With the 1 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) increase that came into effect from 1 April, consumers need to find ways to stretch their rands.
In addition, consumers are feeling the pinch with the increase of the fuel levy.
Luckily, there are ways to get more bang for your buck and Alain Soriano from Best Before in Wendywood has come up with a concept that not only helps you save money, but also cuts down on food waste in the country.
According to Soriano food wastage is a big problem and around a third of the food that is unsold is thrown away. Soriano sells items that have gone past or are close to their ‘best before’ date at discounted prices.
He explained the concept that food is classified into three classes: ‘use by’, ‘sell by’ and ‘best before’ dates. “According to the law, best before is the only one you are allowed to resell and is safe to eat.”
With hundreds of non-perishable items that line the shelves, consumers can get almost anything from shampoos, washing powders and other non-perishable items such as chocolates. Soriano said he gets the items from his suppliers which come from other retailers that have removed the items from their shelves.
“We test every product before it goes on the shelf to ensure that it is of good quality.”
He is very strict with the quality of the items he puts on his shelves and they are constantly walking through the store to check the quality.
Alain said a customer has said it is like a treasure hunt in the store. “Because we have products that are unusual and products that you don’t see anywhere.”
“The items change all the time depending on what we can get from suppliers.”
In terms of the Vat increase, Soriano said that they have not changed their prices with the increase, but instead are absorbing the increase in their prices.
Do have ways to beat the Vat increase? Share your stories with us on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.
