Seafood price wars kick off as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets compete

Coles, Woolies and Aldi have kicked off a seafood price war. See where you’ll find the best specials and where you can get a bargain.

Coles and Woolworths are going head-to-head with an Easter seafood price war, where both are offering their popular rock lobsters for just $22 each.

Next to chocolate, seafood sits firmly on the top of the shopping list across Easter with popular choices this year tipped to include Barramundi, Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon, Coral Trout, Blue Swimmer crab and prawns.

Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta said mussels, octopus, calamari were becoming more popular at Easter because they provide excellent value for money and people are now more comfortable cooking them.

“We always recommend people ask about underutilised species which can be as delicious as their better known counterparts, but a fraction of the price,” she said.

“In seafood we have more than 600 species available, so there is always something to find that’s in your price range/value range.

“Every year we have alarmist reports of price hikes and shortages for Easter and Christmas, but in my time in industry I have never seen it realised.

“Supply can change from year to year, however we are fortunate there are so many seafood species available that retailers can take this into consideration and ensure consistency for consumers.

Lobsters are going to be $22 each. Picture: Supplied

“For example, we have a few different prawn species. If one species has supply issues retailers can move to another one. People are always going to have prawns, squid, white-flesh fish available each year. The species might just we a little different to take into account availability.”

With around half of us planning to entertain at home, Coles expects to sell more than 350 tonnes of fresh seafood including prawns, salmon, and barramundi — a 200 per cent increase more than any other week of the year.

Coles is also expecting to sell around 130,000 kilos of responsibly-sourced Tasmanian salmon and more than 200,000 kilos of raw manana prawns, fresh black tiger prawns and cooked black tiger prawns.

Woolworths is also bracing for a bumper week as customers snap up more than 70,000 individual WA rock lobsters.

Demand for oysters is also expected to increase five-fold compared to a regular week, while 100 tonnes of fresh salmon and 180 tonnes of cooked Aussie tigers prawns are set to disappear.

The supermarkets are going to sell more seafood this Easter. Picture: Richard Walker

Woolworths Commercial Director for Seafood Tim Dudding said rock lobster continues to be one of their most popular seafood products.

“Our team has been working closely with suppliers in WA to ensure customers across the country can enjoy quality lobster as part of their Easter spread at a competitive price,” he said.

ALDI Australia Shopping expert Kylie Warnke said they are offering fresh and frozen seafood options for every budget.

Griffith University marketing expert Dr Park Thaichon said seafood was part of Australia’s culture, with more seafood lovers preferring local produce than ever before.

“Seafood such as lobsters is often viewed as a luxury food. Special discounts would be

one of the main factors to motivate customers to buy seafood more often, and (especially) during special occasions,” he said.

Here’s how much you’ll pay for your favourite seafood this Easter.

COLES

WA Rock Lobster $22 each

Coles Deli Fresh Tasmanian Salmon Skin on $29

Coles Deli Raw Banana Prawns $23 p/kg, save $3/kg

Coles Deli Fresh Black Tiger Prawns $27 p/kg save $3 p/kg (excluding WA)

3kg Box of XL Black Tiger Prawns $75 p/box, save $27 per box

Coles Tasmanian Salmon Portions with Lemon & Herb Crumb, $14.50 per pack

WOOLWORTHS

Prices valid between April 13 – April 19.

WA Rock Lobster $22 each

Fresh Skin On Salmon, $28/kg – all states

Thawed Large Raw Australian Tiger Prawns, $22/kg

State: NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS

Fresh Large Cooked Australian Tiger Prawns, $22/kg

States: NSW & QLD

Fresh Medium Cooked Australian Tiger Prawns, $27/kg

States: ACT

Thawed Cooked Extra Large Australian Tiger Prawns $29/kg

State: VIC

Thawed Cooked Medium Australian Tiger Prawns, $26/kg

State: SA/NT

Thawed Cooked Large Australian Tiger Prawns, $27/kg

State: WA & TAS

ALDI

Fresh seafood:

Specially Selected Prawn, Scallop & Lobster Bisque Pots 240g 2pk, $9.99

The Fishmonger Fresh Tasmanian Salmon with Lemon & Herb Crumb 500g 4pk, $13.99

The Fishmonger Sourdough Crumbed New Zealand Hoki Fillets 300g, $7.99

The Fishmonger Fresh Tasmanian Skin On Salmon Fillets 460g 4pk, $11.99

The Fishmonger Smoked Salmon 200g, $7.99

The Fishmonger Tasmanian Smoked Salmon 300g, $11.99

The Fishmonger Basa Fillets 400g, $6.49

The Fishmonger Smoked Ocean Trout 200g, $7.99

The Fishmonger Melt in the Middle Salmon & Hollandaise Fish Cakes 290g 2pk, $4.99

The Fishmonger Garlic Prawns 280g, $9.99

Special Buys In stores from the 14th April while stocks last”

The Fishmonger Fresh Australian Cooked Tiger Prawns 1kg, $24.99

The Fishmonger Smoked Ocean Trout 500g, $14.99

Frozen range:

Ocean Royale Barramundi Portions 1kg, $18.49

Ocean Royale Ocean Trout Portions 500g, $14.99

Ocean Royale Skin On Atlantic Salmon Portions 1kg, $23.99

Ocean Royale Southern Blue Whiting Bites 400g, $6.99

Ocean Royale Frozen Salt & Pepper Squid 360g, $4.99

Ocean Royale Salmon Wellingtons 280g, $4.99

Originally published as Seafood price wars kick off as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets compete