The South African Grocery Store That’s Cheaper Than Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Spar

Best Before is shaking up the grocery market in South Africa by offering significantly lower prices on food and personal care products that are close to or past their ‘best before’ dates.

Founded in 2017 by seasoned businessmen Mark Gordon and Alain Soriano, this innovative grocery store concept has quickly gained popularity among cost-conscious consumers.

Inspired by successful discount stores in Europe and Australia, Gordon and Soriano identified a golden opportunity in South Africa’s retail landscape.

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They launched a pilot store in Wendywood, Sandton, and quickly discovered a high demand for affordable groceries and household items.

The store collaborates with South Africa’s largest food suppliers, ensuring that all products are sourced from reputable brands.

While Best Before focuses on items nearing their best before dates, they emphasize that they never sell products past their use-by dates.

This approach benefits suppliers by providing a new outlet for goods that traditional supermarkets can’t sell, while consumers enjoy lower prices on popular products.

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Best Before has built a reputation for its commitment to quality. They explain that the best before date indicates the period during which a product maintains its optimal quality, meaning it is safe to consume after this date.

The company prides itself on stringent quality control measures, ensuring customer safety and satisfaction. If customers are unhappy with any product, Best Before offers refunds to maintain their commitment to quality service.

The success of the Wendywood pilot led to rapid expansion, with Best Before now operating six stores across Johannesburg, including locations in Woodmead, Edenvale, Fourways, Northcliff, Krugersdorp, and Boksburg. Plans are also underway for their first store in Pretoria, set to be announced soon.

Regular promotions at Best Before offer substantial discounts compared to major retailers like Checkers, Shoprite, Spar, and Pick n Pay.

For instance, a recent promotion showcased a savings of 32%, with a shopping basket that would cost R2,267 at a traditional supermarket available for just R1,548 at Best Before.

BusinessTech compared Best Before’s prices with Checkers and Pick n Pay to see how much cheaper it is. The table below summarises the results.

With a growing customer base and plans for more stores, Best Before is transforming how South Africans shop for groceries, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability.