With Easter approaching, many South African households are looking for ways to celebrate while keeping costs under control. Economic challenges remain a concern, particularly with the upcoming increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), which is set to rise from 15% to 15.5% on 1 May 2025, and then again to 16% from 1 April 2026.

These changes, along with broader financial pressures, will likely affect consumer spending in the months ahead.

According to the Bureau of Market Research (BMR), while food inflation showed signs of easing toward the end of 2024 — with prices of staple foods such as bread, maize meal, rice, eggs, and pasta decreasing — early 2025 has already seen renewed price increases in certain food categories. Ongoing economic uncertainties, including fuel and electricity price hikes, currency fluctuations, and climate-related disruptions, continue to drive these increases. As a result, food affordability is expected to remain a challenge throughout the year.

Consumers are adapting to these financial pressures by seeking better value without compromising on quality. Recent data from NIQ South Africa highlights this shift, showing that while retail sales increased by 3.4% in 2024, much of this growth was driven by price inflation rather than higher consumption. Private label products saw a 7.1% growth, however, pointing to a rising preference for budget-friendly yet reliable alternatives.

“SPAR’s private label brands are designed to meet this demand. They offer affordable, high-quality options that are as good as the best for less across various categories. To ensure freshness and reliability, SPAR sources its private label products from over 200 small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), supporting local businesses while giving shoppers access to cost-effective choices,” says Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager at SPAR.

“As part of our commitment to quality, we offer customers a ‘Double Your Money Back Quality Guarantee’ on all our SPAR brand products, purchased from us. This means that if a product does not meet expectations, customers can return it for a 1. Full Refund of double purchase price in cash; 2. Double the product or 3. 1 Product and cash value of the product. This ensures peace of mind with every purchase,” continues Maubane.

Easter is a time for gathering and sharing meals, which means food prices are a key consideration for many families. To manage costs effectively this Easter, consumers can try:

• Choosing SPAR private label products, which provide quality at a lower price
• Taking advantage of SPAR’s special Easter promotions to save on essential items, including the Easter Feaster basket special, the Billions in Savings promotion, the 14 Days of Free Shopping promotion and the 5 Days of More promotions – all designed to help South Africans save money. Shoppers who swipe their SPAR Rewards card will save even more.
• Planning (and prepping) meals in advance to reduce food waste and unnecessary spending
• Buying in bulk for long-term savings, particularly for non-perishable staples

By making informed purchasing decisions, households can celebrate Easter without overspending, ensuring that holiday remains both enjoyable and financially manageable. With SPAR’s commitment to affordability and quality assurance, consumers can shop with confidence.

For more on SPAR’s special promotions, deals and savings, visit www.spar.co.za or follow @My_SPAR on Facebook and Instagram.

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