Astonishing Kiwi prices
SOME items are so expensive here in New Zealand you resent buying them, imagining that some Juipiter-sized chief executice is wall papering his lounge with the dollars you're throwing at him.
It wouldn't be so bad if you were ignorant of the excess prices, but these days it is a simple matter to idly search on the cost of some item or other, and it is unbelievable that there can be such a huge cost difference between one jurisdiction and another.
But so it is.
For example, I am horrified to report on the price of the humble chocolate biscuit. I am so horrified, in fact, that I am almost embarrassed at having bought some to enjoy with a brew of Twinings English Breakfast.
100g of McVities chocolate digestives cost $1.43 (about 65p) at Woolworths in New Zealand. (And they come in 300g packets at a price of $4.29)
The same McVities digestives cost only 61p for a 400g packet, or 15p per 100g in the UK, (33 cents), at Tesco online.
Incredible as it seems, McVities chocolate digestives are four times the price in New Zealand.
I know some of you will be thinking "Ah, but McVities are an imported brand, of course they're expensive." But let me tell you this, Arnotts, a rival Australian brand cost almost as much, $3.19 for 200g, or $1.10 per 100g.
Each bite must therefore be savoured as a delicacy to rival a heap of Beluga caviar teetering on peppered wafers. You might be tempted to cut each biscuit in half and share them, an entire packet must be budgeted for much like you budget for your mortgage.
A packet of biscuits is a gift of kings - you could take a plateful to supper at the Embassy and be invited to join the table with the world's great philanthropists and the guy with a pyramid of Ferrero Rocher nutty balls.
If you are looking for a christmas gift to send to relatives in New Zealand, look no further than 400g of McVities chocolate digestives. Your relies will sing your praises around the BBQ.
That's why Kiwis love to home-bake so much!
Posted by: Sarah | Oct 31, 2009 at 03:34 PM
What I find more annoying is going into our local PaknSave, and wandering down the "UK food shelves".
They've imported all the stuff with UKP pricing on it. UKP1.99 for a pack of tea, NZ price $16!
And yeah, the chocolate biscuits are just as bad, along with (real) Jaffa cakes, walnut whirls, twiglets etc.
It's so tempting to wander in with some UKP's and try to pay the UKP advertised price and see what they say.
Posted by: Alan | Oct 31, 2009 at 07:57 PM
There are some thing that its best to leave to memories rather than angst about the cost. The only British good I insist on buying here now is the English recipe of Baked Beans. I just couldn't stomach the kiwi version. And yes they cost more and yes they are produced down under. Work that out!
Posted by: Domestic Executive | Nov 01, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Speaking of prices of stuff...I recently found it very interesting that I could get 3 burgers and 2 tacos for the price of a bag of milano cookies. Always funny to do price analysis!
Posted by: captive insurance company | Nov 10, 2010 at 06:59 PM
I just couldn't stomach the kiwi version. And yes they cost more and yes they are produced down under.
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Posted by: stephen9781 | Nov 14, 2011 at 04:09 PM