, by habit or preference, you do your fruit and veggie shopping at your local supermarket, you may want to reconsider - and cut your bill by a third.
The NZBC has gazumped the Herald, which recently showed you could save 16% on your grocery bill by "shopping around". Sadly, the hidebound Herald didn't shop around very far, sticking with the main grocery chains.
Thinking outside the square as always, NZBC has completed a scientific comparison between Foodtown and ... Silver Bell (that's the Chinese supermarket at the city end of Dominion Rd).
The result? For fruit and vegetables you can save one third of your costs by shopping the Chinese way. NZBC bought tomatoes at $4.99 a kg, compared with $7.98 at Foodtown, for instance - and Silver Bell had some larger tomatoes at an amazing $2.99 per kg. Green capsicums were nearly half the price while carrots and red onions were less than half.
Overall, buying 1kg of a range of fruit and veggies at Silver Bell cost $33.42. Foodtown, just down the road, came in at $51.33. That's an old fashioned whupping.
Other grocery items did not compare as well, when comparisons were possible. A lot of the stock at Silver Bell is, err, exotic, if not plain mystifying. Olive oil was more expensive and you won't find a lot of stuff such as good coffee, or cleanskins.
However, if you suspect the supermarkets are enjoying these high prices just as bit too much, why not split your shopping, save some bucks, have some fun and support local business all in one go?
If, by habit or preference, you do your fruit and veggie shopping at your local supermarket, you may want to reconsider - and cut your bill by a third.
The NZBC has gazumped the Herald, which recently showed you could save 16% on your grocery bill by "shopping around". Sadly, the hidebound Herald didn't shop around very far, sticking with the main grocery chains.
Thinking outside the square as always, NZBC has completed a scientific comparison between Foodtown and ... Silver Bell (that's the Chinese supermarket at the city end of Dominion Rd).
The result? For fruit and vegetables you can save one third of your costs by shopping the Chinese way. NZBC bought tomatoes at $4.99 a kg, compared with $7.98 at Foodtown, for instance - and Silver Bell had some larger tomatoes at an amazing $2.99 per kg. Green capsicums were nearly half the price while carrots and red onions were less than half.
Overall, buying 1kg of a range of fruit and veggies at Silver Bell cost $33.42. Foodtown, just down the road, came in at $51.33. That's an old fashioned whupping.
Other grocery items did not compare as well, when comparisons were possible. A lot of the stock at Silver Bell is, err, exotic, if not plain mystifying. Olive oil was more expensive and you won't find a lot of stuff such as good coffee, or cleanskins.
However, if you suspect the supermarkets are enjoying these high prices just as bit too much, why not split your shopping, save some bucks, have some fun and support local business all in one go?
posted by Rob O'Neill at 4:25 PM
3 Comments:
Hi Rob,
Dead right.
Silver Bell provides a unique cultural experience too. None of the staff seem to speak English so it helps improve one's Mandarin (pardon the pun) or, I suspect, Cantonese.
The key to surviving and enjoying Silver Bell is timing. It's rarely quiet, even at chucking out time which I think is around 7pm.
If you go when it's busy, be prepared to be swept along by a tsunami of bods. The only advantage at this time is the odd joy of being able to see over most people's heads.
Tip: try the pork and other buns over by the back door. My kids love them.
Foodtown can go to hell!
Neil.
Rock on Tommy!
I've started going to more fruit outlets for my veges and The Mad Butcher for more of my meat.
I still go to New World, Foodtown or wherever, but the specialists usually offer good savings.
But Fruitworld Silverdale charges a fortune for olive oil compared to the supermarkets.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home