Surprising 'cost-of-living' shopping trend sweeps through Coles aisles
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As the cost of living continues to rise, Australians are finding inventive ways to save money without sacrificing the pleasures of diverse and delicious food.
Coles supermarkets have noticed a significant shift in consumer behaviour. Their once modest international food section is now burgeoning with an array of global delights.
This 'cost-of-living trend' is reshaping the way we shop and eat, and it's worth exploring whether you're part of this growing movement.
The trend, as identified by Coles, is a direct response to the financial pressures many Australians face.
Due to tightened budgets, dining out has become less frequent, so there's been a surge in 'fake-away'—home-cooked meals that mimic the flavours and excitement of takeaway.
This shift has increased demand for international ingredients, allowing home chefs to whip up culinary creations worldwide in their kitchens.
Coles has expanded its international offerings to cater to this new demand, stocking shelves with products from Japan, India, Thailand, Mexico, Italy, the US, and the UK.
Shoppers can now find Ireland's Tayto chips, Cadbury Wispa bars from the UK, and even Warheads Sour Apple Soda from the US among the regular grocery items.
‘Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have seen a clear trend of customers eating out less due to cost-of-living pressures,’ a Coles spokesperson stated.
‘With a transition back to more cooking and enjoying meals at home, we’ve seen the rise of a fake-away, as customers opt for home-cooked takeaway options.’
‘We want to help inspire our customers to experiment with and enjoy new food experiences at home, and they can find a diverse range of ingredients to help them recreate recipes inspired by various global cuisines.’
Melbourne social media user @AngeEats praised the change at Coles, noting that it provides more options at competitive prices than online alternatives.
‘It gives people more option on top of groceries we already have on the shelves in Australia,’ he said.
‘And for fans of trying foods you can’t usually buy here, I find when the supermarket has them, it’s often cheaper.’
‘For example, the Fanta cans and Dr Pepper from overseas can cost between $3 to $4 online, not including shipping.’
‘Coles has it for $2.70, and it can be as low as $2.30 if it’s on special.’
Social media has contributed to this trend, with foodies like @nectoriouspapi sharing their taste tests of exotic products.
‘With the rise of social media, we see all these great items being reviewed overseas, and we want to try them too,’ he added.
‘FOMO kicks in. Even if we just try them once out of curiosity.’
‘People love seeing new and exciting things on the shelf rather than having to order online and pay much more for it.’
‘People who have moved here from overseas want a taste of home, it’s so good to see,’
‘We all just want convenience too, to be able to turn up to their local and pick up a product to enjoy it straight away.’
With 30.7 per cent of the population born overseas, there's a growing desire for expatriates and immigrants to find a taste of home on their local supermarket shelves.
Woolworths, another supermarket giant, has also recognised the need to evolve its international range to meet customers' changing demands.
As the appetite for popular international foods accelerates, both supermarkets are working hard to keep up with emerging food trends and their customers' needs.
‘We’ve seen the demand for popular international foods rapidly accelerate over recent years,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Our International Food team works hard to keep up with emerging food trends to better understand the needs of our customers.’
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country's current population is approximately 26.6 million.
Of these, about 18.5 million were born in Australia, while 8.2 million were born outside the country.
In related news, Woolworths has expanded its international aisle in response to the increasing demand and Australia's culturally diverse population.
Data indicates that the proportion of Australia's population born overseas is on the rise, prompting Woolworths to accommodate a variety of international tastes and preferences. Read more about this development here.
Have you enjoyed the 'fake-away' experience, recreating your favourite international dishes at home? Share your thoughts and your favourite international finds in the comments below.
Coles supermarkets have noticed a significant shift in consumer behaviour. Their once modest international food section is now burgeoning with an array of global delights.
This 'cost-of-living trend' is reshaping the way we shop and eat, and it's worth exploring whether you're part of this growing movement.
The trend, as identified by Coles, is a direct response to the financial pressures many Australians face.
Due to tightened budgets, dining out has become less frequent, so there's been a surge in 'fake-away'—home-cooked meals that mimic the flavours and excitement of takeaway.
Coles reported rising international food popularity as more consumers choose home-cooked meals over dining out. Credit: Shutterstock
This shift has increased demand for international ingredients, allowing home chefs to whip up culinary creations worldwide in their kitchens.
Coles has expanded its international offerings to cater to this new demand, stocking shelves with products from Japan, India, Thailand, Mexico, Italy, the US, and the UK.
Shoppers can now find Ireland's Tayto chips, Cadbury Wispa bars from the UK, and even Warheads Sour Apple Soda from the US among the regular grocery items.
‘Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have seen a clear trend of customers eating out less due to cost-of-living pressures,’ a Coles spokesperson stated.
‘With a transition back to more cooking and enjoying meals at home, we’ve seen the rise of a fake-away, as customers opt for home-cooked takeaway options.’
‘We want to help inspire our customers to experiment with and enjoy new food experiences at home, and they can find a diverse range of ingredients to help them recreate recipes inspired by various global cuisines.’
Melbourne social media user @AngeEats praised the change at Coles, noting that it provides more options at competitive prices than online alternatives.
‘It gives people more option on top of groceries we already have on the shelves in Australia,’ he said.
‘And for fans of trying foods you can’t usually buy here, I find when the supermarket has them, it’s often cheaper.’
‘For example, the Fanta cans and Dr Pepper from overseas can cost between $3 to $4 online, not including shipping.’
‘Coles has it for $2.70, and it can be as low as $2.30 if it’s on special.’
Social media has contributed to this trend, with foodies like @nectoriouspapi sharing their taste tests of exotic products.
‘With the rise of social media, we see all these great items being reviewed overseas, and we want to try them too,’ he added.
‘FOMO kicks in. Even if we just try them once out of curiosity.’
‘People love seeing new and exciting things on the shelf rather than having to order online and pay much more for it.’
‘People who have moved here from overseas want a taste of home, it’s so good to see,’
‘We all just want convenience too, to be able to turn up to their local and pick up a product to enjoy it straight away.’
With 30.7 per cent of the population born overseas, there's a growing desire for expatriates and immigrants to find a taste of home on their local supermarket shelves.
Woolworths, another supermarket giant, has also recognised the need to evolve its international range to meet customers' changing demands.
As the appetite for popular international foods accelerates, both supermarkets are working hard to keep up with emerging food trends and their customers' needs.
‘We’ve seen the demand for popular international foods rapidly accelerate over recent years,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Our International Food team works hard to keep up with emerging food trends to better understand the needs of our customers.’
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country's current population is approximately 26.6 million.
Of these, about 18.5 million were born in Australia, while 8.2 million were born outside the country.
In related news, Woolworths has expanded its international aisle in response to the increasing demand and Australia's culturally diverse population.
Data indicates that the proportion of Australia's population born overseas is on the rise, prompting Woolworths to accommodate a variety of international tastes and preferences. Read more about this development here.
