Your next shop will be a lot cheaper as big supermarkets go to war
Lowering the cost of these 400 products will cost Woolworths about $100 million a year – although the company is undecided on whether to extend the price cuts into 2026. It will also be looking for a bit of help from some suppliers to fund these price cuts.
Woolworths desperately wants to shed the perception that it is a more expensive place to shop than Coles, which in turn would need to return fire with a 'lower for longer' campaign of its own, trimming prices on the kinds of products that are trolley regulars.
Loading
But supermarket shoppers are a promiscuous bunch, and have become even less loyal because times are tough. Both supermarkets admit customers are in peak shopping-around mode as they look for the best deals.
Bardwell is sticking to the script that introducing these new bargains and keeping them in place for at least the remainder of the year is all about listening to and helping the customer.
But Coles is outperforming Woolworths on sales, and you can see it in how their share prices have performed over the past year. Coles shares have risen almost 38 per cent while Woolworths has ticked up only 6.7 per cent for the period.
So, the pressure is on Bardwell to show the market that it can compete harder. And it is no accident that this latest campaign follows enormous political pressure from the federal government which has accused the supermarkets of price gouging and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which has initiated legal action against both supermarkets for misleading customers with faux discounts.
Both supermarket groups have suffered brand damage over the past year and been blamed (not always correctly) for the cost of living pain many customers have experienced.
Loading
A discounting makeover certainly won't hurt their reputations.
It represents a big move by Bardwell, who took over as Woolworths boss last year, and follows a previous announcement from her to take a swath of costs out of the business.
So if you are a fan of Maggi noodles, Coca-Cola, Four'N Twenty party sausage rolls (with Woolworths brand tomato sauce), and home-brand chicken schnitzels with microwave rice or frozen berries, then your ship has come in.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
20 hours ago
- The Age
Victoria's first petrol price app could increase prices, but still worthwhile: report
An app displaying real-time fuel prices at Victorian petrol stations will cost about $2.4 million a year to run and may only save customers $5 or $10 a year – and could contribute to price increases – but will still be worthwhile, research has found. The Allan government wants to publish up-to-date fuel prices on the Service Victoria app to save drivers time in finding the cheapest petrol. The scheme would cost the government $1.3 million and the industry $1.15 million per year to run, totalling an annual $2.4 million. Consultants asked by the government to assess the plan say it's unclear whether it would decrease costs for consumers — or increase them. Some fuel price transparency schemes lead to cheaper prices, while others lead to higher prices, advisory firm Sapere said. But Sapere concluded that real-time price disclosure would still be worthwhile by saving motorists time. 'On balance, we expect that in the medium to long-term there will be net benefits,' it said in its recent regulatory impact statement. Victoria is the only state or territory without a fuel price transparency scheme. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which monitors the retail price of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG, found Melburnians could have saved $333 by comparing petrol prices in 2023. Unleaded prices currently range from as low as $1.49 a litre to as high as $2.09 a litre. It takes about 6½ weeks for Melbourne's petrol prices to move from a low point to a peak and back to a low point.
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria's first petrol price app could increase prices, but still worthwhile: report
An app displaying real-time fuel prices at Victorian petrol stations will cost about $2.4 million a year to run and may only save customers $5 or $10 a year – and could contribute to price increases – but will still be worthwhile, research has found. The Allan government wants to publish up-to-date fuel prices on the Service Victoria app to save drivers time in finding the cheapest petrol. The scheme would cost the government $1.3 million and the industry $1.15 million per year to run, totalling an annual $2.4 million. Consultants asked by the government to assess the plan say it's unclear whether it would decrease costs for consumers — or increase them. Some fuel price transparency schemes lead to cheaper prices, while others lead to higher prices, advisory firm Sapere said. But Sapere concluded that real-time price disclosure would still be worthwhile by saving motorists time. 'On balance, we expect that in the medium to long-term there will be net benefits,' it said in its recent regulatory impact statement. Victoria is the only state or territory without a fuel price transparency scheme. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which monitors the retail price of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG, found Melburnians could have saved $333 by comparing petrol prices in 2023. Unleaded prices currently range from as low as $1.49 a litre to as high as $2.09 a litre. It takes about 6½ weeks for Melbourne's petrol prices to move from a low point to a peak and back to a low point.
The Advertiser
21 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Paying more at the bowser: discover where petrol prices have spiked the most
Australians are paying more for petrol and drivers in regional areas are often worse off - some forking out 14 cents a litre more in early 2025 than they were the year before. In the first three months of 2025 the average price across 190 regional areas was 184.3 cents per litre, an increase of 4.8 cents on the previous quarter. While prices also rose in the country's five largest capital cities, the mean pump price was lower at 182.2 cents, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) quarterly petrol report card found. Canberra residents were the worst off among city-dwellers, paying an average 194.7 cents per litre at the bowser, almost 11 cents higher than at the end of 2024. Prices were up in Hobart (7.6 cents) and Darwin (12.5 cents) as well. The cheapest capital city to buy petrol was Adelaide at an average 175.5 cents a litre. The value of the Australian dollar to the US dollar, which was at a 20-year low in the first three months of 2025, was largely to blame for the price pain, the ACCC said. "The AUD-USD exchange rate ... can have a significant influence on Australia's retail petrol prices because international refined petrol is bought and sold in US dollars in global markets," it said in the report, released on June 3. Petrol prices mostly rose in each of the 190 regional areas the ACCC monitors, but some were harder hit than others. In NSW, drivers in Wagga in the Riverina were slugged 11.7 cents per litre more on average in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final three months of the previous year. In Bathurst and Coonabarabran the average price jumped 10 cents, while in Goulburn it rose 9.7 cents, and in Orange and Yass it went up 9.6 cents. Price rises were more modest in Victoria where only Leongatha recorded a jump of more than 10 cents a litre. But the biggest single increase in any location across Australia was at Sorell north-east of Hobart in Tasmania, where locals were charged 14.1 cents more a litre on average in March compared to December 2024. Sorell also had the highest average price across the Apple Isle at 194.9 cents a litre. "In some parts of Australia, retail petrol prices can be higher in regional locations than across the five largest cities," the ACCC said. This can be down to a lack of local competition, the tyranny of distance, and lower volumes of fuel sold. In Launceston petrol was also dearer in the three months to April (12.4 cents a litre), Ulverstone (12.1 cents), Queenstown (10.2 cents) and Devonport (9.9 cents). Some Queensland towns suffered more than others, too, including Biloela (up 12.2 cents), Ingham and Warwick (11.9 cents), Moranbah (11.1 cents), Cairns (10 cents), and Mackay (9 cents). In Western Australia, Bunbury, Waroona, Kalgoorlie and Boulder drivers all experienced average petrol price hikes of more than 9 cents a litre in the March quarter. The cheapest petrol of the ACCC-monitored locations could be bought in Victor Harbor in South Australia, a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula south-east of Adelaide. Oberon west of the Blue Mountains had the best average petrol price in NSW (169.4 cents) in the first three months of 2025, while Moe recorded the cheapest in Victoria at 170.7 cents a litre. In Tasmania, Queenstown had the lowest price at 181.1 cents a litre over the quarter and, in Western Australia, Busselton residents were filling up their tanks at 175.6 cents. In NSW it was most expensive to fill up in Parkes in the Central West, where fuel cost 196.1 cents a litre on average. Ararat and Mansfield tied as most expensive location in Victoria, where the price was 189.9 cents. But Queensland was home to the dearest petrol in Australia at an average of 232.5 cents a litre in Weipa on the Cape York peninsula. The latest ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market found diesel prices also rose over the quarter, while sales of fully electric vehicles fell slightly as hybrid sales increased. Australians are paying more for petrol and drivers in regional areas are often worse off - some forking out 14 cents a litre more in early 2025 than they were the year before. In the first three months of 2025 the average price across 190 regional areas was 184.3 cents per litre, an increase of 4.8 cents on the previous quarter. While prices also rose in the country's five largest capital cities, the mean pump price was lower at 182.2 cents, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) quarterly petrol report card found. Canberra residents were the worst off among city-dwellers, paying an average 194.7 cents per litre at the bowser, almost 11 cents higher than at the end of 2024. Prices were up in Hobart (7.6 cents) and Darwin (12.5 cents) as well. The cheapest capital city to buy petrol was Adelaide at an average 175.5 cents a litre. The value of the Australian dollar to the US dollar, which was at a 20-year low in the first three months of 2025, was largely to blame for the price pain, the ACCC said. "The AUD-USD exchange rate ... can have a significant influence on Australia's retail petrol prices because international refined petrol is bought and sold in US dollars in global markets," it said in the report, released on June 3. Petrol prices mostly rose in each of the 190 regional areas the ACCC monitors, but some were harder hit than others. In NSW, drivers in Wagga in the Riverina were slugged 11.7 cents per litre more on average in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final three months of the previous year. In Bathurst and Coonabarabran the average price jumped 10 cents, while in Goulburn it rose 9.7 cents, and in Orange and Yass it went up 9.6 cents. Price rises were more modest in Victoria where only Leongatha recorded a jump of more than 10 cents a litre. But the biggest single increase in any location across Australia was at Sorell north-east of Hobart in Tasmania, where locals were charged 14.1 cents more a litre on average in March compared to December 2024. Sorell also had the highest average price across the Apple Isle at 194.9 cents a litre. "In some parts of Australia, retail petrol prices can be higher in regional locations than across the five largest cities," the ACCC said. This can be down to a lack of local competition, the tyranny of distance, and lower volumes of fuel sold. In Launceston petrol was also dearer in the three months to April (12.4 cents a litre), Ulverstone (12.1 cents), Queenstown (10.2 cents) and Devonport (9.9 cents). Some Queensland towns suffered more than others, too, including Biloela (up 12.2 cents), Ingham and Warwick (11.9 cents), Moranbah (11.1 cents), Cairns (10 cents), and Mackay (9 cents). In Western Australia, Bunbury, Waroona, Kalgoorlie and Boulder drivers all experienced average petrol price hikes of more than 9 cents a litre in the March quarter. The cheapest petrol of the ACCC-monitored locations could be bought in Victor Harbor in South Australia, a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula south-east of Adelaide. Oberon west of the Blue Mountains had the best average petrol price in NSW (169.4 cents) in the first three months of 2025, while Moe recorded the cheapest in Victoria at 170.7 cents a litre. In Tasmania, Queenstown had the lowest price at 181.1 cents a litre over the quarter and, in Western Australia, Busselton residents were filling up their tanks at 175.6 cents. In NSW it was most expensive to fill up in Parkes in the Central West, where fuel cost 196.1 cents a litre on average. Ararat and Mansfield tied as most expensive location in Victoria, where the price was 189.9 cents. But Queensland was home to the dearest petrol in Australia at an average of 232.5 cents a litre in Weipa on the Cape York peninsula. The latest ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market found diesel prices also rose over the quarter, while sales of fully electric vehicles fell slightly as hybrid sales increased. Australians are paying more for petrol and drivers in regional areas are often worse off - some forking out 14 cents a litre more in early 2025 than they were the year before. In the first three months of 2025 the average price across 190 regional areas was 184.3 cents per litre, an increase of 4.8 cents on the previous quarter. While prices also rose in the country's five largest capital cities, the mean pump price was lower at 182.2 cents, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) quarterly petrol report card found. Canberra residents were the worst off among city-dwellers, paying an average 194.7 cents per litre at the bowser, almost 11 cents higher than at the end of 2024. Prices were up in Hobart (7.6 cents) and Darwin (12.5 cents) as well. The cheapest capital city to buy petrol was Adelaide at an average 175.5 cents a litre. The value of the Australian dollar to the US dollar, which was at a 20-year low in the first three months of 2025, was largely to blame for the price pain, the ACCC said. "The AUD-USD exchange rate ... can have a significant influence on Australia's retail petrol prices because international refined petrol is bought and sold in US dollars in global markets," it said in the report, released on June 3. Petrol prices mostly rose in each of the 190 regional areas the ACCC monitors, but some were harder hit than others. In NSW, drivers in Wagga in the Riverina were slugged 11.7 cents per litre more on average in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final three months of the previous year. In Bathurst and Coonabarabran the average price jumped 10 cents, while in Goulburn it rose 9.7 cents, and in Orange and Yass it went up 9.6 cents. Price rises were more modest in Victoria where only Leongatha recorded a jump of more than 10 cents a litre. But the biggest single increase in any location across Australia was at Sorell north-east of Hobart in Tasmania, where locals were charged 14.1 cents more a litre on average in March compared to December 2024. Sorell also had the highest average price across the Apple Isle at 194.9 cents a litre. "In some parts of Australia, retail petrol prices can be higher in regional locations than across the five largest cities," the ACCC said. This can be down to a lack of local competition, the tyranny of distance, and lower volumes of fuel sold. In Launceston petrol was also dearer in the three months to April (12.4 cents a litre), Ulverstone (12.1 cents), Queenstown (10.2 cents) and Devonport (9.9 cents). Some Queensland towns suffered more than others, too, including Biloela (up 12.2 cents), Ingham and Warwick (11.9 cents), Moranbah (11.1 cents), Cairns (10 cents), and Mackay (9 cents). In Western Australia, Bunbury, Waroona, Kalgoorlie and Boulder drivers all experienced average petrol price hikes of more than 9 cents a litre in the March quarter. The cheapest petrol of the ACCC-monitored locations could be bought in Victor Harbor in South Australia, a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula south-east of Adelaide. Oberon west of the Blue Mountains had the best average petrol price in NSW (169.4 cents) in the first three months of 2025, while Moe recorded the cheapest in Victoria at 170.7 cents a litre. In Tasmania, Queenstown had the lowest price at 181.1 cents a litre over the quarter and, in Western Australia, Busselton residents were filling up their tanks at 175.6 cents. In NSW it was most expensive to fill up in Parkes in the Central West, where fuel cost 196.1 cents a litre on average. Ararat and Mansfield tied as most expensive location in Victoria, where the price was 189.9 cents. But Queensland was home to the dearest petrol in Australia at an average of 232.5 cents a litre in Weipa on the Cape York peninsula. The latest ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market found diesel prices also rose over the quarter, while sales of fully electric vehicles fell slightly as hybrid sales increased. Australians are paying more for petrol and drivers in regional areas are often worse off - some forking out 14 cents a litre more in early 2025 than they were the year before. In the first three months of 2025 the average price across 190 regional areas was 184.3 cents per litre, an increase of 4.8 cents on the previous quarter. While prices also rose in the country's five largest capital cities, the mean pump price was lower at 182.2 cents, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) quarterly petrol report card found. Canberra residents were the worst off among city-dwellers, paying an average 194.7 cents per litre at the bowser, almost 11 cents higher than at the end of 2024. Prices were up in Hobart (7.6 cents) and Darwin (12.5 cents) as well. The cheapest capital city to buy petrol was Adelaide at an average 175.5 cents a litre. The value of the Australian dollar to the US dollar, which was at a 20-year low in the first three months of 2025, was largely to blame for the price pain, the ACCC said. "The AUD-USD exchange rate ... can have a significant influence on Australia's retail petrol prices because international refined petrol is bought and sold in US dollars in global markets," it said in the report, released on June 3. Petrol prices mostly rose in each of the 190 regional areas the ACCC monitors, but some were harder hit than others. In NSW, drivers in Wagga in the Riverina were slugged 11.7 cents per litre more on average in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final three months of the previous year. In Bathurst and Coonabarabran the average price jumped 10 cents, while in Goulburn it rose 9.7 cents, and in Orange and Yass it went up 9.6 cents. Price rises were more modest in Victoria where only Leongatha recorded a jump of more than 10 cents a litre. But the biggest single increase in any location across Australia was at Sorell north-east of Hobart in Tasmania, where locals were charged 14.1 cents more a litre on average in March compared to December 2024. Sorell also had the highest average price across the Apple Isle at 194.9 cents a litre. "In some parts of Australia, retail petrol prices can be higher in regional locations than across the five largest cities," the ACCC said. This can be down to a lack of local competition, the tyranny of distance, and lower volumes of fuel sold. In Launceston petrol was also dearer in the three months to April (12.4 cents a litre), Ulverstone (12.1 cents), Queenstown (10.2 cents) and Devonport (9.9 cents). Some Queensland towns suffered more than others, too, including Biloela (up 12.2 cents), Ingham and Warwick (11.9 cents), Moranbah (11.1 cents), Cairns (10 cents), and Mackay (9 cents). In Western Australia, Bunbury, Waroona, Kalgoorlie and Boulder drivers all experienced average petrol price hikes of more than 9 cents a litre in the March quarter. The cheapest petrol of the ACCC-monitored locations could be bought in Victor Harbor in South Australia, a coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula south-east of Adelaide. Oberon west of the Blue Mountains had the best average petrol price in NSW (169.4 cents) in the first three months of 2025, while Moe recorded the cheapest in Victoria at 170.7 cents a litre. In Tasmania, Queenstown had the lowest price at 181.1 cents a litre over the quarter and, in Western Australia, Busselton residents were filling up their tanks at 175.6 cents. In NSW it was most expensive to fill up in Parkes in the Central West, where fuel cost 196.1 cents a litre on average. Ararat and Mansfield tied as most expensive location in Victoria, where the price was 189.9 cents. But Queensland was home to the dearest petrol in Australia at an average of 232.5 cents a litre in Weipa on the Cape York peninsula. The latest ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market found diesel prices also rose over the quarter, while sales of fully electric vehicles fell slightly as hybrid sales increased.
