Coles meat specials beefs-up Dropped & Locked program

One of the nation’s biggest supermarkets is beefing up its cut-price food offers to help cash-strapped Australians find more budget meal options heading into winter.

Coles is beefing up its cut-price food offers as cash-strapped Australians seek out more budget meal options heading into winter.

The supermarket giant will on Wednesday announce the extension of its Dropped & Locked program, including more meat deals to encourage families to cook more spaghetti bolognese, casseroles and slow cooker recipes.

The price of more than 370 items will be reduced for at least 12 weeks, including selected 1kg mince packs, diced beef and casserole chuck steak.

Mum Kirsten Aldcroft, with daughters Ruby, 4 and Evie, 2, have taken advantage of the Coles Dropped and Locked campaign with the price of beef taking a hit. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The extension of its price drop campaign comes as a recent Coles survey of more than 9000 Australians revealed 64 per cent of households are worried about their ability to deal with cost-of-living pressures.

Based on the specials, Kirsten Aldcroft said she expects to save between $20 to $25 on her weekly shop, with spaghetti bolognese and lasagne to become staple winter meals for her daughters, Ruby, 4, and Evie, 2.

“It was really interesting to find out how cheap the mince was. I could get about eight meals out of a kilo of mince,” she said. “The girls love lasagne and it’s great because I can hide veggies in there as well.”

Slow cooked meals and mild curries will also be added to the family menu, and Mrs Aldcroft said courtesy of the price drop she’s more likely to experiment with different dinner options.

“I hate to waste food, and it’s disheartening to see the girls not eat something. They can be so particular with what they’ll eat, but I would like to see them try new things. With the price drop, it’s not as heartbreaking if they refuse it.”

There are also more than 40 items in Coles’ Big Pack Value Range, including breakfast and dinner staples, condiments, snacks and pantry products.

“Post Easter and with winter on the horizon we want to help make budgets go further as many customers face the further pain of rising mortgage payments and energy costs,” Coles CEO Steven Cain said.

“(Phase three of) Dropped & Locked is our biggest value investment so far and is focused on breakfast, lunch and dinner. In particular, customers are looking for cheaper cuts of meat which is why we have focused on beef mince which is our number one line.”

Originally published as Coles meat specials beefs-up Dropped & Locked program