Coles, Woolworths and Aldi reveal the best way to cut your grocery bill

With the cost of living low and food prices soaring, Australia’s supermarket giants have revealed the best ways to cut grocery bills ahead of the festive season.

From Coles discount gift cards, Woolworths promising to freeze prices and Aldi urging shoppers to get ready early, great deals can be found in all sections of different stores.

According to Aldi, three quarters of Australians expect a big increase in spending in the eight weeks before Christmas.

Another 63 percent say their attitude to budget management has changed in the past 12 months amid a jump in the cost of living.

To combat this, Aldi is advising shoppers to stock up on non-perishables to spread holiday spending and switch to high-priced off-brand products.

In fact, the supermarket claims the average shopper can save $663 over the holiday season alone by ditching name brand items.

ALDI Australia managing director Oliver Bongardt says the savings are easy to see in the produce section of his store.

“Our fresh produce category is award-winning and at least 18 percent more affordable than our competitors,” he says.

“We offer an unchanging price gap that means customers can enjoy the best value products at the lowest prices this festive season and beyond. No tricks, simple savings.”

In the run up to Christmas, Coles has slashed prices on essentials from cheese and scones to chicken and cream.

These hundreds of discounted prices will remain locked in until January 31st.

Coles is now offering 10 per cent off $100 and $250 Coles MasterCard gift cards, giving shoppers an instant cash reward at checkout.

The cards can be used to buy groceries, utility bills, gas, or anything else you can usually buy with a MasterCard.

To spread costs, Coles reminds customers that all Christmas puddings and mince pies have a long shelf life and are available before Christmas.

Jonathan Thor, Coles’ executive general manager of packaged foods, talks about the discounts

designed to maximize savings as inflation continues to bite.

“We know this time of year can be challenging for many Australians, with increased costs and constant cost of living pressures, so we’re always looking for ways we can help make a difference to their weekly budget,” Mr Thor. said.

Similarly, Woolworths promotes its Everyday Rewards program, where points can be converted into cash discounts on a customer’s next shop.

The Everyday Extra pilot gives customers extra perks, including 10 per cent off each month at Woolworths and Big W for a monthly fee of $7.

The card also offers three times the number of bonus points at every store in the supermarket in the run-up to Christmas.

Woolworths’ price freeze program was launched in June on 200 key items to keep prices flat until the end of the year.

According to the supermarket, participating in the program will save the average shopper between $250 and $400 per year.

“We have more than 5,000 special offers every week and have frozen prices on essential items in the trolley until the end of the year,” said a Woolworths spokesman.

The push by the supermarket giants to cut prices comes after a difficult year for the sector linked to the global supply chain crisis.

In the first quarter of 2022 alone, Woolworths’ prices rose 4.3 percent compared to the previous quarter, when they rose 1.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Coles prices rose 3.2%, according to UBS.

Aldi warned in July that food prices would “inevitably” continue to rise after inflation rose to 6.1 per cent.

The ABS figures showed that almost all grocery items have been hit by price rises this year, with fresh produce the hardest hit.

Compared to last year, the price of fruits and vegetables increased by 7.3 percent.

There was also a 5.8 percent increase from the first to the second quarter of 2022.

Meat, seafood, bread and cereal products rose in price by 6.3 percent, soft drinks – by 7.9 percent.