By: Sarene Kloren - IOL

With food prices climbing higher each month, South African households are searching for ways to stretch their budgets without compromising on quality. 

A new wave of smaller, independently owned “best before” grocery stores is offering a fresh solution by selling canned and dried foods, toiletries, and other shelf-stable items past their “best before” date at a fraction of supermarket prices. 

Far from being unsafe, these products are helping families save hundreds of rand while still stocking their cupboards with trusted brands.

Shops such as Foodz on the Garden Route, Looters and Foodies in Cape Town, and Best Before in Johannesburg are quickly becoming disruptors in the retail industry, challenging the big chains and changing the way South Africans shop.

What does “Best Before” really mean?

The “best before” date printed on tins, packets, and toiletries is not an expiry date - it is a manufacturer’s guideline for when a product is expected to retain its peak taste, colour, and texture. Passing this date does not suddenly make the contents unsafe.

In fact, canned and dried foods can remain perfectly safe to eat for years after the best before date, provided they are unopened and stored correctly in a cool, dry place. 

Unlike fresh goods, a tin of soup or a bag of pasta won’t “go off” overnight. At worst, consumers might notice gradual changes in texture or flavour, but the food remains edible and nutritious.

This distinction is often confused with a “use by” date, which is applied to perishable items such as dairy, meat, or ready-made meals. 

“Best before” applies only to shelf-stable products - the goods that these discount stores specialise in.

The price gap

One of the strongest appeals of best before stores is the price difference compared to large retailers. A quick shop can easily reveal savings of 30–50%, making a noticeable dent in the monthly grocery bill.

Here’s a comparison of some popular staples:

Granola (750g): 

Shoprite – R85 vs Looters – R60 (700g)

Maize Meal (2.5kg)

Pick n Pay – R47 vs Looters – R32

Macaroni (500g)

Checkers – R16 vs Best Before – R14

Gherkins (760g)

Pick n Pay – R57 vs Best Before – R32 (680g)

Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (400ml)

Clicks – R115 vs Foodz – R56

Multiply these kinds of savings across a trolley load of goods, and the impact is clear - best before shopping makes a real difference for households trying to balance rising costs.

IOL Lifestyle

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