After years of trailing its rival Jumbo, Continente has been elected the cheapest supermarket in Portugal.
According to a study by consumer watchdog DECO, the chain owned by retail group Sonae boasts the lowest prices in 16 of Portugal’s 18 mainland districts, while Jumbo is named the least pricey in Porto and Setúbal.
To carry out the study, DECO analysed around 46,000 prices in 476 supermarkets across Portugal.
The association put together two shopping carts with 92 products – one with the most popular brands, and another combining the most popular with the supermarket’s brands.
Continente boasted the lowest prices in both, followed by Sonae’s other chain Continente/Modelo and Auchan’s Jumbo.
Still, prices tend to vary greatly depending on where you live and which supermarket you choose.
According to DECO, Lisbon stands out as the district where prices vary the most.
Indeed, shopping at the cheapest supermarkets in Lisbon can save shoppers around €501 per year. The same can be said for Porto, where choosing the supermarkets with the lowest prices can save clients €412.
DECO also says shoppers can save €150 per year if they decide to trade Faro’s Minipreço for the alternative Pão de Açúcar, for example.
Finally, the watchdog also analysed the prices of online supermarkets.
In this category, Jumbo remains the cheapest option, while Continente is the priciest.
If you want to find out which is the cheapest supermarket near you, DECO offers a free simulator online. (click here)
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
