Meet: The Cheapest Sufganiya in Israel

A survey conducted by Maariv's website reveals the price differences for holiday sufganiyot (doughnuts) in supermarket chains. Whether it's classic sufganiyot or an upgraded version, there's a significant price difference. The lowest price for a basic sufganiya (meaning a regular doughnut with or without jam) is found at the Rami Levy chain, where it can be purchased for just 1.90 shekels, while the most expensive sufganiya is at AM:PM, costing 5.90 shekels. The variety is also wide in terms of promotions at different chains, allowing savings: for example, the Yes Hesed chain offers four sufganiyot for 10 shekels, while Carrefour offers six for 21 shekels.

Compared to last year, it seems prices have increased in several chains. For instance, at Rami Levy, the price rose from 4.90 shekels to 5.90 shekels, indicating a 20% increase. At the same time, the chain reduced the price by 50% in its discount stores as part of a marketing strategy aimed to attract customers with Hanukkah-specific products.

And what about special sufganiyot? In addition to classic ones, there has been an uptick in demand for premium products in the sufganiyot category in recent years. These are designer and special sufganiyot with unique fillings like pistachio, malabi, and Belgian chocolate. Brands like "Roladin" lead this category, with sufganiyot priced between 13 to 18 shekels each. This is significantly higher compared to regular sufganiyot, but the investment in luxurious ingredients and complex manufacturing processes justifies the price. For most families, these sufganiyot remain a one-time treat during the holiday, not an everyday item. Incidentally, unrelated to the survey, a special sufganiya was recently offered at the Dudu Automezin chain for 100 shekels each, causing quite a stir online.

In recent years, donuts have also joined the variety of holiday foods offered. In a survey conducted, large price disparities were noted for donuts in supermarket chains. For instance, at Carrefour, you can find imported donuts from France at a price of 4.50 shekels each, while at Shufersal the price rises to 7.90 shekels (although there's a promotion that lowers the price to 4.98 shekels each). At the AM:PM chain, the price is 8.90 shekels, and in convenience stores like Yellow, donuts can be purchased for 11 shekels. In luxury patisseries, the price can even reach 14 shekels each, three times the price at discount chains.