Shelly-Ann Thompson and Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Gleaner Reporters
Shopping in an uptown supermarket gives consumers wider aisles, a well-organised layout, and the opportunity to select the items they need.
THE DEBATE RAGES ON- which is cheaper? Shopping downtown or uptown? Where do shoppers get value for their dollar? Is it downtown Kingston with its vast number of wholesales and small shops that have the cheaper price tags for grocery items? Or is it upper St. Andrew that possesses name-brand supermarkets with wide aisles and air-conditioned interiors?
We sent two people shopping with a grocery list of basic food items and $4,000 ($2,000 each for downtown and uptown). One shopper braved a wholesale store on Princess Street, Kingston, and the other went to a supermarket in Barbican, St. Andrew.
Surprisingly, Food found out that there is not a wide margin between the prices of the total spending in both locations. Here are the findings.
Uptown supermarket
(Prices do not include GCT)
2 lb sugar - $45.64
2.2 lb counter flour - $40.30
1 Grace tomato ketchup - $96.25
1 Grace corned beef (7oz) - $71.25
1 Grace mackerel (medium) - $147.50
1 Lider vegetable oil - $70.35
2 lb rice - $ 39.06
1 Excelsior water crackers - $64.85
1 pack Kool Aid - $7.50
1 bag Roma powdered detergent - $136.30
3 bars Blue Bomber laundry soap - $48.45
1 Pal dishwashing liquid - $ 45.27
3 Classic tissue - $82.50
1 Colgate toothpaste (regular) - $92.55
3 Lux bath soap - $103.83
1 tub Chiffon margarine - $70.76
4.18 lb CB chicken - $442.50
1/2lb salt fish - $120.50
1 Brunswick sardine - $57.80
Sub-total - $1,783.16
GCT - 112.75
TOTAL - $1,895.91
Downtown wholesale
(Prices include GCT)
2 lb sugar - $42
2 lb counter flour - $30
1 Grace ketchup - $115
1 Grace corned beef (7oz) - $70
1 Tin Grace mackerel (small) - $25
1 Lider vegetable oil (small) - $65
2 lb rice - $46
1 Excelsior water crackers - $60
1 pack Kool Aid - $5
1 Sud Sud powdered detergent - $130
3 Bars Blue Power laundry bar soap - $55
1 Pal dishwashing liquid - $55
3 rolls Pure Joy toilet paper - $70
1 Colgate toothpaste (small) - $45
3 Lux bath soap - $120
1 tub Chiffon margarine - $70
3 lb Best Dressed chicken - $238
1/2 lb salt fish - $80
3 packs Lasco milk powder - $105
Additional items:
1 Salada coffee (small) - $190
1 Kraft coffee creamer (large) - $140
1 bottle cranberry juice (large) - $270
1 can whole kernel sweet corn - $70
TOTAL - $1,996
