Grocery shopping is an unavoidable chore, but one good thing to come out of the pandemic is the big chains’ recognition that it can be made easier.
Pre-COVID, we danced to their tune. Deliveries were possible, but not common, and we had to adhere to set times that suited their schedule.
Thankfully now there are other options, including click and collect. And Coles has taken it to the next level with a rapid click-and-collect service that promises customers can collect their order within 60 minutes of placing it online.
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The service is available in almost 400 stores around the country following a wildly successful pilot program where demand for the offer almost doubled.
Coles chief executive Steven Cain told Retail World that research showed the number one concern for shoppers was convenience.
“Rapid click and collect in under 60 minutes will make it easier for customers to have their groceries conveniently delivered to their car boot as quickly as possible when they don’t have time to shop inside the store,” he said.
Customers will be able to choose from more than 20,000 products, including alcohol. Orders will be capped at 40 items with a minimum spend of $30 and flat fee of $5. The service will be free for Coles Plus members.
Orders will be available only between 8.30am and 4.30pm, so no late-night snack attacks will be catered for.
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This week’s best deals
Woolworths
Sensible: Bonds men’s Christmas undies and socks, from $12 a pack. Seriously, never pay full prices for Bonds at the supermarket, just wait a bit and they always go on sale. These limited editions come with the bonus of Christmas motifs so there’s your ‘socks and jocks’ pressie done.
Indulgence: Woolworths Build Your Own Gingerbread house, $11. This is a great one for ‘bonding’ time with the grandkids, although abandon all hope of it ever looking like it does on the box. There’s also a Dollar Sweets gingerbread decorating kit priced at $5.50 which might be more doable.
See the catalogue here.
Aldi
Sensible: Deli Originals mixed olives, $3.29. With Christmas parties cranking up, it’s time to crack out the ‘dips and nibbles’. These flavoured olives are an easy way to add flavour to an antipasto platter.
Indulgence: De’Longhi kitchen gadgets. Range includes espresso machines ($179), toasters ($89.99) and kettles (69.99). The De’Longhi styling is certainly super sleek and if you like the design it’s probably a good idea to get in now as they have gone up at least $10 since this range was offered earlier in the year.
See the catalogue here.
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Coles
Sensible: Nectarines, $4.50/kg. Yay, stone fruits are back in season. They have been lurking around the fresh section for a while now, but with prices upwards of $12 to $15/kg that’s a hard no from me. Finally, they are back to a sensible price and you can gobble them up to your heart’s content.
Indulgence: Fairy lights, priced from $4.80. I’m a sucker for fairy lights and this might be my secret present to myself. Good on the Christmas tree, but also to add a bit of bling to mantelpieces, stairs, windows and doorways.
See the catalogue here.
IGA
Sensible: Gravox 425g selected varieties, $5.50, save 80c. I’m known for making things from scratch, pesto, passata, stock, but I can never be bothered with gravy. Takes too long. If you want a more traditional taste, pour off the fat from the roasting dish, add a bit of wine to dislodge the bits stuck to the bottom of the pan and pour that into the gravy. This results in chunky bits that will make your guests think you made it yourself.
Indulgence: Baileys Pavlova flavour, $34. Combine two Christmas favourites with this limited edition Baileys. Sounds a bit sick-making to me, but I’m sure some people are going to go nuts for it.
See the catalogue here.
Do you use click and collect for groceries? Does the one-hour window appeal to you? What other services would you like to see at your local supermarket? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
