Supermarket house brands save money

Media release: Supermarket house brands save money

If you're serious about saving money at the supermarket, house brands are the way to go, a Consumer NZ survey shows. "We sent shoppers to buy a basket of 20 basic items in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch supermarkets. By sticking to house brands instead of buying name brands our shopper saved $31 at New World - a 36 percent saving across all our items," Consumer NZ deputy chief executive David Naulls said.

The shoppers bought Pams and Budget products in New World and Pak'n Save, and Home Brand in Countdown supermarkets. Pak'n Save had the lowest prices in each centre. Countdown Home Brand prices placed it second in Auckland and Wellington, and a close third in Christchurch.

In Christchurch, prices in Pak'n Save stores were 4 to 10 cents cheaper than in its sister chain New World. In Auckland and Wellington the price difference was greater still - in Wellington nearly half the items on the list were more than 50 cents cheaper in Pak'n Save than they were in New World.

Items in the shopping basket included toilet paper, paracetamol tablets, white toast bread, peanut butter, canned tomatoes, standard flour, sugar, plain biscuits, cereal wheat biscuits and kitchen tidy bags.

Naulls said for basic items like flour, sugar and milk, it made no difference which brand was bought. "Why pay $2.99 for a pack of Panadol paracetamol tablets when you can pay $1.99 for a house brand in the same store?"

Supermarket shopping tips

• Plan your shopping trip

• Go for the discount - stock up on specials of items you usually buy

• Join the loyalty scheme

• If you are saving for Christmas, join a supermarket Christmas club. They are a lot better value for money than a hamper scheme and you choose the goods you want.

ENDS

© Scoop Media