NZ: Pak'n Save a $14 winner in supermarkets' battle of prices
The consumer watchdog has released its annual survey on supermarket food prices.
It found Pak'n Save had the cheapest prices in the main centres. It lost to Countdown in Wellington last year.
For the survey, done last month, shoppers bought from a list of 40 top-selling items, including food and drink and personal care and cleaning items.
Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said the average savings at Pak'n Save on the basket of 40 grocery items was about $14.
Items in the basket included staples such as sugar, milk, butter and flour. Shoppers were instructed to buy the cheapest brand and a particular pack size. Fresh meat, fish and produce, as well as beer and wine were excluded because the survey method did not compare quality of items.
But New World, which was most expensive in last year's survey, was cheaper in Christchurch and Dunedin.
Consumer found Countdown had the most products on "special" - nearly half the items bought in some stores were discounted.
But the watchdog noted that the regular price of at least some of these products was dearer than at other supermarkets, making savings look more attractive.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
