Research has shown that bargain shoppers could pay more to get their favorites treats from ‘everything for one pound’ discount shops than big supermarkets.
Consumers in the UK purchasing chocolates, fizzy drinks and tea could end up paying up to £1.50 more at chains such as Poundland, Poundshop and Sam99p compared to major retailers, an investigation found.
Waitrose, Asda and Tesco sell similar products to discount shops. In some instances, they have larger inventory so customers can save more.
The popular sparkling drink Appletiser retails for £1 for a 275ml bottle on Sam99p, compared to upmarket Waitrose, which is selling a larger 750ml bottle for just £2.
A 78g box of Cadbury Milk Tray, which are popular to purchase for a special occasion, retails for £1.09 at online discount store, Poundshop – compared to £1 at Asda
A tube of Nestle After Eight Straws (110g) retail for £3.49 at Poundshop, compared to £2 in Asda- saving shoppers nearly £1.50
The popular sparkling drink Appletiser retails for £1 for a 275ml bottle on Sam99p, compared to upmarket Waitrose, which is selling a larger 750ml bottle for just £2
Poundland are selling an 80g bag of Milkybar buttons for £1 compared to major retailer Asda, who is selling a 94g bag for the same price
One of Britain’s favourite tea, Tetley Original, is being sold for £5 at Poundshop for 240 teabags – whereas shoppers can save nearly £1.50 by going to Tesco, who are selling the same product for £3.49 online
A 400g tin of Ambrosia Rice Pudding is £1 in Poundshop, but Tesco are charging 80p for a single tin, or Clubcard holders can grab two for £1.50
Examples include a pack of 240 Tetley teabags which are £5 at Poundshop but just £3.49 at Tesco.
Plus, a 400g tin of Ambrosia Rice Pudding is £1 in Poundshop – but Tesco are charging 80p for a single tin, or Clubcard holders can grab two for £1.50
Martin Isark (author of Supermarket Own Brand Guide) made the comparisons. These show how competitive big-name retailers are against smaller brands offered by High Street pounds stores.
In some cases, shoppers may be fooled by the different sized packs on offer – pound stores often sell smaller bags or tubs of groceries in order to get them to the all-important £1 price point.
For example, a pack of Milkybar White Buttons is £1 at both Poundland and Asda but the former sells them in 80g bags while Asda offers them in 94g bags.
Orea Golden Biscuits are 60p for a 110g packet at Sam99p or you can get two for £1. However Asda are selling a bigger 154g tube for just 50p each
A Cadbury Bites Wispa share bag from Poundland will cost consumers £1.00 for a 95g bag – or shoppers can pay the same amount in Asda for 15g more
A 14 pack of KitKat Orange wafers will cost £2 in Poundland compared to £1.99 in Morrisons
Cadbury Dairy Milk Sam99p are retailing a 95g bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk for £1, but savvy shoppers can get a 110g for 98p
Tesco are selling a Cadbury Flake 4 Pack for 98p compared to online discount store Sam99p, who are selling the equivalent for £1
Martin Isark said: ‘To hit the £1 price point, the brand products at pound stores are often smaller than the norm but gram for gram they can work out more expensive.’
Shoppers are sometimes unable to quickly compare prices because not all stores have pricing per 100g.
Isark stated that these stores don’t often put 100g or 100ml prices on their websites. It is difficult for the smart shopper not to spot if they’re getting a deal.
“Their Mickey Mouse size makes it hard to compare prices. Over the years the pound stores offered all their products for £1 but now they often sell them for different prices because of inflation.
‘Thirty years ago, when these stores sold most of their products for just £1 they were a real bargain,’ said Isark ‘but today the big supermarkets can match and beat their cheap prices. The writing on the Wall is surely there.