South Africans currently paying record-high prices at the till, Checkers is cheapest, then Pick n Pay and then Spar

"Our basket focuses on basic foodstuffs such as bread, milk, margarine and rice, and does not attempt to monitor the prices of luxury items. The reality is that most South Africans buy these basic foodstuffs and they are currently paying record-high prices for these products. The consumer will have to protest more effectively against this," Kleynhans said.

SHOOT: I believe the time is not far away where we will see demand destruction take place, and suppliers will begin to change the inputs that go into things like packaging and printing costs. Because more and more will simply not be able to afford food in future.

clipped from www.fin24.com Solidarity's research revealed that Checkers was "slightly ahead" of Pick n Pay and Spar in terms of competitiveness. "If we leave out all the products in our basket that are on special or are not available, our basket currently costs R175.73 at Checkers. At Pick n Pay our basket costs R181.43 and at Spar R197.22. "Our basket focuses on basic foodstuffs such as bread, milk, margarine and rice, and does not attempt to monitor the prices of luxury items. The reality is that most South Africans buy these basic foodstuffs and they are currently paying record-high prices for these products. The consumer will have to protest more effectively against this," Kleynhans said. "Following the 16.8% food price increase last year, we still saw increases at the beginning of 2009, despite the drop in input costs experienced in the fourth quarter of 2008.