The expense for preparing a classic Olivier salad with sausage for four people stood at 523 rubles in the latter half of November 2023, based on the durchschnittliche price levels of cooking ingredients in Russian stores. Compared with the same window a year earlier, the total rose by 37 rubles, a 7.7 percent increase. These statistics were provided at the request of socialbites.ca by the press service of the Check Index resource of the OFD Platforms company.
The calculation followed the traditional Soviet version of the salad, featuring boiled sausage, and included these amounts: 500 g potatoes, 200 g carrots, 5 eggs, 300 g boiled sausage, 100 g onion, 400 g canned green peas, 400 g pickled cucumber, 200 g mayonnaise, and 30 g dill or parsley.
Among the components, chicken eggs comprised the largest share of the cost—the price for five eggs averaged 91 rubles, marking a 25 percent rise from the previous year. Carrots, at an average cost of 9 rubles for the needed amount, showed an 18 percent increase, while dill or parsley rose by 11 percent to 31 rubles. The 300 g portion of boiled sausage climbed 7 percent to 112 rubles. Pickled cucumbers increased by 5 percent to 83 rubles, green peas by 4 percent to 85 rubles, and potatoes by 3 percent to 51 rubles. In contrast, mayonnaise became cheaper by 3 percent, averaging 53 rubles.
Experts from the resource note that Russians typically do not cut back on Olivier salad during celebrations and prefer higher-quality ingredients.
Overall, the Olivier index ran noticeably below the annual consumer price index for fruits and vegetables, which form the salad’s core. Retailers strive to maintain price levels that remain acceptable to shoppers, according to the commentary.
The study analyzed 55 to 57 million cash register receipts collected from over 1.1 million online cash registers in Russia. The period examined spanned November 15 to November 30, 2023 and 2022.
Earlier, socialbites.ca and related outlets reported that Russians increased purchases of caviar, tangerines, and champagne this year, reflecting broader holiday spending patterns.