Loyal Market Basket customers will often say it's the low prices that keep them coming back. The chain has long been associated with bargain prices on brand-name items, and that was before former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas chose to give customers 4 percent off their entire purchase this year.
But just how much cheaper is Market Basket, when compared with Hannaford and Shaw's?
I visited all three stores in Concord on Wednesday to do a price comparison on a few shopping staples. Based on that, Shaw's was definitely more expensive than both Hannaford and Market Basket. However, many products are prices equally at Hannaford and Market Basket.
Below is a chart that represents how three identical shopping carts would add up at each of the three stores: Shaw's, Hannaford and Market Basket.
Almost across the board, Shaw's prices are highest: Breyers ice cream costs double at Shaw's than it does at Market Basket. However, Hannaford proves to match Market Basket prices in many instances, as it does for Eggo waffles and orange juice. Sometimes, Hannaford is even the cheapest option: Snyder's Bacon Chedder Pretzels, for example, are a real bargain at $3.29.
However, in the end Market Basket comes in first place, with a total price tag of $37.34.
Factor in the 4 percent discount, and it brings the total down to $35.85.