ConsumerValue: Groceries
1. Shop around
Market research by the National Consumer Agency has shown that consumers have had a change of priority when it comes to choosing where to shop.
While at one time consumers in our market research were principally shopping for groceries based on convenience, consumers are now placing a greater emphasis on price.
This new emphasis has also had the effect of encouraging more competition in the Irish retail market, with some significant reductions in groceries prices being seen.
Our Grocery Price Survey shows that the quickest route to the best prices is through shopping around and spreading your spend across a range of different stores.
While a small local shop may offer convenience for consumers in their own locality, you may find that there is a price premium to pay for that convenience.
On the other hand, a trip to an out-of-town discount store for just a few small items may cost you more in travel expenses than you could hope to save on the items themselves.
The thing to remember is that it's up to each consumer to decide what method of shopping represents the best value for them depending on their needs at the time.
The Irish retail scene offers more choice now than ever before, so look out for special offers advertised in the press, on radio or even in shop windows.
Online comparisons
You can also consult the larger shops' own websites (see the links in the "Groceries - see also" panel at the top right of this page).
Other helpful websites include:
- Websites such as ThriftyPages.ie, which contain details of current special offers
- Other "community" sites such as Rollercoaster.ie which have "Bargain" threads. These are updated by users themselves as they spot bargains and special offers. This is an example of consumers helping each other, they provide "real time" updates on where value is to be had