Consumer advocacy group, Choice, has released the findings of its 2015 supermarket price survey, which looks at the average price of a basket of 31 items at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and IGA from 93 supermarkets across Australia.
“Our survey has revealed that by foregoing leading brands at the big two supermarkets and heading to Aldi, you can save about 50 per cent off your weekly grocery bill,” says Choice spokesperson, Tom Godfrey.
“Coles and Woolworths bombard consumers with advertising jingles and flashy promotions designed to convince us we are getting great prices, but our latest survey shows the big retailers’ price claims are going down down.”
A basket of leading brand products costs on average $87.29 more at Coles ($174.97) and $89.09 more at Woolworths ($176.77) than a basket of equivalent products at Aldi ($87.68).
The news comes following Choice’s April national consumer pulse research that found food and grocery prices remain one of the top cost of living concerns with 75 per cent of Australians feeling the pressure at the checkout.
“Savings, low prices and value for money are the top priorities for grocery shoppers, so it’s likely the growth of private label will continue and Aldi is in the box seat,” says Godfrey.
“When it comes to private label, which now accounts for 21 per cent of packaged grocery sales, Aldi ($87.68) still had the cheapest basket, coming in 23 per cent less than Coles ($114.24) and 27 per cent less than Woolworths ($119.40).”
“If Aldi’s no frills experience is not your thing, but lowest price is a priority, you can still save 35 per cent at Coles and 33 per cent at Woolworths by swapping leading brands for the chains’ private label equivalents.”
“However, when it comes to buying leading brands at Coles and Woolworths, the difference between baskets at the big two retail giants is only $1.80. This would seem to reflect the intensive process of price monitoring between the duopoly.”
“Independent supermarket chain, IGA, returned the most expensive basket coming in at eight per cent more expensive than the same basket of leading brand products at Coles.”
Where you live can also impact the price you pay at the checkout.
Choice found the cheapest basket in the Australian Capital Territory ($163.60), coming in $7.02 cheaper than the most expensive basket in the Northern Territory ($170.25).[2] Western Australia was also at the top end coming in at $169.71.
“It’s not all bad news for consumers in Western Australia with Aldi planning to move west in the near future,” says Godfrey.
The basket items priced were leading brands (and their private label equivalents) across 28 product categories from sliced bread, cheese and chocolate to canned tuna, toilet paper and frozen peas, as well as three fresh food items.
