The Salt just ran
an interesting two-part
series on whether buying in bulk at the store actually makes
sense. As they write, "For price-conscious and waste-averse
shoppers, the bulk aisle ought to be the go-to spot of any grocery
store. It's where you can buy just as much as you need, with
minimal packaging, while saving money to boot - right?" Actually,
they discovered the answer isn't all that clear-cut.
From an economical viewpoint, depending on the store, buying in bulk can create a large discount from buying a packaged version of the same item or it can, in fact, result in a premium over the package price. However, there are other environmental and practical factors that can make a difference, especially for specialty items. Check out the full story here.
1 comment
susan g
I owned a health food business for 29 years, selling bulk through the open barrel stage to the drop down chutes. We went to doing our own packaging to avoid the issues of contamination and infestation that are the downside. Now retired, I will buy some bulk items, but never flour, which deteriorates from exposure to light and air.