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It’s been described as the Grocery Olympics.
Mystery shoppers deployed to more than 80 supermarkets across the country – with a mission.
These shoppers were tasked with collecting household basics in the basket…
And at the checkout – found out where you can save the most.
Choice’s new report showed that 14 common groceries from Aldi cost $51.51 on average – that’s 25% cheaper than Woolworths, where total costs came to just over $68.
Coles finished off with the highest total just above Woolworths at $69.33.
Choice Editorial Director Mark Serrels shares.
“Everything we’ve done, everything we’ve bought, they’re staples, they’re things that people need to survive, so the duopoly of Woolies and Coles need to do more to drive prices down.”
The findings are the first of government-funded quarterly reports, to be released in the next 3 years.
The Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh, explains.
“Australia’s grocery sector is the most concentrated in the world with a signifcant market share for the two biggest players, so it’s only fair we have price scrutiny for groceries being paid by Australian shoppers.”
This scrutiny was heightened after Greens Senator Nick McKim chaired an inquiry which saw supermarkets grilled over its prices during a cost of living crisis.
“Choice between Coles and Woolworths is no choice at all. The prices are effectively the same. They might look like a duopoly with two different brands but they’re acting more like a single monopoly supermarket chain.”
Aldi’s presence helps bolster competition, but it can’t be found everywhere in the country – and it shows.
The absence of Aldi in Tasmania and the Northern Territory means shoppers there paid more than $68 on average for a basket of goods.
Customers everywhere else, on average, paid between $62 and $64 for the same items.
Choice’s Mark Serrels explains.
“Not only the averages are driven down but that Coles and Woolies are a slight more expensive because there’s no Aldi to compete with. I think it’s the competition element that’s huge right? And I do think price gouging is a strong word, I do think Australian consumers are being taken advantage of because we have a duopoly here.”
Customers are advised to use this information to shop around online before they head to the supermarket – so they know they’re getting the best value possible.
Woolworths said their customers have the luxury of choice in its variety, and offer home-delivery and online-pickups.
Coles said the same – adding it’s unclear whether like-for-like products were compared in the survey.
Meanwhile Aldi celebrated the report.
The next scorecard is to be released in September.
