Need to know
- Aldi is showing the prices of more of its grocery products online after updates to its website and app
- The changes make it easier to compare items across the major supermarkets and spot bargains
- Consumer advocates have welcomed the new transparency, but say Aldi could still do better
Shoppers and advocates have welcomed Aldi's decision to display the prices of more of its products online, but say the supermarket could still do more to help consumers.
Last month, Aldi updated its website and app to show more of the products and prices consumers can find in its stores.
Aldi shoppers frustrated with previous platforms
Prior to the changes, Aldi's website and app attracted the ire of some shoppers for listing only some of the supermarket's products.
"Previously, Aldi's website did not provide prices for their full range of food and groceries," says Bea Sherwood, senior campaigns and policy advisor at CHOICE.
"In contrast, Coles and Woolworths provided consumers with the prices for their entire range, making comparisons easier."
Prior to the recent update, the pantry section of Aldi's Australian site only provided information on 84 products, listing just varieties of olive oil, chocolate and coffee.
Previously, Aldi's website did not provide prices for their full range of food and groceries. In contrast, Coles and Woolworths provided consumers with the prices for their entire range
CHOICE senior campaigns policy advisor Bea Sherwood
This is despite Aldi stores stocking numerous other pantry staples, from tinned goods and chips, to baking items and breakfast cereals.
The same section of the supermarket's new site now includes over 900 items from all of these categories, with the same information available on its updated app.
The change means Aldi's site now more closely resembles those of Woolworths and Coles, letting users set their location to get local prices for products that can vary in cost across Australia, such as fresh produce.
But unlike its biggest competitors, the company still isn't offering online shopping or delivery.
An Aldi spokesperson tells CHOICE the company's new site and app include pricing for all of the items in its core range.
The new platforms are also continuing to provide information on Aldi's popular Special Buys and Limited Time Only products, which had already been accessible on the older site and app.
Aldi's old site (left) only listed a fraction of the products now shown on its new webpage (right).
Changes will help shoppers
Aldi's shift is a welcome one during the cost-of-living crisis. For over three years, over 80% of Australians surveyed by CHOICE have said they're concerned about how much they're spending on groceries.
Consumer advocates say this makes it more important than ever for shoppers to be given ways to save on household staples.
In its final report following an inquiry into Australia's supermarkets, the ACCC said these businesses should be required to publish "clear and accurate" pricing information, noting Aldi lagged its competitors in this regard.
Sherwood says Aldi's new approach goes some way to addressing this and lets people see how more of its products compare to those of other supermarkets before they go grocery shopping.
Following an inquiry into Australia's supermarkets, the ACCC said these businesses should be required to publish 'clear and accurate' pricing information, noting Aldi lagged its competitors in this regard
"Greater price transparency helps people make more informed choices at the checkout and ensures they're not paying more than they need to," she explains.
"These improvements will allow shoppers to check the price of their grocery basket before heading to the store – enabling them to make more informed decisions and get the best value for their money."
Grocery shoppers have told CHOICE they've been able to make significant savings by comparing prices before they buy and splitting their shop across multiple supermarkets.
Aldi has also been the cheapest supermarket we've found in each of our four latest quarterly surveys comparing the cost of a basket of goods across major grocery retailers.
How Aldi could do better
Ian Jarratt, vice president of the Queensland Consumers Association agrees Aldi's changes are a "good start", but says its new website could be improved by letting users filter products by unit price.
Visitors to the pages of Woolworths and Coles can often sort products by how much they cost per 100g or 100ml.
Comparing these unit prices can let you see where you could be getting better value for money across different brands and pack sizes, but the option to rank products this way isn't available on Aldi's new platforms.
Shoppers discussing the changes online have also queried whether the supermarket will build on letting users set their location by also showing stock levels for different products at local stores.
However, CHOICE understands that Aldi doesn't have any plans to introduce unit price filters or product stock information on its website or app.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
