Who's winning the supermarket price war? Shopper crowns unexpected winner
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In the ever-competitive world of grocery shopping, Australians are always looking for the best deals to stretch their dollars.
With the cost of living on the rise, supermarket price tags are now under more scrutiny than ever before.
So, when a shopper set out on a journey to compare prices, the results were bound to turn heads.
Melbourne-based personal trainer Alexei Joshua had grown accustomed to shopping at Woolworths or Coles.
However, Alexei could not help but notice that prices for certain items had soared over the years.
Curiosity got the better of the 26-year-old man, which pushed him to go on a mission to find out if his usual shop costs less if he shopped at a discount retailer.
As German supermarket ALDI gained popularity among Aussie shoppers as a budget-friendly alternative, Alexei went on to shop in-store and compare it with his usual haul.
The initial comparison didn't go as planned for Alexei as he only wanted to buy staple ingredients—which included avocados, tomatoes, onions, capsicum, spaghetti, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beef mince, chicken breast, and mixed berries from both supermarkets.
However, he encountered a snag when he found that ALDI was out of stock on several items.
This predicament forced Alexei to buy more expensive alternatives and skewed the results of his first shopping experiment.
'I was fully expecting ALDI to be cheaper, but stock was a big issue,' Alexei shared.
'I had to buy something because obviously I had to eat, and it ended up being more expensive.'
His total bill for his ALDI haul cost $65.04. Meanwhile, his Woolworths haul cost him $60.87.
Determined to get a more accurate comparison, Alexei repeated the experiment.
This time, he started shopping at ALDI to avoid the stock issues.
He carefully selected 'identical' items, including fresh produce and branded products like Pepsi Max, Weet-bix, and YoPro pouches.
His verdict? ALDI's bill came in slightly cheaper at $35.65, while Woolworths rang up at $38.80.
However, sale prices at Woolworths dropped his total bill to $36.60.
Alexei's findings aligned with a government-commissioned supermarket price report conducted by consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
The report consistently found ALDI to be the more affordable option for a basket of staples.
In their comparison, ALDI's total for 14 items was $50.64, with Coles at $66.18, Woolworths at $69.17, and IGA at a steeper $73.80.
So, what does this mean for savvy shoppers who want a bang for their buck?
While ALDI may generally offer lower prices, the availability of items could significantly impact the total bill.
It's wise to check for sales and stock availability before heading out or to consider visiting multiple stores to get the best deals.
It's all about being a savvy shopper—keeping an eye on the catalogues, using loyalty promos, and not being afraid to switch things up if your regular items are cheaper elsewhere.
Have you done your price comparisons between supermarkets? What strategies do you use to keep your grocery bills down? Share your experiences and tips with us in the comments below!
With the cost of living on the rise, supermarket price tags are now under more scrutiny than ever before.
So, when a shopper set out on a journey to compare prices, the results were bound to turn heads.
Melbourne-based personal trainer Alexei Joshua had grown accustomed to shopping at Woolworths or Coles.
However, Alexei could not help but notice that prices for certain items had soared over the years.
Curiosity got the better of the 26-year-old man, which pushed him to go on a mission to find out if his usual shop costs less if he shopped at a discount retailer.
As German supermarket ALDI gained popularity among Aussie shoppers as a budget-friendly alternative, Alexei went on to shop in-store and compare it with his usual haul.
The initial comparison didn't go as planned for Alexei as he only wanted to buy staple ingredients—which included avocados, tomatoes, onions, capsicum, spaghetti, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beef mince, chicken breast, and mixed berries from both supermarkets.
However, he encountered a snag when he found that ALDI was out of stock on several items.
This predicament forced Alexei to buy more expensive alternatives and skewed the results of his first shopping experiment.
'I was fully expecting ALDI to be cheaper, but stock was a big issue,' Alexei shared.
'I had to buy something because obviously I had to eat, and it ended up being more expensive.'
His total bill for his ALDI haul cost $65.04. Meanwhile, his Woolworths haul cost him $60.87.
Determined to get a more accurate comparison, Alexei repeated the experiment.
This time, he started shopping at ALDI to avoid the stock issues.
He carefully selected 'identical' items, including fresh produce and branded products like Pepsi Max, Weet-bix, and YoPro pouches.
His verdict? ALDI's bill came in slightly cheaper at $35.65, while Woolworths rang up at $38.80.
However, sale prices at Woolworths dropped his total bill to $36.60.
Alexei's findings aligned with a government-commissioned supermarket price report conducted by consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
The report consistently found ALDI to be the more affordable option for a basket of staples.
In their comparison, ALDI's total for 14 items was $50.64, with Coles at $66.18, Woolworths at $69.17, and IGA at a steeper $73.80.
So, what does this mean for savvy shoppers who want a bang for their buck?
While ALDI may generally offer lower prices, the availability of items could significantly impact the total bill.
It's wise to check for sales and stock availability before heading out or to consider visiting multiple stores to get the best deals.
It's all about being a savvy shopper—keeping an eye on the catalogues, using loyalty promos, and not being afraid to switch things up if your regular items are cheaper elsewhere.
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