Woolworths and Coles to go head to head in cost-cutting war as prices of over 1,000 grocery items are slashed

Daily Mail​

13-05-2025

Aussie shoppers can expect to pay less for their next grocery shop as Woolworths and Coles slash the prices of a combined 1,000 items.
On Monday, Woolworths announced it will reduce prices on hundreds of everyday items by about 10 per cent - with the promotion set to last until 2026.
The discounted products include staples such as bread, bacon, sausage rolls, Coca-Cola, chicken schnitzel, Greek yogurt, rice, oats and frozen berries.
Woolworths estimates that customers spending around $150 a week could save an average of $15 on their grocery shop.
The price reduction will come into effect from Wednesday and will impact prices for those who shop in store and online.
Woolworths Group CEO Amanda Bardwell acknowledged that cost of living remained a major issue for Australian shoppers.
'Customers consistently tell us they need more value from their shop, and that they expect us to do more to help,' she said.
'This isn't just a short-term promotion; it's about lower shelf prices on the products we know customers regularly shop for, and providing genuine, lasting and dependable value they can count on.
'We are committed to expanding the Lower Shelf Price product list in the coming weeks and months to help provide customers with even more value every time they shop with us.'
Coles has also unveiled its own price reductions, announcing cuts on more than 680 products with shoppers to receive an average discount of 21 per cent.
The price savings will apply across a wide range of categories, including meat, seafood, pantry staples, bakery items, frozen foods, and more.
Like Woolworths, Coles plans to expand the list over time, adding even more discounted items in the coming months, in welcome news for shoppers.
It comes following allegations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that Coles and Woolworths mislead customers on pricing.
The ACCC undertook a 12 month inquiry, which looked into ways to improve competition in the supermarket sector.
One of the inquiry's main recommendations was for supermarkets to provide clearer, more accessible information to shoppers.
'Through clearer sales tickets and promotions, consumers will be better placed to make more informed decisions about what products offer the best value for them at the checkout,' said ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh.
The inquiry also raised concerns about shrinkflation, where the size of a product is reduced but the price stays the same or even increases.
To address this, the ACCC recommends supermarkets be required to notify customers when shrinkflation occurs.
'This information would, at a minimum, be required to be published in proximity to the product ticket on shelves, and on the webpage for the product,' Mr Keogh said.
'By giving consumers this transparency over what are effectively price increases, consumers would be better able to 'vote with their feet' and switch to cheaper alternatives if that is their preference.'