Supermarket smarts: helping shoppers find the best deals

The fifth Albanese Government funded CHOICE quarterly report into supermarket prices released today gives consumers the latest pricing information on household products, including popular ingredients for winter meals.

Kicking off the second year of reports for supermarket shoppers, CHOICE priced groceries at 104 supermarkets in 27 locations across Australia in March.

Overall, Aldi was once again the cheapest supermarket for a basket of 14 goods (without specials), followed by Woolworths, Coles, then IGA.

Including specials, CHOICE found that Aldi was still the cheapest, followed by Coles, Woolworths, then IGA. However, the gap between Aldi and Coles and Woolworths was smaller than in previous reports. This is due to the shopping basket in this year’s quarterly report comparing more fresh fruit and vegetables.

‘Winter warmer’ items like vegetable stock, sour cream, drinking chocolate, butternut pumpkins, quick oat sachets, garlic, and brown onions are in the spotlight for this quarter’s report.

Comfort food and confident customers are a good recipe, with the government backing consumers to get the best deals in the supermarket aisle.

These quarterly reports demonstrate the value of getting information out to consumers to help shoppers understand the best choices all year around.

Australia’s supermarket sector is one of the most concentrated in the world, and this ongoing government initiative is a good example of our commitment to give shoppers as much assistance as possible to get the best deals.

These grocery basket snapshots complement other work the Government has undertaken and announced that will help consumers get a better deal at supermarkets, by giving consumers price transparency and increasing competition.

The Government is:

• Increasing ACCC funding by over $30 million to go after supermarkets using misleading pricing tactics.
• Funding the ACCC to deliver a consumer awareness campaign showing shoppers how they can find the best deals.
• Clamping down on shrinkflation by strengthening the Unit Pricing Code, including penalties for breaches and making prices clearer for shoppers.
• Implementing ACCC Supermarkets inquiry recommendations which will improve transparency about prices, price trends and promotions, and loyalty programs.
• Investing $50 million to provide access to low‑cost products for remote stores and improve food security in remote communities.
• Making sure the ACCC is notified of every supermarket sector merger and can scrutinise land acquisitions under reforms to merger laws.
• Making it easier for new supermarkets to enter the market with incentives for the states to cut planning and zoning red tape under the revitalised National Competition Policy, backed by our $900 million National Productivity Fund.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP

“We’re continuing to crack down on unfair prices at the big supermarkets to ensure Australian consumers and farmers get the best deal at the checkout.

“This latest CHOICE quarterly supermarket report funded by our government, provides a comparison of everyday grocery items for shoppers to make informed purchase decisions and save money.”

Basket of Goods

*Choice has a new basket for the second year with 7 base items and 7 spotlight items (which will change each quarter.)

Winter Warmers

Average price of grocery baskets by supermarket (with specials), state‑by‑state comparison

The next CHOICE quarterly supermarket report is due in September.