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The Rise of ‘Best Before’ Shops: How South Africans Are Saving Big on Groceries
With grocery prices climbing faster than most paycheques, many South Africans are rethinking the way they shop. The latest disruptors in the retail scene are not big international chains or flashy online apps but small, independent stores known as best before shops.
These stores specialise in selling products past their best before date. We are talking about canned soup, pasta, toiletries, cereals, and even shampoo, items that usually take months or years before they show any sign of decline. Instead of heading straight to landfill, these goods are being sold at slashed prices, giving families a chance to fill cupboards without emptying wallets.
What Does ‘Best Before’ Really Mean?
Here’s where the confusion usually starts. A best before date is not an expiry date. Rather, it signals when a product is at its peak for taste, colour, or texture. A tin of beans or a sealed packet of rice remains safe long after that stamp has passed, provided it has been stored properly. The worst that can happen is a slight change in flavour or crunch.
That’s different from the use by date on perishable items like milk or ready-made meals, which should not be ignored. “Best before” labels only apply to shelf-stable foods and toiletries, which is exactly what these new shops stock.
Where to Find Them
The trend is spreading quickly. On the Garden Route, Foodz is attracting bargain hunters. In Cape Town, Looters and Foodies are growing their following. Johannesburg has its own aptly named Best Before, and more are popping up in towns and suburbs across the country.
These outlets may not have the glossy aisles of a supermarket, but shoppers do not seem to mind. Instead, they are sharing photos of bulging bags of groceries on Facebook groups and praising the savings on TikTok. For families juggling school fees, fuel costs, and electricity bills, these shops are becoming part of a new normal.
The Price Difference
The drawcard is simple: huge savings. Compare a trolley at one of these shops to a traditional retailer, and the difference is striking.
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Granola: R85 at Shoprite versus R60 at Looters.
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Maize meal: R47 at Pick n Pay versus R32 at Looters.
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Macaroni: R16 at Checkers versus R14 at Best Before.
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Gherkins: R57 at Pick n Pay versus R32 at Best Before.
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Head & Shoulders shampoo: R115 at Clicks versus R56 at Foodz.
Multiply those discounts across a month’s shop, and the effect is dramatic. For many households, it is the difference between barely scraping by and having a little left over.
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More Than Just Savings
There’s also a sustainability angle. These shops are reducing food waste by rescuing perfectly good products that would otherwise be discarded. In a country where food insecurity is a daily reality for millions, this shift has social and environmental weight.
A Fresh Way to Shop
South Africans have always found creative ways to stretch the rand, from stokvels to bulk buying. Best before stores are the latest tool in that toolkit. They challenge the idea that food past its peak date belongs in the bin and invite shoppers to rethink what value really means.
If you’re willing to look past the date on the label, these stores might just help your household weather the storm of rising costs while keeping your pantry stocked with the brands you trust.
Also read: “I Have Operational Control”: Masemola Draws a Line in the Sand at State Capture Inquiry
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Chain Store Age
