As the chill of winter begins to settle across Australia, one supermarket chain is heating up the competition in the grocery aisles.

IGA, a familiar name to many Aussies, has made a major move to compete with the supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles by slashing the prices of thousands of popular products.

This bold strategy, aimed at easing shoppers' cost of living during the colder months, could be a game-changer for consumers looking to stretch their dollars further.

IGA's initiative, dubbed ‘Low Prices Every Day’, is not just a fleeting sale but a commitment to keep prices down on over 3,000 products until July 30 of this year.

This means that shoppers could enjoy consistent savings on a range of items without worrying about the end date of a sale.

IGA has lowered prices on over 3,000 products under its ‘Low Prices Every Day’ campaign until July 30, 2024. Credits: IGA

For example, Heinz Big Red Tomato Soup Can 420g, a winter staple for many, was reduced from $2.50 to a more wallet-friendly $2.

Other items like Maggi Recipe Bases 35g and 2 Minute Noodle 12 Packs remain competitively priced at $1.70 and $10 respectively.

However, the savings don't stop there. The price cuts extend to everyday essentials such as butter and margarine, yoghurt, cheese, toothpaste, pet food, dishwashing liquid, nappies, and baby food.

For those who enjoy a treat now and then, Sara Lee Ice Cream, Smith's Potato Chips, and Arnott's Biscuits also offer discounts.

The full list of price-dropped items is available for shoppers to peruse here, ensuring they can plan their shopping trips and budgets accordingly.

IGA's Price Match program is another feather in its cap.

It automatically matches the lowest regular shelf price of essential comparable products at rivals Coles and Woolworths every week.

This means that small IGA stores will match the prices of 200 products, medium stores 600 items, and larger stores more than 1,200 items, ensuring that customers get a fair deal regardless of the size of the store.

This move by IGA came at a time when other supermarkets were also cutting prices.

Coles recently announced a price reduction on more than 300 products, including dinner favourites and pantry staples, for three months until June 25.

Deals included discounted lamb shanks and beef oyster blade steak.

Similarly, Woolworths dropped the prices of over 400 items, including fresh meat, fruit and veg, and autumn staples.

Deals include Woolworths Beef & Lamb Meatballs 400g ($6)—reduced from $8—and Woolworths Pork Leg Roast Boneless ($9 per kilo)—reduced from $11 per kilo, which will run until May 28.

Key Takeaways

• IGA reduced the prices on over 3,000 products as part of its Low Prices Every Day campaign until July 30, 2024.
• The discount initiative sees popular items reduced, including Heinz Big Red Tomato Soup Can 420g, Maggi Recipe Bases 35g, and 2 Minute Noodle 12 Packs.
• IGA’s Price Match program also promises to match the lowest regular shelf price of essential comparable products to Coles and Woolworths each week.
• Coles and Woolworths also cut their prices; Coles on more than 300 products and Woolworths on over 400 items, as they compete for shoppers.

Will IGA's price-slashing and price-matching initiatives encourage you to switch supermarkets, or will you remain loyal to your current choice? Have you noticed a difference in your grocery bills? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

 

[gamiry]

My local IGA has to be the worst they try to charge full price on the specials ,it was taken over a few months ago by an Indian family, you have to keep an eye when they ring up the prices.or pay full price. I’m always on my guard

that's disgusting. I actually call mine "my family" I've known them for so long and nothing is too much trouble. You could always report them to head office and John Smith is probably the man you need to speak to.

 

[Veggiepatch]

My local IGA has to be the worst they try to charge full price on the specials ,it was taken over a few months ago by an Indian family, you have to keep an eye when they ring up the prices.or pay full price. I’m always on my guard.

Hear! Hear!

My former local IGA on Hemmings Street in Dandenong, Victoria, refused to honour an advertised special until I showed them the special in their catalogue. Which was conveniently placed at their checkout!

Typically owned and managed by pesky Afghans!

 

[gamiry]

Hear! Hear!

My former local IGA on Hemmings Street in Dandenong, Victoria, refused to honour an advertised special until I showed them the special in their catalogue. Which was conveniently placed at their checkout!

Typically owned and managed by pesky Afghans!

Mine are still Aussies as far as I know but the majority even know my name and where I live. Beautiful people. We even, now, have home deliveries with Doordash and they always have a smile.

 

[goatwhisperer]

I'd love to go there but if you use a scooter you won't get up the steps or bus ramp hence I've been with IGA for the best part of 30 years. Even when Angels were on Walla Street I couldn't get up the steps for a cheap haircut. Happy shopping neighbour.

I live an hour west, so only go when in Bundaberg for other errands..is there no service available for you in Bundaberg to assist getting up the ramp? Am presuming you are talking about the road entry to the complex,not the ramp into the store?

 

[Rockyd]

I wish Aldi would come to Darwin. Give the big 2 a run for their greedy money. Good on IGA. Great little stores & friendly staff, unlike Coles& Woolworths. They have had a monopoly for sooo long.

 

[gamiry]

I live an hour west, so only go when in Bundaberg for other errands..is there no service available for you in Bundaberg to assist getting up the ramp? Am presuming you are talking about the road entry to the complex,not the ramp into the store?

Both my dear. I don't function without legs. LOL.... HHUUMM sounds a bit like Gomeri

 

[IAN3005]

All smoke & mirrors.... up they go after this inquiry.... now they are just reducing prices to 'lead them to believe' that they are not gouging prises..... to appease the peasants

 

[IAN3005]

I wish Aldi would come to Darwin. Give the big 2 a run for their greedy money. Good on IGA. Great little stores & friendly staff, unlike Coles& Woolworths. They have had a monopoly for sooo long.

Aldi is following the big 2 on pricing... especially on fruit and veggies which in my opinion are substandard....

 

[Mark1]

It just goes to show how expensive IGA is. They are still only matching Coles and Woolies. They must be price gouging as well.

 

[Mark1]

My local IGA has to be the worst they try to charge full price on the specials ,it was taken over a few months ago by an Indian family, you have to keep an eye when they ring up the prices.or pay full price. I’m always on my guard.

Same at my IGA. Nearly everytime l shop there, the specials are charged at full price.

 

[IAN3005]

It just goes to show how expensive IGA is. They are still only matching Coles and Woolies. They must be price gouging as well.

They all are although they will com up with to usual lame excuse...
Woolies declines apology over price surges

Independent supermarkets are being “crucified” by major retailers Woolworths and Coles in Queensland, an inquiry has been warned.

Australian United Retailers (AUR) Queensland operations manager Wayne Mason said the buying group – which acts for the 103 independent FoodWorks supermarkets across Queensland – had concerns about how the two major supermarkets were impacting regional and rural communities.

FoodWorks across Queensland are struggling to compete against the major supermarket chains

Speaking before the Queensland government’s probe into supermarket pricing on Tuesday, Mr Mason said independent retailers would suffer if the government continued with its plan to remove freight subsidies that assist FoodWorks stores in remote and regional communities to get their groceries delivered at a cheaper rate.

Mr Mason told the inquiry that AUR had been informed by Metcash – which supplies groceries to the company – that if the subsidy was removed, there could be an increase in freight costs up to 351 per cent, depending on location delivery.

“If prices go up 351 per cent for the cost of freight, that’s going to be directly put on to consumers and the costs of goods are going to go up,” he said.

Australian United Retailers Queensland operations manager Wayne Mason says regional and rural businesses will suffer if freight subsidies are cut. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Mr Mason said he couldn’t understand why the government would put community grocery stores like FoodWorks at risk by adding extra unnecessary costs to the retailer, especially in regional and remote communities.

“Why would we want to make it more expensive to live in the bush?” he stated.

“The cost of goods, going to these places, if we don’t service these communities they’re not going to survive.

“We have a lot of stores in the country (like) Longreach, Dalby, Tara and St George.

“We play a major role in the health of the rural economy in providing employment and services to those people in the communities where Woolworths and Coles don’t want to go. They only want to go where they make a profit.

“But these are special people and if we don’t support them (the independent retailers), then the communities that rely on them for supply and employment, they won’t survive either.

“We’re losing farms at a fast rate, and we can’t keep ignoring the need to support regional communities and … if Coles and Woolworths aren’t going there, who is going to service them?”

Woolworths and Coles are coming under the microscope of the Queensland inquiry into supermarket prices.

However, when asked whether he had any further details about freighting costs if the subsidies were removed, Mr Mason said he could only refer to what he’d been told by Metcash, which deals directly with Linfox logistics company.

“We only get everything second-hand through Metcash,” he said.

“What I can’t tell you is what happens before we get the freight bill.”

Metcash Queensland and Northern NSW general manager Roy Leisk told the inquiry that it would be “country stores that would be impacted” if the subsidies were removed.

Metcash Queensland and Northern NSW general manager Roy Leisk says independent stores could face a rise in freight costs. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Mr Leisk said “mum and dad businesses” would be forced to increase their prices if freight costs were doubled to deliver goods to the regions.

Referring to FoodWorks’ store closing in Oxley a few years after Woolworths opened 2km down the road, Mr Mason said small business owners faced “unreasonable” pressures because of the unfair competition.

“We can’t survive up against a Woolworths (and Coles) because of their economies of scale,” Mr Mason said.

“Whenever we go up against a major chain store, we lose half our business.



“It crucified the business and they ended up closing.

“It happens all the time. If Woolworths decides to go somewhere, they go there.

“What it does to families and what it does to small businesses is wrong.”

 

[gamiry]

They all are although they will com up with to usual lame excuse...
Woolies declines apology over price surges

Independent supermarkets are being “crucified” by major retailers Woolworths and Coles in Queensland, an inquiry has been warned.

Australian United Retailers (AUR) Queensland operations manager Wayne Mason said the buying group – which acts for the 103 independent FoodWorks supermarkets across Queensland – had concerns about how the two major supermarkets were impacting regional and rural communities.

FoodWorks across Queensland are struggling to compete against the major supermarket chains

Speaking before the Queensland government’s probe into supermarket pricing on Tuesday, Mr Mason said independent retailers would suffer if the government continued with its plan to remove freight subsidies that assist FoodWorks stores in remote and regional communities to get their groceries delivered at a cheaper rate.

Mr Mason told the inquiry that AUR had been informed by Metcash – which supplies groceries to the company – that if the subsidy was removed, there could be an increase in freight costs up to 351 per cent, depending on location delivery.

“If prices go up 351 per cent for the cost of freight, that’s going to be directly put on to consumers and the costs of goods are going to go up,” he said.

Australian United Retailers Queensland operations manager Wayne Mason says regional and rural businesses will suffer if freight subsidies are cut. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Mr Mason said he couldn’t understand why the government would put community grocery stores like FoodWorks at risk by adding extra unnecessary costs to the retailer, especially in regional and remote communities.

“Why would we want to make it more expensive to live in the bush?” he stated.

“The cost of goods, going to these places, if we don’t service these communities they’re not going to survive.

“We have a lot of stores in the country (like) Longreach, Dalby, Tara and St George.

“We play a major role in the health of the rural economy in providing employment and services to those people in the communities where Woolworths and Coles don’t want to go. They only want to go where they make a profit.

“But these are special people and if we don’t support them (the independent retailers), then the communities that rely on them for supply and employment, they won’t survive either.

“We’re losing farms at a fast rate, and we can’t keep ignoring the need to support regional communities and … if Coles and Woolworths aren’t going there, who is going to service them?”

Woolworths and Coles are coming under the microscope of the Queensland inquiry into supermarket prices.

However, when asked whether he had any further details about freighting costs if the subsidies were removed, Mr Mason said he could only refer to what he’d been told by Metcash, which deals directly with Linfox logistics company.

“We only get everything second-hand through Metcash,” he said.

“What I can’t tell you is what happens before we get the freight bill.”

Metcash Queensland and Northern NSW general manager Roy Leisk told the inquiry that it would be “country stores that would be impacted” if the subsidies were removed.

Metcash Queensland and Northern NSW general manager Roy Leisk says independent stores could face a rise in freight costs. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Mr Leisk said “mum and dad businesses” would be forced to increase their prices if freight costs were doubled to deliver goods to the regions.

Referring to FoodWorks’ store closing in Oxley a few years after Woolworths opened 2km down the road, Mr Mason said small business owners faced “unreasonable” pressures because of the unfair competition.

“We can’t survive up against a Woolworths (and Coles) because of their economies of scale,” Mr Mason said.

“Whenever we go up against a major chain store, we lose half our business.



“It crucified the business and they ended up closing.

“It happens all the time. If Woolworths decides to go somewhere, they go there.

“What it does to families and what it does to small businesses is wrong.”

I find Foodworks near me is a bit expensive but I have no worries with IGA and they are cheaper than anywhere else.