/ 9 February 2009

Woolies slashes food prices

Woolworths has reduced the prices of 245 food lines with effect from Monday, the listed retail giant said.

”The price of some food items have been cut by as much as 29%,” it said in a statement.

Giving an example, the food retailer said that a 750ml bottle of sunflower oil had been reduced from R16,95 to R11,95.

”We have reduced prices on a range of product from essentials like cooking oil; everyday meals like pies; a range of beverages and luxury treats like wines and cashew nuts,” the retailer said.

Other savings were in selected frozen foods, bread, spreads, biscuits, toiletries and sweets.

”Woolworths worked in partnership with our suppliers over the last six months to find ways to reduce the price of hundreds of products,” said Julian Novak, the divisional director for foods.

In addition, savings had also been realised by reviewing the supply chain, reducing packaging, improving logistics and monitoring the costs of lower commodity prices like wheat.

‘We have cut prices considerably over the last two years and the basic grocery lines like bread, milk and cheese are now extremely competitively priced and often cheaper than other retailers,” Novak said. – Sapa