As we all know, keeping a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key, especially as we get older. But let’s face it, with the cost of living on the rise, finding ways to stretch our dollars at the grocery store has become more important than ever. That’s why the latest announcement from Coles is such a breath of fresh air for shoppers looking to save without compromising on quality.
Coles, one of Australia’s leading supermarket chains, has recently confirmed a significant shift in how it plans discounts for fresh produce, promising ‘more value’ for its customers. This change is not just a win for shoppers but also for the suppliers who grow our food.
In a move that’s shaking up the supermarket scene, Coles has extended its promotion planning cycle from a mere 10 days to a comprehensive 12 weeks. This strategic decision was made following valuable feedback from fresh produce suppliers and aims to ‘increase transparency, collaboration, and planning for promotions’.
What does this mean for you, the savvy shopper? Well, with Coles deciding on promotions three months in advance, there’s now greater certainty for suppliers, which translates to more consistent and potentially lower prices for consumers at the checkout. This longer-term approach is designed to ‘unlock significant benefits’ for both suppliers and shoppers, strengthening offers around seasonality and key events.
The supermarket giant’s spokesperson shared with Yahoo Finance that this is an ‘industry-led solution to supply chain challenges’, providing suppliers with more certainty on volumes and the ability to better forecast demand. The result? Coles can offer more value to customers while continuing to deliver high-quality fruit and vegetables.
But will Coles customers truly be better off? According to Professor Robert Crouch, a retail expert from the University of Sunshine Coast, fresh produce always comes with risks such as pests, weather, and transportation issues. By planning further ahead, Coles is likely trying to mitigate these risks, offering suppliers assurance and locking in price and quality, which could help avoid market price fluctuations.
However, Professor Crouch also noted that the real savings for customers come from purchasing produce that is in season. When supply is abundant, prices tend to be lower, so she advises shoppers to focus on seasonal buys to maximise savings.
This initiative comes in the wake of calls from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) for supermarkets to provide fresh produce suppliers with greater transparency of supply forecasts. The ACCC’s final supermarkets inquiry report highlighted a ‘substantial information asymmetry’ between suppliers and supermarket chains, advocating for more detailed information about seasonal forecasts to aid in predicting future demand.
Before we wrap up, it’s always helpful to hear from the people who matter most—the shoppers themselves. Everyone’s experience at the checkout is different, and fresh produce prices can affect households in unique ways.
What have you noticed lately when it comes to fresh produce prices? Do you think longer-term planning like this could make a difference for shoppers? How do you usually manage your fresh food budget—do you rely on discounts, shop in season, or look for other ways to save? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Pink lady apple have increased across all supermarkets from $5 to nearly $8 a kilo. Fruit and vegetable only last a couple of day before they are only fit to throw in the bin. A lot are chilled to death before they get to the shelves and as they slowly defrost in your house the become useless. They should not be referred to as the fresh food sectiion.