Shocking price hikes: See which Christmas foods at Woolworths and ALDI are secretly costing you more
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As we head into the festive season, many Australians are looking forward to holiday shopping and filling their tables with seasonal favourites.
However, shoppers might be facing a frustrating surprise at the checkout.
Here, we’re going to reveal a growing trend that could completely reshape how we approach our Christmas shopping.
Aussies aiming to stretch their budgets this festive season may be in for a rude shock as shrinkflation tightens its grip on supermarket shelves.
Popular Christmas treats from brands like Woolworths, ALDI, and Lindt have quietly slimmed down, leaving customers paying more for less.
Shrinkflation, the practice of reducing product sizes while keeping prices the same or higher, is hitting hard at a time when many Aussies are already grappling with rising costs of living.
Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has highlighted this growing trend, revealing that chocolates, cakes, and tarts are among the holiday staples affected.
Liam Kennedy from CHOICE stated: ‘This is the last thing people want when they set out to stock their pantries for Christmas, particularly during a cost of living crisis.’
He added, ‘CHOICE’s latest round of nationally representative research found Australians are already struggling with the cost of food and groceries, with 87 per cent of households worried about how much they’re spending at the supermarket.’
Woolworths shoppers indulging in sweet treats like rocky road and salted caramel tarts will notice the difference. Both items have shrunk in size but climbed in price.
The rocky road tarts now cost $8, up from $7.50, despite being 60 grams lighter.
Similarly, the salted caramel tarts are 30 grams smaller but come with the same price hike.
‘Rocky road fans are now paying 42 per cent more per 100 grams for the tarts than they did last year,’ Mr Kennedy noted.
Woolworths has defended the changes, claiming customer feedback drove the shift to a thinner, crispier tart shell and citing increased production costs for the price bump.
Lindt's festive offerings have also felt the pinch. Shoppers paying $36 for the Christmas Medley Bag will find it has dropped from 414 grams last year to 390 grams this year.
Worse yet, the Limited Edition Champagne Gala Box has decreased from 433 grams in December 2023 to 396 grams in November 2024—while the price has jumped from $34 to $36.
Discount retailer ALDI hasn’t escaped the scrutiny. Its Kringle & Co iced Christmas cake slices have shrunk from 100 grams to 90 grams, while the price has nudged up by 10 cents to $2.39.
However, ALDI hasn’t explained the reduction, with Mr Kennedy saying, ‘When we reached out to ALDI, it said it understands the move will be unpopular, but didn’t explain why the size of the cake had been reduced.’
The federal government is stepping in, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to tackle shrinkflation and hold supermarkets accountable for misleading practices.
‘Tackling “shrinkflation” through stronger unit pricing and new penalties is part of our plan to get a better deal for Australians,’ the Prime Minister said.
He also outlined plans to empower the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to take stronger action against supermarkets engaging in deceptive tactics.
CHOICE welcomed these measures but stressed the need for greater transparency.
‘Consumers deserve better visibility when a product has shrunk in size, but its price has stayed the same or increased. Placing labels on shelves to notify people when this happens would help everyone make better-informed decisions while shopping,’ Mr Kennedy said.
This Christmas, it seems shoppers may need to keep a closer eye on packaging and price tags to ensure they’re getting value for their money.
Shrinkflation is leaving shoppers with less while paying the same—or even more. From seasonal favourites to everyday essentials, the changes are often so subtle you might not even notice.
Don’t let this catch you off guard. Read more here.
With the festive season in full swing, it's more important than ever to be aware of these hidden price changes. How do you feel about this trend affecting your Christmas shopping? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
However, shoppers might be facing a frustrating surprise at the checkout.
Here, we’re going to reveal a growing trend that could completely reshape how we approach our Christmas shopping.
Aussies aiming to stretch their budgets this festive season may be in for a rude shock as shrinkflation tightens its grip on supermarket shelves.
Popular Christmas treats from brands like Woolworths, ALDI, and Lindt have quietly slimmed down, leaving customers paying more for less.
Shrinkflation, the practice of reducing product sizes while keeping prices the same or higher, is hitting hard at a time when many Aussies are already grappling with rising costs of living.
Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has highlighted this growing trend, revealing that chocolates, cakes, and tarts are among the holiday staples affected.
Liam Kennedy from CHOICE stated: ‘This is the last thing people want when they set out to stock their pantries for Christmas, particularly during a cost of living crisis.’
He added, ‘CHOICE’s latest round of nationally representative research found Australians are already struggling with the cost of food and groceries, with 87 per cent of households worried about how much they’re spending at the supermarket.’
Woolworths shoppers indulging in sweet treats like rocky road and salted caramel tarts will notice the difference. Both items have shrunk in size but climbed in price.
The rocky road tarts now cost $8, up from $7.50, despite being 60 grams lighter.
Similarly, the salted caramel tarts are 30 grams smaller but come with the same price hike.
‘Rocky road fans are now paying 42 per cent more per 100 grams for the tarts than they did last year,’ Mr Kennedy noted.
Woolworths has defended the changes, claiming customer feedback drove the shift to a thinner, crispier tart shell and citing increased production costs for the price bump.
Lindt's festive offerings have also felt the pinch. Shoppers paying $36 for the Christmas Medley Bag will find it has dropped from 414 grams last year to 390 grams this year.
Worse yet, the Limited Edition Champagne Gala Box has decreased from 433 grams in December 2023 to 396 grams in November 2024—while the price has jumped from $34 to $36.
Discount retailer ALDI hasn’t escaped the scrutiny. Its Kringle & Co iced Christmas cake slices have shrunk from 100 grams to 90 grams, while the price has nudged up by 10 cents to $2.39.
However, ALDI hasn’t explained the reduction, with Mr Kennedy saying, ‘When we reached out to ALDI, it said it understands the move will be unpopular, but didn’t explain why the size of the cake had been reduced.’
The federal government is stepping in, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to tackle shrinkflation and hold supermarkets accountable for misleading practices.
‘Tackling “shrinkflation” through stronger unit pricing and new penalties is part of our plan to get a better deal for Australians,’ the Prime Minister said.
He also outlined plans to empower the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to take stronger action against supermarkets engaging in deceptive tactics.
CHOICE welcomed these measures but stressed the need for greater transparency.
‘Consumers deserve better visibility when a product has shrunk in size, but its price has stayed the same or increased. Placing labels on shelves to notify people when this happens would help everyone make better-informed decisions while shopping,’ Mr Kennedy said.
This Christmas, it seems shoppers may need to keep a closer eye on packaging and price tags to ensure they’re getting value for their money.
Shrinkflation is leaving shoppers with less while paying the same—or even more. From seasonal favourites to everyday essentials, the changes are often so subtle you might not even notice.
Don’t let this catch you off guard. Read more here.
With the festive season in full swing, it's more important than ever to be aware of these hidden price changes. How do you feel about this trend affecting your Christmas shopping? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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