Price Gaps Exposed: Retail Chains Selling Fruits and Vegetables at 58% Markup
A new price comparison survey by the Retail Research Institute reveals price discrepancies of tens of shekels on a single shopping trip. The report highlights which retail chains are the most expensive and where consumers can save significantly.
A price comparison survey conducted by the Retail Research Institute and presented on the i24NEWS channel highlights significant price discrepancies between Israeli retail chains regarding fruits and vegetables. The findings suggest that consumers can save up to 60% on certain items simply by choosing a different chain, with total savings on a family shopping trip reaching tens of shekels. These data align with previous studies by the institute, which have consistently pointed to large price gaps in the produce market across different chains and trading areas.
The data shows that fresh tomatoes present the largest price gap. The price reached 6.90 NIS per kg at the "Keshet Taamim" chain, compared to 2.90 NIS per kg at "Rami Levy Shivuk Hashikma"—a 58% difference.
An unusual gap was also recorded for butternut squash, with prices ranging from 8.90 NIS per kg down to 3.90 NIS per kg at "Yochananof," "Rami Levy Shivuk Hashikma," and "Osher Ad," representing a 56% difference.
For fresh mango, the highest price was 19.90 NIS per kg at "Keshet Taamim," compared to 10.90 NIS per kg at the "Dabach" chain, a gap of 45.7%.
Avocado prices also showed a wide variance, standing at 24.90 NIS per kg at "Dabach," while selling for 14.90 NIS per kg at "Yochananof" and "Rami Levy Shivuk Hashikma"—a 40% difference.
Nectarines were priced at 22.90 NIS per kg at "Tiv Taam," compared to 14.90 NIS per kg at "Victory," a gap of 35%.
Significant gaps were also found in the Hermon apple category, where prices ranged from 14.90 NIS per kg down to 10.90 NIS per kg at several chains, including "Yochananof," "Rami Levy Shivuk Hashikma," "Osher Ad," and Carrefour—a 27% difference.
The examination illustrates that no single chain is the cheapest across all products. While chains like "Rami Levy," "Yochananof," "Osher Ad," and "Dabach" often lead with lower prices, other chains offer better deals on specific items. Conversely, chains such as "Keshet Taamim" and "Tiv Taam" appeared in several categories with the highest prices.
