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Consumer group Choice’s first government-funded quarterly supermarket price survey has revealed the cheapest chain to shop at in Australia.
Choice sent mystery shoppers to 81 regional and urban supermarkets around Australia, including the three major chains of Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi.
The shoppers loaded up their baskets with 14 common grocery items and went through the checkout, comparing prices afterwards.
The research revealed that Aldi’s basket was about 25 per cent cheaper than baskets at Coles or Woolworths.
“Aldi was the clear leader on value for money in our first supermarket basket survey for 2024, with our basket of 14 products costing just $51.51,” Choice CEO Ashley de Silva said.
“Grocery prices at Coles and Woolworths are very closely matched, with only 75 cents separating the prices of our basket of 14 items without specials.
“Coles was the most expensive at $69.33, while the basket at Woolworths came in at $68.58.”
Choice also found that location made a difference.
“When we looked at the average cost of our supermarket baskets in each state we found that if you live in Tasmania or the Northern Territory, you’re paying significantly more each week for your groceries,” de Silva said.
“However, this is mainly due to the fact that these areas have more limited options for shopping than the rest of the country, with no Aldi in Tassie or the NT.
“Outside of the Northern Territory and Tasmania, Western Australians are paying the most on average for their groceries – around a dollar more for this basket of items than people in other parts of the country pay.”
Meanwhile, as the cost of living crunch continues, Choice found that trust in supermarkets had also plummeted in the past 12 months.
About 39 per cent of responders said they did not trust supermarkets to provide the best products and services for customer needs.
Choice has been provided federal government funding for supermarket price research for every quarter for the next three years.
“This kind of transparency is more important than ever as the cost of living crisis continues, and prices of basic grocery items climb,” de Silva said.
ALDI Australia managing director Jordan Lack said the supermarket chain promised to offer customers the best price.
“The data reflected across this basket of goods is indicative of the savings across our entire range,” Lack said.
Coles questioned if Choice compared like-for-like items and said it costed the same basket to be $10 cheaper.
“Our analysis last week comparing the same basket in NSW shows customers can purchase these products for $59.35 at Coles,” the spokesperson said.
Similar to Coles, Woolworths touted its wider range and extra services such as home delivery.
What was in the basket
The grocery basket at all outlets was filled with 14 items, 12 of which were packaged products, either national brand or comparable supermarket brand/budget brand options (including beef mince and milk), with two fresh fruit and vegetable items (apples and carrots) completing the list:
Apples
Carrots
Weet-Bix
Sliced white bread
Flour
Penne
White sugar
Tea bags
Tinned diced tomatoes
Block of tasty cheese
Full-cream dairy milk
Frozen peas
Beef mince
Butter
