Supermarket prices are a hot topic and eagle-eyed readers noticed an error in the Central App’s addition in last week’s story comparing prices between Alexandra’s two major supermarkets.

One item (Surf laundry powder) was accidentally omitted from the Countdown column total last week. We regret the error. 

With the corrected total, the difference between the two supermarkets was only 50c, which further confirmed the main point of our story: it’s shopping around on specials that will make the difference. 

Savvy shoppers will need to shop around

With two major supermarket chains now in Alexandra and inflation hurting everyone’s wallets, local shoppers are hoping competition lowers the price of grocery items. 

The Central App checked out the price of a trolley full of common items at New World and Countdown yesterday (Thursday, November 17) to see which chain is offering the better deals.

The results – to make the most of the competition you’ll have to visit both supermarkets. The final costs will come down to time and service, and how quickly you get through the checkout.

Each shop had specials and prices that outdid the others. It will pay to compare prices over your staple items and shop accordingly.

It’s also important to join each supermarket’s loyalty programme to get the best discounts. Bread and butter, two essential products were within a cent of each other.

Just a few comparisons between supermarkets

The biggest differences between the two supermarkets we noticed yesterday were the levels of stock and the number of customers.

Unsurprisingly, a few hours after opening for the first time, Countdown’s car park was well patronised and its shelves fully stocked. In comparison, New World’s parking was unusually empty and staff were busy restocking.

It will be interesting to revisit both stores in a few months to see how the dust has settled and what the locals have to say about the experience and prices between Countdown and New World Alexandra.

New World carpark on Thursday morning 

If you have a shopping story to share or want to let us know about your first impression or experience at Countdown, let us know at [email protected]