Aussies cop a new Bunnings sausage sizzle price rise

If you’re heading out to Bunnings for some weekend DIY and a sausage you might be in for a nasty surprise.

If you’re heading out to Bunnings for some weekend DIY and a sausage you might be in for a nasty surprise.

If you’re heading out to Bunnings for some weekend DIY and a sausage you might be in for a nasty surprise.

In a sure sign inflationary pressures are being felt across all parts of the economy, Bunnings has raised the price of its sausage sizzle drinks.

In a notice on its website, the hardware giant confirmed that from February 1, it increased its sausage sizzle drink prices from $1.50 to $2.00 for a can of soft drink or a bottle of water.

But thankfully, the company confirms “the price of a price of a sausage in bread will remain at $3.50 (with or without onions)”.

Bunnings said the price increase came “in response to feedback from community groups” who run the BBQs and, in return, get to keep the profits.

“The change responds to calls from local community groups, not-for-profits and charities that have seen a decline in funds raised due to the increased cost of the goods required to run the BBQ,” a spokesperson said.

The Bunnings sausage sizzle constitutes weekend lunch for many Aussies.

Bunnings sets the prices groups can charge at its sausage sizzle and the menu they can serve so that the products and prices are consistent across the country.

The last price rise to hit the Bunnings sausage sizzle came in mid-2022 when the hardware giant increased the price of a snag from $2.50 to $3.50, marking the first rise in 15 years.

At that time, Bunnings said the price rise was requested by community groups and related to inflationary pressures on the cost of goods.

Public reaction to the latest price rise has been mixed, with some people commenting that community groups may lose out now that a sausage and drink can no longer be bought for a $5 note.

“Going from $5 to $5.50 is going to mean less money,” one observer commented.

“People might not have 50c just laying around in their cars.”

However others were quick to point out that Bunnings offers card payments at the sausages sizzles so the ability to purchase didn’t depend on shoppers having cash.

Others were supportive of the change: “$2 a can is still cheaper than anywhere else, and the margin isn’t going to shareholders, it’s going into the community”.

“I’ll elect to be annoyed at who we all know jacked up the prices of cans to begin with. Coles and Woolworths,” another commenter wrote.

Before 2022, a snag and drink would set you back $4.

Today, a Bunnings snag and drink costs $5.50.

For 25 years, the community sausage sizzle has been a weekend staple at the hardware giant and a much needed way for groups such as sporting clubs to raise money.

Under the model, Bunnings provides a gazebo, barbecue, blackboard and trestle tables while

community groups supply the sausages, bread, onions, sauces and drinks.

But community groups often approach local businesses to seek donations of these products rather than having to buy them, which enables them to make more profit.

During the 2022 financial year, the Bunnings sausage sizzles supported over 54,000 local community groups to raise more than $29 million.