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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Some Aldi brands are actually better than those at Coles, Woolies, IGA,
You need to give them a try. Their chocolates far superior to other brands including Cadbury, also many of the Aldi groceries are excellent quality while cheaper than other supermarkets, Try and find your favourite buys
 
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Some Aldi brands are actually better than those at Coles, Woolies, IGA,
You need to give them a try. Their chocolates far superior to other brands including Cadbury, also many of the Aldi groceries are excellent quality while cheaper than other supermarkets, Try and find your favourite buys
I've found that most of the people who ALDI bash have never tried them.
Three sisters in law and my daughter in law used to do this all the time. They now all shop at Aldi. Fancy that.
 
I am a dedicated Aldi shopper. Who buys all I need from Aldi including 14 assorted meats for less than the cost of meat delivered from the butcher for 6 meals. I really now enjoy the flavour of Aldis's own brand especially the Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.The only thing I don't buy from there are the incontinence pads which are too uncomfortable. I buy those from Chemist Where-house when I run out of free ones from MASS.
 
If you buy generic items from either Woolies or Coles you will find that Aldi works out dearer.
People compare generic with name brands. For some reason they do noy buy generic rom regular stores but are happy to have cheaper quality items from ALDI. Go figure.
 
If you buy generic items from either Woolies or Coles you will find that Aldi works out dearer.
People compare generic with name brands. For some reason they do noy buy generic rom regular stores but are happy to have cheaper quality items from ALDI. Go figure.
Probably because they don't find the ALDI products to be cheaper quality.
They are certainly better than Coles & Woolies generic brands. But you're entitled to your opinion, to each his own so they say
 

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