A new low-cost supermarket has opened in Rishon Lezion, offering consumers much-needed affordable options at a time when the cost of living remains high.
The concept store first launched last year in Beersheba, offering a low-cost option for consumers. After the success of this store, the Channel 13 program, Hatzinor (The Pipeline), and the Colel Chabad charity decided to open a second supermarket in Rishon Lezion.
The supermarket is able to offer reduced prices on key products by avoiding costs associated with overhead, branding, and marketing. Most products are manufactured and distributed by less-known private-label companies, although the quality is not compromised.
“They continue to increase prices, and we’re here to continue to fight for you,” said Guy Lerer, host of Hatzinor. “This is a supermarket for you, the people, and we are honored to have Colel Chabad as the perfect partner to help take this vision and make it into a reality.”
Israel is currently the country with the highest cost of living out of all Organization for Cooperation and Development (OCED) countries.
The purchasing power of Israelis is 300%, lower than that of consumers in France, the US, and the UK when looking at hourly wages and purchasing power for products checked in the report, according to a report last year by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman.
Food prices rising in Israel
Food prices, not including fruit and vegetables, have risen 23% since 2011, while the price of fruits and vegetables rose by 37% in the same time frame.
“We’re here to show that we can approach life differently,” explained Rabbi Mendy Blau, Israel Director of Colel Chabad, while speaking at the opening ceremony. “When a consumer buys at this market, it leads to savings of thousands of shekels for families each month. For us, it’s a huge privilege to be able to provide people with those savings, and we are deeply grateful to the Renner family for their generous support in renovating and equipping this facility.”
Founded in 1788, Colel Chabad is the oldest charity organization in Israel. It was established at the behest of the first rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, also known as the Alter Rebbe, to aid the needy in the Land of Israel.
Hatzinor and Colel Chabad plan on launching new stores very soon, with the aim of expanding nationally in the coming years.