Shoppers benefit from Pesach frenzy

FORTUNATELY it seems Pesach shopping won’t be the 11th plague this year, with the strength of the Australian dollar leading to a sharp decline in Pesach food prices.

Despite the rise in costs of some products and raw materials overseas, kosher shoppers will be pleased to hear Australian importers have managed to keep overall food prices down.

“Prices are cheaper this year, especially on many Israeli products. There has been as much as a 15 per cent drop on some products,” Melbourne kosher retailer David Kraus said.

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths are also in on the action this year, and are heavily promoting their Pesach ranges.

In a bid to attract the kosher dollar, some Jewish shoppers reported receiving emails from Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards program, offering bonus reward points should they purchase certain Pesach staples.

The AJN contacted the supermarkets for comment, but they did not respond by the deadline.

However, Ronnie Joss, general manager of wholesaler and importer Trialia Foods which supplied the big chains, said kosher shoppers would benefit from the ongoing price war.
“They are selling close to below cost and are certainly loss leading with some products, which means they are forgoing making money to attract new customers,” he said of Woolworths, adding that Bondi has become the flagship store, with the most extensive range.

Sydney kosher retailer David Krinsky said the supermarket’s bulk-buying power means he is also having to sell some products below cost price.

“We started importing so we have things cheaper and a larger range than anyone else, but when we see products at the supermarkets cheaper, we try and match or beat them whenever we can, even if it means doing it at a loss,” he said.

All in all, Joss said the strength of the Australian dollar, coupled with the supermarket battle, is only good news for shoppers. “None of our prices went up this year, and 90 per cent or more of our products went down. Pricing is good this year and the extra competition because of the big guys means a lot of products are available at much better prices.”

For a full breakdown of Pesach prices, see this week’s AJN

DALIA SABLE