The pocket was torn: importers and suppliers who raised prices in many areas of consumption influenced the price increases not only in the food chains, but also in the pharmacy chains that offer toiletries, hygiene and even food products.
After examining the price increases in the food chains, we compared the prices of 50 products currently sold in the pharmacy chains to the period before the large price increases, i.e., on 26 October 10 compared to 22 June 26. This check also included promotional prices which were in the past. The pharmacy chains, for their part, claim that they have passed on the increases from suppliers to consumers.
The data show that Super-Pharm had an average price increase of about 8% during the period. A basket of 50 products that cost NIS 1,232.31 today costs NIS 1,331.78, a difference of NIS 99.47. In Shufersal's BE chain, there was an increase of about 4%. A basket that cost NIS 1,161.61 today costs NIS 1,208.64, a difference of NIS 47.03.
Price increases online, photo: Joshua Yosef
At Good Pharm, the price remained almost unchanged, where the same basket today costs NIS 1,123.6 compared to NIS 1,122.5, meaning a difference of only NIS 1.1.
The bottom line is that the same basket currently costs NIS 1,331.78 at Super-Pharm, NIS 1,208.64 at Shufersal's BE chain and NIS 1,123.6 at Good Pharm. It should be noted that the Good Pharm chain does not have pharmacies, so the operating model or cost model is significantly different.
The vast majority is getting more expensive
The basket we compared included the prices of the following products: Nutella® Spread 350g, Pringles Bar, Sano's Sano D Mosquito Repellent for Babies and Children, Baby Laundry Powder 1.25 kg, Vanish Kalia's Bright White Stain Removal Powder, Two Units of Meridol Extra Soft Toothbrushes, Mouthwash with Productive Salt, Oral B Dental Floss, Deodorants, food compounds and more.
In Super-Pharm, out of 50 products, 19 became more expensive and 5 products were discounted, the rest remained unchanged. For example, Nutella spread used to sell for NIS 14.9 and now sells for NIS 19.9 – an increase of 33.56%. Green Edge shaving gel increased from NIS 18.9 to NIS 19.9, a difference of 5.29%. The price of baby laundry detergent increased from NIS 24.9 to NIS 29.9, an increase of 20.08%. Two units of Meridol ultra-soft toothbrushes increased from NIS 29.9 to NIS 39.9, an increase of 33.44%.
On the other hand, the following products were reduced: Pringles bar was reduced from NIS 14.9 to NIS 12.9, a decrease of 13.42%. Nutrilon baby food was reduced from NIS 69.9 to NIS 57.5, a decrease of 17.74%. It should be noted that some of the prices of the samples presented are due to spot promotions that have ended.
Good Pharm Tel Aviv chain, photo: Yehoshua Yosef
In Shufersal's BE chain, 27 products became more expensive and 8 products were discounted, the rest remained unchanged. For example, a Pringles snack rose from NIS 8.9 to NIS 11.9, an increase of 33.71%. The price of Nutrilon baby food is now NIS 55 compared to NIS 46.33, an increase of 18.71%.
On the other hand, Sood's concentrated baby fabric softener was reduced from NIS 12.9 to NIS 9, a reduction of 30.23%.
It is worth comparing prices
At Good Pharm, nine products became more expensive and five products were discounted. The rest remained unchanged. For example, baby laundry detergent increased in price from NIS 19.9 to NIS 21.9, an increase of 10.05%. Sood's baby fabric softener increased in price from NIS 10.9 to NIS 11.9, an increase of 9.17%. As mentioned, prices in the chains change both based on promotions that have ended and against the background of various price increases.
The bottom line is that it is worth comparing prices between chains, since there are differences between the prices of identical products.
At Good Pharm, when looking at the overall average, the price increases have not yet been felt. Adam Friedler, the chain's founder, said: "We struggle daily with suppliers to maintain a certain price level. Even if the price rises in one place, we make sure to lower the price of another product, so that the basket will not be harmed."
However, Friedler notes that he has difficulty estimating how long prices will remain so, given the many price increases that have occurred recently. "It's a Sisyphean daily job, and we have a hard time assessing whether we'll be able to last long. The future is currently unknown."
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