Bulk buying or hypermarkets, which is cheaper for groceries in Abu Dhabi?
Gulf News does a round-up of prices across various outlets
Abu Dhabi: As an unavoidable activity, grocery shopping takes up much of the time and expense of households in the Capital. And whatever the size of the household, everyone loves a good deal.
Gulf News drew up a list of some of the most commonly purchased items by speaking to a few residents, and then did a round-up of their prices across stores and e-shopping portals in the Capital.
So, which is a better option?
Prices appeared to be the lowest, and the range the greatest, at hypermarkets. All seven products in the basket were available at the hypermarkets and the cooperative, as well as Bulk Whiz. On the other hand, fresh produce was missing at wholesale traders, whereas Kibsons only stocks food items.
Lulu Hypermarket offered the cheapest prices for the basket of seven products during the week in question.
Wholesale stores, which are few in number, had larger quantity bags for products like rice and spices, and these were also cheaper. But it was difficult for customers to find all the products they needed at these generally-smaller stores in the capital.
As a result, shoppers in Abu Dhabi opted for convenience, especially as prices are generally affordable as well.
Khalid Al Hammadi, 42, an Emirati project manager, said he spends Dh3,000 every month stocking up on essential, non-perishable goods for his five-person household. For this, he heads to a hypermarket that offers bulk buying options.
“I prefer to buy good quality food, especially where my children are concerned. And I buy in bulk to save on time and effort during the month. It isn’t the cost savings I am looking at, especially as buying in bulk isn’t necessarily cheaper in Abu Dhabi. There aren’t really any notable wholesale discount stores here, as there are in other Emirates,” he added.
Organisational style in hypermarkets
Another shopper, Shubhangi Rastogi, said popular hypermarkets like Lulu maintain the same organisational style across outlets, so she knows where to find products as soon as she enters the store.
“I shop weekly for our two-person household, and I prefer shopping at a hypermarket. The products are shelved in the same way across their outlets and the massive range means I will find what I am looking for,” Rastogi, 32, an Indian revenue manager, told Gulf News.
“To be honest, I value the convenience so much that I haven’t even checked other stores to compare prices,” she added.
I like the fact that Kibsons delivers fresh produce, saving me the hassle of going down to the store every time
“I like to meal plan for the week, and I like the fact that Kibsons delivers fresh produce, saving me the hassle of going down to the store every time.”
At the same time, long-established wholesale trading stores have their own draw, particularly because they offer large quantities of products at affordable rates for people living in the vicinity.
A sales representative at a wholesale trading store located off Istiqlal Road in Abu Dhabi said the shop has been in the same area for more than 35 years.
“We deliver groceries in the area, and I do believe our prices are extremely competitive. Families typically come down on a monthly basis, and stock up on basic supplies like rice, spices and detergents,” he added.
Products of many different kinds are shelved alongside each other, and while there are a number of brands available for each item, the range is not exhaustive.
Another wholesale store next door had more than 10,000 products on sale, and the manager said they maintain only a three to five percent profit margin for most items.
“We don’t stock fresh produce, just non-perishables and dry foods. And our customers are extremely loyal. Families have shopped for decades at our shop. At the same time, we also see a fair number of customers coming to pick up an odd item or two,” he said.
Conclusion
In Abu Dhabi, as the choices for wholesale options are limited, most people seem to prefer hypermarkets. As a cost-effective measure, combining purchases with hypermarkets and bulk buying might be best. Share your thoughts at readers@gulfnews.com or if you have shopping tip for our readers in Abu Dhabi.