Same chain, same product, different price — depending on the branch
The gap between branches of a single chain reaches 60%
When we talk about "the price at Rami Levy" or "the price at Shufersal" we quietly assume a chain has one price. The data disagrees.
What we found inside a single chain
In the same measurement of a 500g bag of ptitim on 13 August 2026, Yochananof sold it for ₪4.90 in one branch and ₪7.90 in another — a gap of more than 60% inside one chain, on one day.
Carrefour ranged from ₪5.10 to ₪6.90 across 64 branches. Mahsanei Hashuk from ₪5.90 to ₪7.90 across 50. This is not a glitch — it is the norm.
Store format is half the story
Large chains run several kinds of shop under one trading name, and each has its own pricing model. Shufersal, for instance, appeared three times in the measurement: Shufersal Deal at ₪6.50, Shufersal Sheli at ₪6.90 and Shufersal Express at ₪7.90.
The logic is simple: a small convenience shop in the city centre pays high rent, holds little stock and sells convenience. A large discount format on the edge of town sells volume. They are two different businesses sharing a logo.
What else moves the number
Geography — branches in expensive areas tend to be dearer, and a branch facing a direct competitor across the road tends to be cheaper. Local competition is one of the strongest forces on price, and it works at branch level, not chain level.
And local promotions: not every promotion runs in every branch, so the same product can be on offer at your shop and not at the next one over, or the reverse.
What it means in practice
Two things. First: when you check a price, check it with a location — "the price at the chain" is an average that exists at no till. Second: if two branches of the same chain are within reasonable reach, they do not necessarily offer the same price, and both are worth a look.
It is also why the site shows a price per branch, with the distance, rather than one price per chain. A chain average is a tidy number you cannot pay with at the checkout.