ZA
In late August 2023 Nestlé announced that they are discontinuing Nesquik drink mix for strawberry and chocolate flavoured milk due to lower demand. Be that as it may Nesquik had its adherents (children) and like Pecks Anchovette and Redro Fish Paste (recently brought back), the Marmite crisis of 2021, and the scarce Nestlé Cerevita that has opened up an arbitrage opportunity as people try to source online once shops run out. The current online premium is currently over 4x retail.
THE SHOCK THE HORROR!!!1!!1!
On the 5th of September 2023 the average online Takealot (remember its a platform of various sellers) price was R150 for 250g while the Checkers price was R64 for 500g and R70 on the 9th September when we checked in Cape Town. Now the online price has raised to R192 per 250g and people are still buying (and commenters are saying "The only place in South Africa you can now find Nesquik!") despite the Checkers price being R40 for 250g.
Nesquik search results
Nesquik Takealot September
Nesquik Takealot October
Takealot comments
Nesquik at Checkers
Selling
The online buying patterns of South Africans are a mystery to for example they pay 10x on Takealot for mass-produced Chinatown dreck but as traders we know convienience and trust means that if the item is infront of people they will buy it even if there is a cheaper alternative but also that not everyone lives close to where to purchase a product and will buy that product at a premium from a trusted source.
Cerevita sells for a R100+ premium to retail on Takealot
Takealot Marketplace seems the most popular. But surely the imported food and unique food will start stocking what was once a mass-produced staple in South Africa.
Drink Mix
