ALDI's price prowess: Switching from Woolworths saves ‘small fortune’ for this Aussie shopper

In the age-old debate of where to find the best grocery bargains, one Australian shopper has cast her vote, claiming a significant saving by switching from Woolworths to ALDI.

As the cost of living soars, every penny counts, and for Ella Victoria, the decision to change her shopping habits has led to what she describes as a ‘small fortune’ in savings.


Ella, like many Australians, had been a regular Woolworths customer but noticed her online grocery bills were getting ‘really expensive’.

In an effort to tighten her purse strings, she decided to give ALDI a try and was pleasantly surprised to find that her weekly shop was consistently cheaper.

While this might not seem like a huge difference at first glance, when you add it up over the course of a year, it's a potential saving of around $1,000.

‘Overall, I saved about $10 to $20 when shopping at ALDI. Honestly, I thought it would be even more savings than that,’ Ella shared.


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Ella Victoria discovered substantial savings by switching from Woolworths to ALDI, potentially saving up to $1000 annually. Credits: Shutterstock


Several people concurred that they typically save about $20 per shopping trip at ALDI.

‘My shop at ALDI is about $160ish, whereas, at Woolies, it’s $200+,’ one shopper commented.

This is no small change, especially for those in their golden years who want to maximise their savings without compromising on quality of life.

Let's take a closer look at some of the price comparisons that Ella noted:
  • Frozen chicken schnitzel: ALDI priced at $4.99 compared to Woolworths at $8.50
  • Chicken tenderloins: ALDI at $11.15, Woolworths at $13
  • Eggs: ALDI at $5.19, Woolworths at $6.50
  • Spudlite potatoes: ALDI at $4.99, Woolworths at $6

It's not just Woolworths shoppers who noticed the difference.

A former Coles customer also shared that she saved more than $70 on her weekly shop by switching to ALDI.

‘Today, we compared ALDI VS Coles for our usual weekly shop. We compared basic items for time to get the closest match. ALDI was $158.71. Coles was $230.38 using the usual home brand and on special items,’ she explained.


However, it's important to note that not all comparisons are straightforward.

Some shoppers stated that loyalty rewards or specials from Woolworths or Coles weren't considered in these comparisons.

Others mentioned that they couldn't get everything they needed from ALDI.

‘There's no doubt that ALDI is cheaper. It's a fact. But not for everything, and I don't know a single person who could do a full family shop from there,’ one pointed out.


Professor Gary Mortimer, an expert in Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, offered a balanced view.

He acknowledged that shoppers can indeed save money at ALDI, but this comes with a trade-off, which makes it unfair to compare.

‘Yes, you can save if you shop purely at ALDI, but there is a cost for that saving, and that cost is that you forgo range and choice,’ he explained.

‘If you want to buy Coca-Cola, Cadbury Chocolate, and some of the bigger brands that you normally buy at a supermarket, you’re not going to get that at ALDI, but you will get it at Coles, Woolworths or IGA.’

‘If you are comparing branded products with generic private-label products, then that is not entirely fair. But if you are comparing like for like, then yes, it is,’ Professor Mortimer added.


Professor Mortimer attributed ALDI's low prices to its global buying power. Additionally, factors such as the limited range, smaller store size, efficient register processes, and shelf-ready packaging all contribute to cost savings for the supermarket, ultimately benefiting customers.

‘We tend to think that ALDI has around 600 stores in Australia; it doesn't. It has 10,000 stores globally. So when ALDI buys tin tuna, it’s not buying for 600 stores, it’s buying for 10,000 stores globally, he explained.

‘Having less range means that they are buying a lot of one or two items rather than smaller volumes of lots of items.’


As ALDI continues to attract shoppers with its reputation for significant savings, recent reports highlighted the shock of customers who find themselves spending less than expected after switching from traditional supermarkets like Woolworths.

This underscores the growing trend of savvy shoppers turning to ALDI to slash their grocery bills.

One mother, in particular, managed to save $100 off her weekly groceries by shopping at ALDI, showcasing the tangible benefits of embracing the ALDI model.

These stories reflect the broader appeal of ALDI's low prices and highlight the strategies individuals are adopting to make the most of their grocery budgets.
Key Takeaways
  • An ALDI shopper, Ella Victoria, found significant savings by switching from Woolworths to ALDI, potentially saving up to $1000 a year.
  • While not a massive saving per shop, the smaller amounts add up over time to a notable yearly saving for dedicated ALDI customers.
  • Another customer reported a more substantial saving of over $70 when comparing a typical weekly shop at ALDI to Coles.
  • Despite the savings, Professor Gary Mortimer pointed out that the comparison between supermarket brands and ALDI's own brands might not be entirely fair, as ALDI offers a limited range and does not always carry well-known branded products.
Have you made the switch to ALDI, or do you prefer sticking with Woolworths or Coles? What are your tips for saving on the weekly shop? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
 
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From what I have seen, the main difference between Aldi and the other Supermarkets is that by forgoing the branded products we are used too and only buying Aldi's own products a substantial saving can be made, providing you manage to get through the special buys isle without being tempted! I will only buy Aldi cleaning products now, especially laundry items, I have made some great savings by switching to Aldi's own products and very rarely find that those products are inferior, admittedly you will not find 101 different brands of the same sort of product but really how many do you need, sometimes too many choices can be confusing. I think that most of us are creatures of habit and that we automatically reach for the same brands all the time when shopping; by looking at similar products by a different name and changing our buying habits we can save $$$ each time we shop, I know that I have.
 
I also have switched on some items to Aldi. For example, cat food and cleaning products and long life milk. I am not a brand loyal person and if I can save money I will. However, Aldi does not stock everything I need nor do they deliver which would probably put the cost up. The problem is that I have to get someone to take me to Aldi's.
 
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I stopped buying food grog and petrol from wokeworths after their australia day snub it cost them several thousands there is no aldi store in our location so i now shop at coles and aldi when we are near their stores.
 
I use American Express credit card - Aldi doesn't accept it; I use online shopping - ALdi doesn't do that either. So if you add the cost of petrol, temptation of the special buys aisle and having to find another credit card, total cost probably works out the same as any of the other supermarkets. As the article said - it's not really comparing like for like. There are other things that need to be taken in to account.
 
Fancy that. We all want to shop for everything in one supermarket. Anybody ever bothered to question that paradigm of shopping in Australia? It is why your butcher, baker and greengrocer have all gone out of business and we have the infamous duopoly of price-gougers.

And pay with plastic cards; and that is why the banks are starting to screw us. Who put the con in convenience? We did!
 
So it appears that our "esteemed" Professor Gary Mortimer, an advocate for the consumer, is now subtly jumping the fence.

While previously criticising Woolworths and Coles for price gouging, he now engages in the practice of giving it to Aldi for the "lack of choice" and not stocking well known brands which are price inflated due to the "name".

I can buy three bottles of Aldi 1.25 litre generic zero sugar cola for the price of one of the Coca Cola equivalent at Woolworths and Coles.
 
I've used Aldi for all my groceries and have saves 000,s.
Don't buy their fruit or vegetables as I find them sub-standard... they do not last like the stuff the I buy from the local greengrocer which is much cheaper as well.
I don't buy from the center of the store, except clothes, as the stuff the sell does not last. Especially electrical.
 
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Fancy that. We all want to shop for everything in one supermarket. Anybody ever bothered to question that paradigm of shopping in Australia? It is why your butcher, baker and greengrocer have all gone out of business and we have the infamous duopoly of price-gougers.

And pay with plastic cards; and that is why the banks are starting to screw us. Who put the con in convenience? We did!
Price!!!
 
I shop at DRAKES here in SA. Just as cheap or cheaper than the others. NO self-serve either all manned checkouts.
 
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So true Rob44, we put the con in convenience. We shop mainly at ALDIs for nearly all essentials and fruit and vegies at the local fruit and vegie store which is locally patronised as produce is fresh and prices reasonable. Why remain loyal to the multinationals when being regularly conned?
 
Where is your IGA because my local one is more expensive, although I do love the fact that they do have a bigger selection of products than the 2 major stores.
In Perth, we have The Good Grocer right next door. Open 24 hours but charge like wounded bulls. Last night I picked up an IGA catalogue from there and found that some specials were dearer than the Big 2's regular price.

IGA = I GOUGE AGGRESSIVELY!
 
I've got about 4 Woolworths and 4 Aldis that are local but only 1 Coles.
I use Woolies for main shopping and Aldi for anything else. There's also a few fruit and veg shops I go to as well if I'm in their area at the time.
 
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