Aldi is one of the most significant disruptors to the Australian economy in the last two decades, having single-handedly broken the Woolworths/Coles supermarket duopoly.
Aldi now has 594 stores nationally, accounting for 10% of the market by sales. Aldi has also expanded its reach beyond Australia’s east coast to all states and territories except Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
A new survey by Choice showed that shoppers who buy their groceries from Aldi save around 25% compared to shopping at Woolworths or Coles.
I have been a regular Aldi shopper since 2003.
In addition to low costs and high-quality products, I appreciate Aldi’s simplicity.
Thanks to its small footprint and limited product selection, shopping is quick and straightforward. Products are always in the same location, regardless of store, making them easy to find.
In comparison, I find Woolworths and Coles to be excessively large and complex, and I frequently waste time traversing aisles looking for what I need. Pricing is also uncompetitive compared to Aldi, making it feel like I am being gouged.
Whether you like Aldi or not, there is no denying that the competitive pressure on Woolworths and Coles is necessary and has helped lower consumer costs.
We need more Aldi-type disruptors across Australia’s oligopolistic economy.
