The age-old question for South African shoppers: where does my money go further; Checkers vs Pick n Pay? With inflation still a concern in 2025, stretching your R1000 grocery budget is more important than ever. To answer this burning question, you can hit the aisles of both stores and try to compare the two.

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Checkers vs Pick n Pay Price comparison

The Shopping List:

To keep things fair, we focused on essential items that represent a typical South African shopping basket:

Produce: 1kg Onions, 1kg Potatoes, 1kg Tomatoes, Bananas, Apples
Pantry Staples: 2kg Maize Meal, 2.5kg Sugar, 2L Cooking Oil, 1kg Rice, Canned Baked Beans (410g), Long Life Milk (6 x 1L)
Protein: 1kg Chicken pieces, 1 dozen Eggs
Household: Toilet paper (9 pack), Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent

Checkers: The X-Factor of Savings

Checkers has aggressively positioned itself as the champion of low prices, with its “X-tra Savings” program and focus on discounts. Here’s how our R1000 fared:

Produce: Checkers consistently offers competitive prices on fresh produce, with noticeable savings on items like onions and tomatoes.
House Brands: Checkers’ “Simple Truth” and “Forage & Feast” ranges provide significant value, especially for staples like maize meal, sugar, and oil.
Promotions: You can take advantage of several X-tra Savings deals, including discounts on chicken and laundry detergent.
The Catch: While Checkers sometimes offers the lowest prices on many items, their selection of branded goods is sometimes limited.

Pick n Pay: Balancing Price and Choice

Pick n Pay maintains its focus on offering a balance of quality, variety, and value. Here’s how they measured up:

Smart Shopper Rewards: Pick n Pay’s loyalty program allows you to earn points on your purchases, which can be redeemed for future discounts.
Branded Goods: Pick n Pay has a wider selection of branded products, offering more choice for shoppers with specific preferences.
Quality Produce: The quality of Pick n Pay’s fresh produce is consistently good, although prices may be slightly higher than Checkers in some cases.
Convenience: Pick n Pay’s store layout and organization makes for a pleasant shopping experience.

The Checkers vs Pick n Pay Results:

Checkers: You can get all the items on this list at Checkers for roughly R945.20, leaving you with R54.80 to spare.
Pick n Pay: The same basket of goods at Pick n Pay may cost R1023.55, exceeding the R1000 budget.

The Verdict: Checkers Wins This Round

In this case, Checkers is the winner in this R1000 grocery showdown. Their aggressive pricing, house brands, and X-tra Savings deals can stretch the budget further. However, Pick n Pay remains a strong contender, offering a wider selection of branded goods and a rewarding loyalty program.

Important Notes:

Prices may vary: These prices are based on a specific shopping trip in January 2025 and may vary by location and time of year.
Personal preferences matter: Your individual needs and brand preferences will also influence your shopping choices.
Shop around: It’s always a good idea to compare prices and take advantage of promotions at both stores to maximize your savings.

Ultimately, both Checkers and Pick n Pay offer value in different ways. By being a savvy shopper and comparing prices, you can make the most of your R1000 and ensure your family enjoys a well-stocked pantry.

Also read: Grocery Shopping Hacks: How To Spend Less Money on Your Groceries