Shopping in convenience stores can cost over 20 per cent cent more than in the main supermarket multiples, a survey revealed today.
A grocery price survey published by the National Consumer Agency (NCA) showed up to a 20.2 per cent difference in a basket of goods purchased in a convenience store or "symbol" shop such as Spar compared to one bought in a supermarket.
The NCA published the results of a pilot price check survey carried out into what it termed the common branded grocery products available in thirteen Irish supermarkets and shops.
The agency chose 58 products from the top 100 brands list compiled by AC Nielsen for Checkoutmagazine.
The stores were selected from the multiple and so-called symbol group retailers and all have a significant market share, the NCA said. The outlets used were Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Superquinn, Supervalu, Centra, Spar and Eurospar.
Comparisons were also carried out on a regional basis using convenience stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Drogheda.
The survey found that Eurospar was 7.4 per cent more expensive and Centra and Spar were 10.8 per cent and 20.2 per cent more expensive respectively than the three multiples.
It also revealed significant price differences in the so-called 'symbol' shops between Dublin and the rest of the country, said acting NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald.
With the exception of Eurospar (whose Dublin branch was 1 per cent cheaper then the Drogheda branch), prices in Dublin were more expensive than the rest of the country.
These price differences ranged from the very small (0.5 per cent in the Supervalu shops) to being "quite substantial" (4.6 per cent for the Centra shops and 10.3 per cent for the Spar shops).
Ms Fitgerald also said the survey revealed that the Irish grocery market is "too concentrated".
"Worryingly, the price differential between Dunnes Stores, Tesco and Superquinn for the basket of 45 branded goods that were common to all three stores is only €2.20.
"This points to the fact that the Irish market is too concentrated. Of the 45 branded items that were common, 21 were the same price across all three outlets."
In the multiples there were only three products available where there was a 20 per cent or greater price differential, with eleven products having a price differential of 5 per cent or greater.
"The survey also confirms that there is a significant price difference between shopping in one of the multiples versus most of the symbol groups. However, Supervalu proved comparable to the three multiples."
The NCA said the pilot survey results represent the first tranche of research into grocery prices carried and that a further survey will take place towards the end of the year.
That survey will include non-branded goods available in multiple and symbol group retailers.
"By publishing this research we aim to empower consumers to allow them to make informed decisions when carrying out their day to day grocery shopping. I would urge consumers to review the information and shop around to avail of the savings that can be made," said Ms Fitzgerald.