I read an interesting statement this week about supermarket prices.
It was: ‘Profiteering isn’t illegal’ in Australia and maybe it goes a long way to explain how you are being treated by the big two supermarket groups.
In a detailed analysis, The Guardian claims food prices are increasing by an average of 8 per cent but some staples such as dairy are rising at almost double that rate.
The Guardian puts a great deal of those egregious price rises down to the supermarkets taking advantage of the confusion and chaos to supply that occurred during COVID lockdowns.
Suddenly, prices were all over the place and we lost a sense of how much things should cost and consequently we were – well, if not happy – willing to pay whatever was asked to secure what we needed.
Coles and Woolworths read the room and started putting prices up and, due to their dominating market share, got away with it and are still getting away with it.
They have been quick to blame everything but profiteering, attributing the increases to floods, stock loss (theft, basically), transport costs and suppliers’ higher prices.
These no doubt have some influence, but the fact is that despite their increasing costs they are recording record profits when we are all feeling the cost-of-living pinch.
If you need any more confirmation that we are paying too much, YahooNews this week reported on an Australian living in Germany who was shocked at the prices compared to Australia.
One example was a packet of Finish dishwashing tables which worked out to A$14.70 in Germany.
In Australia, we would pay $62 for a pack of 45. Finish often goes on half-price specials, but that’s still $30-plus extra depending on the variety.
What can you do?
My best advice is to vote with your feet and shop around if you can.
Buy the specials at the big two and supplement that with purchases at discount chains such as The Reject Shop, Aldi or Costco.
With Coles and Woolies constantly upping prices, you might be surprised that often IGA is cheaper on many lines these days. If you have access to the larger IGA shops – IGA Super or IGA Everyday – the choice of products they offer is also more varied than that of the big two, which only sell what they want you to buy.
Try your local greengrocer. The quality is often far superior to supermarkets – I only buy garlic at a greengrocer – and the in-season fruit and veg is often cheaper.
You can also bask in the warm, inner glow of supporting a local business, and not some vast retail behemoth.
This week’s best deals
Coles
Sensible: Mayver’s Peanut Butter select flavours, $5.20, save $1.30. Cast aside all other peanut butters and embrace Mayver’s. I love this brand. Australian-owned and ‘why-didn’t-I-think-of-that’ flavours. The peanut butter with five seeds is your next breakfast spread of choice, you just don’t know it yet.
Indulgence: Mutti Passata varieties, $3.80, save $1.20. Excellent stir-through tomato sauce for pasta Napoli or add your protein of choice for a simple dinner. My kids can manage this, so it must be easy.
See the catalogue here.
Aldi
Sensible: K-Roo Kangaroo mince, $10.99. If you are looking for a low-key entry point to try kangaroo, mince is a good start. I know from childhood experience it makes a crushingly good bolognese.
Indulgence: Dutch week! Aldi fans have been looking forward to this one. Suitable weird names too. Fancy some Smelik Assorted Cheese Biscuits? Or maybe a Van Slooten salty liquorice in the shape of a houseboat? Seems an odd design choice, but let’s continue. Katja Biggetjes look like squashed pigs’ heads, so that sounds like fun. Get in there Nederlanders.
See the catalogue here.
IGA
Sensible: MasterFoods Freshly Crushed Garlic, $2.75. I’m a bit highly strung in the kitchen and mostly insist on making my own crushed garlic, but I still have a jar of this for emergency can’t-be-bothered days.
Indulgence: Victoria Bitter VX, slab $55. Carlton and United’s new brew with a bit more zing. VX has 6 per cent alcohol compared to the usual 4.9 per cent. CUB claims this provides a ‘bolder’ flavour and is targeting it at the craft beer segment. I feel the craft beer market will run in the other direction simply because of who brews it, but I’d probably still give it a crack.
See the catalogue here.
Woolworths
Sensible: Lipton Ice Tea, 1.5L, $2.90, save $2. Just one more product I know I could make myself, but probably won’t. Great alternative to soft drink on a hot day.
Indulgence: OGX Shampoo and Conditioner range, half price $11.50. Are these good shampoos? Good enough for a supermarket line. However, the range is so big you should probably find something that suits and they look pretty good on the shelves all lined up together if that counts for anything.
See the catalogue here.
Are you cutting back on your weekly supermarket shop? What are some of the some of the shocking price rises you’ve seen? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Read also: What older Aussies are still buying despite rising costs. And what they’ve cut