Battle of the supermarkets! Coles, Woolworths and Aldi are put to the test to find the cheapest grocery basket for Christmas – and the winning store can save you $50
- CHOICE put three supermarkets to the test to find the cheapest grocery basket
- The Australian experts carried out a price check on 22 Christmas essentials
- Retailer Aldi had the cheapest basket followed by Woolworths and then Coles
- Results show Coles and Woolworths were more expensive compared to 2018
Australian consumer organisation CHOICE has put three leading supermarket giants to the test to find the cheapest grocery basket for Christmas.
With the festive season upon us, the experts have compared the prices of 22 essential items from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths.
The shopping list includes leg ham, turkey breast roast, smoked salmon, tiger prawns, Christmas pudding, pavlova, candy canes, chocolates and decorations.
And budget retailer Aldi has won yet another supermarket battle after coming out on top with a total price of $174.50 – $46.80 cheaper than the most expensive basket.
Retailer Aldi cheapest grocery basket for Christmas, followed by Woolworths and then Coles
Aldi has won yet another supermarket battle after coming out on top with a total price of $174.50 – $46.80 cheaper than the most expensive basket (file image)
The shopping list with 22 items included turkey breast roast, traditional fruit mince pies, Christmas pudding, bon bons, candy canes, chocolate coins and a box of Cadbury Roses
The price difference between Coles’ and Woolworths’ total basket was close.
The same basket of items from Woolworths came to $215 – $6.30 cheaper than Coles.
Last year’s basket, Aldi had the cheapest grocery for Christmas, with a total of $175.16, followed by Coles at $205.24 while Woolworths was the priciest at $207.30.
‘Christmas is set to be more expensive this year,’ Choice consumer advocate Jonathan Brown said.
‘We compared the Christmas basics across Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. It wouldn’t be Christmas without candy canes, mince pies, pavlova and finding bits of tinsel around the house weeks later.
The price difference between Coles’ and Woolworths’ total basket was close. The same basket of items from Woolworths came to $215 – $6.30 cheaper than Coles (file images)
‘When it comes to price, Aldi is the clear winner for a cheap Christmas, but of course other factors often come into consideration at Christmas too.
‘Choice’s Supermarket Satisfaction Survey earlier this year found local supermarket brands were highly rated for their fresh food and customer service, so if freshness and service matters to you, it might be worth considering a local brand.’
Choice carried out a price spot-check based on last year’s list of 22 Christmas items, adjusting to take into account availability on the day they shopped.
‘We then compared Aldi’s prices in-store for these items with the cheapest option of the equivalent pack size or quantity available through the Coles and Woolworths online shopping sites,’ the experts said.
The prices were collected on the same day in November 2019 for fair comparison. The prices are the full cost of each item and don’t include sales or specials.