Aldi has once again come out on top as the supermarket with the cheapest groceries, according to a new comparison of a basket of products.
Consumer group Choice found a basket of 20 items cost $72.41 at Aldi, $98.98 at Woolworths, $100.04 at Coles and $109.25 at IGA, excluding specials.
This represented “quite a significant gap” between Aldi and the second-cheapest store, Woolworths, Choice editorial director Mark Serrels said.
The latest government-sponsored supermarket survey has shifted its focus towards evaluating the cost of entertaining essentials as the festive season approaches, alongside the usual grocery staples.
The basket contained items like milk, Weetbix, dried apples, carrots, bananas, chicken breast fillets, cherry tomatoes, bagged mixed salad, salted peanuts, plus other products for a festive gathering such as mineral water, crackers, camembert, stuffed olives and more.
In an analysis of seven basic items—apples, bananas, strawberries, carrots, Weetbix, milk, and chicken breast fillets—Aldi emerged as the most affordable option, with a total cost of $31.41. This was followed closely by Woolworths at $32.20, Coles at $33.16, and IGA, which was significantly higher at $39.20, all prices calculated excluding any special discounts.
Consistently leading in affordability, Aldi has once again been recognized as the supermarket with the lowest grocery prices in Australia, according to the recent findings by Choice. The survey highlights Aldi’s continued dominance in providing budget-friendly shopping options for consumers.
Even when special offers were taken into account, Aldi maintained its position as the cheapest, with no change in the price of its basket, holding steady at $72.41. In contrast, the cost of a basket with specials at Woolworths was $93.17, at Coles $100.04, and at IGA $105.38, illustrating Aldi’s competitive pricing strategy.
Where can you get the freshest lettuce?
To determine which supermarket had the freshest produce, the group also compared the freshness of mixed lettuce two days after buying across all four supermarkets.
Choice said it can’t answer the question for every item, but looked at lettuce because it shows signs of decay quickly.
Coles came out on top, with 77 per cent of its mystery shoppers saying its lettuce leaves were fresh after two days. Woolworths, IGA and Aldi followed respectively.
“In this survey, there was some evidence of decay in the mixed lettuce purchased at all supermarkets, but Coles ultimately received the highest score for freshness,” Serrels said.
Choice advised shoppers hoping to reduce their costs to shop around, check unit pricing, and opt for cheaper alternatives like meat cuts, frozen fruit and vegetables, and “imperfect” ranges.
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