Customers have once again named Aldi as Australia’s favourite supermarket, even as grocery prices continue to climb nationwide.
According to Canstar Blue, a customer survey gave Aldi the “Most Satisfied Customer Award for Supermarkets,” after ranking major chains across a range of categories.
Shoppers, however, are splitting their grocery bill between supermarkets and specialist shops, such as butchers, in search of the best value and quality.
This marks the eighth consecutive time Aldi has earned the award and the 13th overall, with five-star ratings for overall satisfaction, value for money, product freshness, store and website presentation, and own-brand quality.
Meanwhile, IGA warned five stars for customer service and checkout experience, and Woolworths received top marks for product range.
But the rising cost of groceries is impacting households across the country. The average weekly spend for a family of four has reached $240, up 11 per cent from $216 in 2024 and more than $50 higher than $187 in 2021.
The increase over the past 12 months represents the largest annual jump Canstar Blue has recorded in five years.
This means the average household now spends $12,480 on groceries annually, almost $3,000 more than in 2021, when the total was $9,274.
As a result, shopping around supermarkets has become more common, with 61 per cent of Australians visiting two or more supermarkets each week. In addition, 41 per cent said they also visit specialty stores, like grocers and butchers, because they thought the products are of better quality.
Over 80 per cent of respondents reported changing their shopping habits in the past year to save money, including checking item prices more carefully, buying in bulk, choosing marked-down products near expiry, sticking to seasonal fruit and vegetables, cutting back on treats like chocolate, and opting for frozen vegetables instead of fresh.
“Consistently low prices are overwhelmingly what Australians want from their supermarket, far more than convenience, variety, or even rewards,” Canstar Blue spokesperson Eden Radfors said.
“Every move, no matter how small, can make a difference, particularly when the average weekly spend for a household of four at the supermarket has climbed 11 per cent from the previous year to hit $240. That’s a big jump for a non-negotiable purchase.”
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