Woolworths and Coles have stepped up the battle for supermarket supremacy, with both introducing price drops on a slew of household items.
The two retailers have slashed prices on everyday products in what they say is an effort to help customers cope with the continuing sudden spike in inflation and the resultant cost-of-living increases.
In spruiking Woolworths’ Prices Dropped program, chief commercial officer Paul Harker said: “Due to the higher cost of living being felt across all households in Australia, we know customers are looking for better value in their shop.
“Our Prices Dropped program will help customers get their Woolies Worth on those everyday essentials, and easy meal solutions throughout spring,” he said.
Read: More Aussies than ever struggling to pay grocery bills
Woolworths has invested millions in the promotion, with reduced prices in place until 29 November.
In response, Coles has introduced its own range of ‘price guarantees’, with the prices of 1168 products instore and online locked until at least 31 January 2023. An additional 500 products have been slated for reduction.
Coles chief operations and sustainability officer Matt Swindells says the focus is on providing families with an affordable protein of choice that can be combined with staple items, such as $1 pasta and tinned tomatoes at just 80 cents.
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Mr Swindells also cited chicken drumsticks and pork mince as essentials that have dropped in price, with the latter “down from $6 to $4.50”, he said. Speaking on Channel 9’s A Current Affair, Mr Swindells said a cheap item such as spaghetti could be combined with tinned lentils and pork for an affordable family meal.
A tin of lentils at just 80 cents “adds more protein, bulks out the sauce, gives it a bit of texture,” he said. “Spaghetti pork meatballs with lentils for extra health and protein, family of four, that one is less than $10.”
What about Aldi and IGA?
While not embarking on a campaign of the scale of the ‘Big Two’ supermarkets, both IGA and Aldi say they are taking steps to ensure customers can put food on the table without breaking the bank.
David Kindt, general manager of Jones Retail Group, which has IGA stores across south-east Queensland, said: “Sweet potato is an excellent option at the moment. At just $1.80 a kilo, you can feed a whole lot of family, for really, really cheap.” He suggested combining it with “beautiful IGA corned silverside for just $10.95 a kilo”.
Read: One supermarket to ditch plastic bags
IGA has also dropped the price of lettuce below market value, a contrast to the skyrocketing prices of a couple of months ago.
Meanwhile, Aldi director of customer interactions Adrian Christie said an average family could save up to $2468 a year by shopping at Aldi, through permanently low prices. “The prices are everyday low prices. What we mean by that is we keep them at the same low prices; they don’t go up and down,” he said.
Aldi was recently rated as Australia’s number one supermarket for a fifth consecutive year in a customer survey conducted by comparison company Canstar Blue.
Have you noticed lower prices at your local supermarket? What tips and tricks do you have for savings on groceries? Why not share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below?
