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It makes Cents to shop local
12.01.12
Report: Inishowen Independent
A CROSS-border price comparison survey
carried out by the Inishowen Independent newspaper
has revealed that it is now cheaper to buy groceries
in Inishowen.
Staff purchased everyday items at SuperValu in
Buncrana and Sainsbury’s in Derry this week and
found that, when the currency exchange was taken
into consideration, shoppers could save more than €12 on a trolleyful of groceries by staying local.
The selection of 25 items, ranging from meat and
fruit to breakfast cereal, ready meals and staples
like bread and milk, cost €53.32 in Kavanagh’s
SuperValu Buncrana and £51.80 in Sainsbury’s, Strand
Road. But when the exchange rate was applied, the
Sainsbury’s bill rose to €65.79 – a whopping €12.47
more than in Buncrana. |
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On Monday of this week, Damian Dowds,
left, purchased a trolley of items at Kavanagh’s SuperValu in Buncrana and on Tuesday,
Caoimhinn Barr, right, purchased similar products in
Sainsbury's in Derry. |
And that’s before
factoring in additional costs like fuel or debit
card charges applied if one uses a Republic of
Ireland debit card in the North. Fuel costs have
risen sharply here since the VAT increase at the
start of the month, with prices of unleaded petrol
generally well over 150 cents per litre and at least
one North Inishowen retailer charging 159.9.
The weakening of the euro against sterling, however,
has helped Inishowen grocery retailers regain
competitiveness that had been eroded over the past
four years as sterling fell sharply against the
euro. But that trend is now in reverse.
Official exchange rates showed €1 was worth less
than 83p on Tuesday, down from 88p in November.
However, rates offered by banks and supermarkets are
lower again – Sainsbury’s rate was €1 = 78p on
Tuesday.
SuperValu, which is part of the Musgrave’s group and
employs 80 staff at its Buncrana store, said it was
pleasantly surprised at the outcome of the price
comparison.
“The exchange rate is a big help and we had a bumper
Christmas, even better than last year when the snow
and ice kept everyone local,” Buncrana store manager
Kieran Doherty said. “Musgrave’s have invested
heavily in price reductions and run weekly
promotions.
“Customers see the value to be had and are voting
with their wallets.
“We have reduced prices on our own brand lines, with
200 items reduced in price.
“We are also offering an ever expanding range of
items and strongly support local suppliers.
“Lots of customers say there is a wider range of
items available in Derry. People are asking for
gluten free products and we have been able to get
those in. We have product request forms and will do
our best to source them where we can.” |
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