MADRID – Since the rise in prices of many products, households in Spain are actively searching for the best supermarket deals to save on their weekly grocery shopping.
According to a report by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), the choice of supermarket can make a difference of more than €900 per year. With this information, there is a high chance that you can save a significant amount of money by making more conscious grocery choices, or even by driving or walking a bit farther. Online grocery shopping is another option to consider.
Largest price increases
In terms of the largest price increases, Mercadona and La Plaza de Día stand out with a price increase of about 16%. On the other end, Carrefour Express, Alimerka, and BM Urban experienced a rise between 8% and 9%.
In between are Consum and Día (15.5%), Eroski and Hipercor (15%), Carrefour, Gadis, and Lupa (14.5%), El Corte Inglés and Carrefour Market (14%), Mas y Mas and Froiz (13.5%), Ahorramás and Alcampo (13%), Familia (12.5%), Eroski Center City (12%), Caprabo (12%), Supercor (11%), and E. Leclerc (10%).
Variable prices by province
The most expensive and least expensive supermarkets differ by province in Spain. The most expensive supermarkets are Novavenda, Altoaragón, Ulabox, and Sánchez Romero. Tifer and Dani are among the cheapest, particularly in Castilla y León and Andalucía.
Alcampo is the cheapest supermarket in most provinces: Barcelona, Castellón, Teruel, Zaragoza, Soria, La Rioja, Gipuzkoa, Asturias, A Coruña, Pontevedra, Cuenca, Toledo, Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Almería, Granada, Cádiz, Las Palmas, and the Balearic Islands.
Mercadona is the cheapest in the provinces of Pontevedra, Bizkaia, Álava, Navarra, Huesca, and Huelva. Carrefour is the cheapest in the provinces of León, Cantabria, and Segovia.
In Palencia, Valladolid, Zamora, Burgos, and Ávila, Tifer is the cheapest option. For Ciudad Real and Albacete, it’s Family Cash. Eurospar is the cheapest in Extremadura, in the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz. Supeco is the cheapest in Salamanca, Madrid, Gadalajara, Córdoba, and Seville. In Málaga, Cash Fresh is the cheapest, and finally, Consum is the least expensive in the provinces of Girona and Tarragona.
Discount cards and savings programs
As for Carrefour, it’s important to note that they offer three types of discount cards: one for large families, one for young people under 30, and one for those over 65. All of these allow direct VAT savings on all fresh produce and discounts on specific pre-designated items.
Savings tips
By following these tips, consumers can save significantly on their weekly groceries:
- Understand the types of offers that supermarkets provide. For example, ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ and ‘Buy 3 for the Price of 1’.
- Focus on purchasing non-perishable items like canned goods during sales.
- Check the price per unit to get a clearer picture.
- Consider group purchases with family or friends to take advantage of offers.
- Avoid purchasing items with a short expiration date to prevent food waste.
- Remember, cheap does not always mean healthy; avoid unhealthy products.
