‘Dirt cheap’: Alternative helps shopper save $2,600—are you missing out?
- Replies 1
Rising grocery prices have left many Australians searching for ways to stretch their budgets, with some shoppers rethinking where they buy their essentials.
As frustration with the major supermarkets grew, more shoppers began seeking alternatives.
Many had turned to a lesser-known option—one that offered both savings and a better shopping experience.
As Australians continued to feel the strain of rising living costs, many shoppers had started looking beyond major supermarkets to save money.
For some, the dominance of Coles and Woolworths—alongside competitors like ALDI and IGA's parent company Metcash—had become a source of frustration, especially amid accusations of price gouging.
Jonathan Toseski, a Sydney resident, said he had almost entirely cut out the big supermarket chains when shopping for certain grocery items.
He claimed he had saved thousands of dollars simply by shopping at a lesser-known but often more affordable alternative—a local Asian grocer.
Toseski had been a regular customer at Gong Grocer in Sydney's CBD for two years and estimated he was saving between $1,040 and $2,600 annually.
‘Pretty much across the board, I find cheaper prices at Gong, most noticeably in fresh produce like fresh herbs, leafy greens and fruit and rice, noodles and sauces,’ he said.
He explained that, as someone who lived alone, his grocery bills were not as high as those of families, but he still noticed significant savings.
He shared: ‘I’m single and live alone, so my grocery bills aren’t huge but by shopping at Gong Grocer’s I’d say I save anywhere between $20 and $50 per shop.’
‘Imagine how much this would add up for a family or even a couple.’
A comparison of his receipts revealed substantial price differences.
A bunch of spinach cost $5.50 at Coles but just $2.99 at Gong Grocer, while a 500ml bottle of soy sauce was priced at $4.50 at Coles versus $3.19 at Gong.
These two items alone amounted to a saving of $3.82.
‘If I’m going to use those sorts of ingredients in a dish, I won’t even consider the big supermarkets anymore,’ he said.
Frustration over supermarket pricing had been growing, particularly after allegations surfaced that Coles and Woolworths had misled customers with their discount labels.
A poll conducted by Yahoo Finance, which surveyed more than 7,600 readers, found that 45 per cent planned to shop at Coles and Woolworths less frequently due to these concerns.
Another 25 per cent had already stopped shopping there entirely.
The cost of fresh produce had also risen considerably, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing that fruit and vegetable prices in December 2024 were 6.3 per cent higher than the previous year.
Brian Nguyen, who had previously worked as a government lawyer, co-founded Gong Grocer in Sydney's World Square in 2023 with his mother Linh, his wife Wendy, and his sister Vivian.
The store specialised in a wide selection of Asian groceries, including products from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea.
Nguyen noted that specialty grocers like his were able to provide not only lower prices but also a more personal shopping experience compared to the larger chains.
He believed the major supermarkets offered a limited variety of international products, often at inflated prices.
‘Whereas a specialty Asian grocer like ourselves, we offer four or five of the same sort of sauce.
‘You can test, you can try, to see which one fits your palette. You can also ask people,’ he said.
Toseski, who described himself as a foodie, appreciated this variety, as he enjoyed cooking different cuisines and often struggled to find certain ingredients at major supermarkets.
He also preferred the atmosphere at Gong Grocer.
‘With the Bigs, it’s like get in and get out but at Gong, I find myself talking to the staff more and taking more time and wanting to be in there longer,’ he said.
The store occasionally held events, such as a sake tasting for Lunar New Year, which he found added to the experience.
Nguyen said this was part of his family's vision for the store.
He had grown up with his family running a traditional Asian grocer, and he wanted to stay true to that approach.
He said: ‘In this day and age where a Woolies is a self-checkout, you can find one supervisor and a lot of people building the shelf.’
‘But they are almost stocking it to churn through, it feels more robotic and more dry. ‘
‘I want to be the reverse to that because what we’re doing is something authentic for the community.
‘Being an Asian grocery and being there and talking to people and understanding what they want.’
Gong Grocer had also implemented a digital loyalty program and had surpassed its initial revenue target of $10 million in its first year.
Nguyen and his family remained optimistic about the store’s potential for further growth.
Meanwhile, other high-profile figures had also drawn attention to the savings found at Asian grocers.
MasterChef star and RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi had shared her own experiences of finding better prices at independent stores.
She had highlighted the affordability of fresh herbs at Gladesville Mixed Business, stating on social media: ‘Like, seriously. Who would ever guess this place sells Asian herbs for DIRT CHEAP??!’
She pointed out that the store’s fresh herbs cost between $1 and $2 for whole bunches of lemongrass, coriander, Thai basil, and baby bok choy—far cheaper than the starting price of $2.90 at Coles.
Toseski said quality was another major factor in his decision to shop at Gong Grocer.
‘When you go to Woolies you’re getting a few lifeless herbs in a plastic container, while at Gong you are getting fresh produce and much more,’ he said.
Nguyen was determined to maintain that difference and continue offering a more personal and authentic shopping experience.
In a previous story, an Aussie mum shocked shoppers with how much she was able to buy for just $25.
Her budget-friendly grocery haul highlighted just how much prices can vary depending on where you shop.
Read more to see how she managed to stretch her dollar further.
With more Australians turning to independent grocers for savings and quality, could these stores become a serious rival to the major supermarkets?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
As frustration with the major supermarkets grew, more shoppers began seeking alternatives.
Many had turned to a lesser-known option—one that offered both savings and a better shopping experience.
As Australians continued to feel the strain of rising living costs, many shoppers had started looking beyond major supermarkets to save money.
For some, the dominance of Coles and Woolworths—alongside competitors like ALDI and IGA's parent company Metcash—had become a source of frustration, especially amid accusations of price gouging.
Jonathan Toseski, a Sydney resident, said he had almost entirely cut out the big supermarket chains when shopping for certain grocery items.
Aussies ditch big supermarkets amid price hikes. Image source: Jonathan Toseski
He claimed he had saved thousands of dollars simply by shopping at a lesser-known but often more affordable alternative—a local Asian grocer.
Toseski had been a regular customer at Gong Grocer in Sydney's CBD for two years and estimated he was saving between $1,040 and $2,600 annually.
‘Pretty much across the board, I find cheaper prices at Gong, most noticeably in fresh produce like fresh herbs, leafy greens and fruit and rice, noodles and sauces,’ he said.
He explained that, as someone who lived alone, his grocery bills were not as high as those of families, but he still noticed significant savings.
He shared: ‘I’m single and live alone, so my grocery bills aren’t huge but by shopping at Gong Grocer’s I’d say I save anywhere between $20 and $50 per shop.’
‘Imagine how much this would add up for a family or even a couple.’
A comparison of his receipts revealed substantial price differences.
A bunch of spinach cost $5.50 at Coles but just $2.99 at Gong Grocer, while a 500ml bottle of soy sauce was priced at $4.50 at Coles versus $3.19 at Gong.
These two items alone amounted to a saving of $3.82.
‘If I’m going to use those sorts of ingredients in a dish, I won’t even consider the big supermarkets anymore,’ he said.
Frustration over supermarket pricing had been growing, particularly after allegations surfaced that Coles and Woolworths had misled customers with their discount labels.
A poll conducted by Yahoo Finance, which surveyed more than 7,600 readers, found that 45 per cent planned to shop at Coles and Woolworths less frequently due to these concerns.
Another 25 per cent had already stopped shopping there entirely.
The cost of fresh produce had also risen considerably, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing that fruit and vegetable prices in December 2024 were 6.3 per cent higher than the previous year.
Brian Nguyen, who had previously worked as a government lawyer, co-founded Gong Grocer in Sydney's World Square in 2023 with his mother Linh, his wife Wendy, and his sister Vivian.
The store specialised in a wide selection of Asian groceries, including products from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea.
Nguyen noted that specialty grocers like his were able to provide not only lower prices but also a more personal shopping experience compared to the larger chains.
He believed the major supermarkets offered a limited variety of international products, often at inflated prices.
‘Whereas a specialty Asian grocer like ourselves, we offer four or five of the same sort of sauce.
‘You can test, you can try, to see which one fits your palette. You can also ask people,’ he said.
Toseski, who described himself as a foodie, appreciated this variety, as he enjoyed cooking different cuisines and often struggled to find certain ingredients at major supermarkets.
He also preferred the atmosphere at Gong Grocer.
‘With the Bigs, it’s like get in and get out but at Gong, I find myself talking to the staff more and taking more time and wanting to be in there longer,’ he said.
The store occasionally held events, such as a sake tasting for Lunar New Year, which he found added to the experience.
Nguyen said this was part of his family's vision for the store.
He had grown up with his family running a traditional Asian grocer, and he wanted to stay true to that approach.
He said: ‘In this day and age where a Woolies is a self-checkout, you can find one supervisor and a lot of people building the shelf.’
‘But they are almost stocking it to churn through, it feels more robotic and more dry. ‘
‘I want to be the reverse to that because what we’re doing is something authentic for the community.
‘Being an Asian grocery and being there and talking to people and understanding what they want.’
Gong Grocer had also implemented a digital loyalty program and had surpassed its initial revenue target of $10 million in its first year.
Nguyen and his family remained optimistic about the store’s potential for further growth.
Meanwhile, other high-profile figures had also drawn attention to the savings found at Asian grocers.
MasterChef star and RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi had shared her own experiences of finding better prices at independent stores.
She had highlighted the affordability of fresh herbs at Gladesville Mixed Business, stating on social media: ‘Like, seriously. Who would ever guess this place sells Asian herbs for DIRT CHEAP??!’
She pointed out that the store’s fresh herbs cost between $1 and $2 for whole bunches of lemongrass, coriander, Thai basil, and baby bok choy—far cheaper than the starting price of $2.90 at Coles.
Toseski said quality was another major factor in his decision to shop at Gong Grocer.
‘When you go to Woolies you’re getting a few lifeless herbs in a plastic container, while at Gong you are getting fresh produce and much more,’ he said.
Nguyen was determined to maintain that difference and continue offering a more personal and authentic shopping experience.
Her budget-friendly grocery haul highlighted just how much prices can vary depending on where you shop.
Read more to see how she managed to stretch her dollar further.
With more Australians turning to independent grocers for savings and quality, could these stores become a serious rival to the major supermarkets?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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