Choice supermarket survey checks the cheapest and most expensive grocery baskets

MAKING one simple swap can help slash hundreds of dollars from your grocery bill. Find out which supermarkets have been rated the cheapest and most expensive here.

SHOPPERS switching to supermarket budget brands are slashing hundreds of dollars from grocery bills.

A basket of major name brands in Victoria averaged $168.20 to $169.28 at Woolworths and Coles, excluding specials, a Choice survey has found.

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Choosing substitutes such as Woolworths’ Select and Coles brand cut costs by about a third.

Incorporating budget labels such as Coles’ Smart Buy and Woolies’ Essentials and Homebrand saved more, dropping the bill by more than $70.

Choice declared Aldi’s $91.21 budget basket cheapest.

‘Phantom’ supermarket brands are helping cut shoppers’ grocery bills at the checkout.

“With food and grocery costs of significant concern, the popularity of Aldi and supermarket brands is set to grow,” Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said.

“There’s a trend for ‘copycat’ products similar in colour and design to major brands but cheaper.

“We are also seeing more ‘phantom’ brands such as Woolworths-owned Clean, Balnea and Hillview labels that create the illusion of choice, along with Aldi versions such as GoldenVale, Trimat and Goliath.”

Mr Godfrey said the reputation of supermarket brand products was steadily improving. They accounted for about 20 to 25 per cent of grocery sales, according to industry analysts.

Prices were collected at 110 supermarkets at 33 locations nationwide in March for a basket of 33 items, including five fruit and vegetables and common household purchases.

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Choice found a smaller leading-brand basket at IGA was on average 6 to 7 per cent more expensive than the same at Coles and Woolworths, but on par with regular prices when specials were included.

Coles said Choice’s analysis was limited, given stores stocked more than 25,000 products and offered regular specials.

“There are now more than 4000 branded and Coles brand items on trusted low prices including Every Day and Down Down, which are delivering exceptional value,” the retailer said.

Cost difference between Choice’s basket of Coles brand products and Aldi’s private label options had declined by almost two-thirds in two years, it said.

Woolies said it was committed to wide choice, including its new Woolworths food range.

“Customers can access further great savings by looking out for ‘price dropped’ and ‘low price, always everyday’ items as well as our weekly catalogue specials,” it said.

Aldi said its value was “unbeatable”.

@KarenCollierHS