Supermarket statistics
4 in 5 Australians are signed up to a supermarket rewards program.
Key takeaways
- Almost 2 in 5 Australians find grocery bills stressful, highlighting the need for savvy shopping strategies.
- In Finder's February 2023 survey, Woolworths was most popular at 48% and Aldi at 10%, yet Aldi shoppers reported the highest average weekly spend at $210.
- Two-thirds of Australians use rewards for cashback, so ensure you redeem points to avoid wastage.
How much do Australians spend on groceries each month?
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australians spent $12.37 billion at supermarkets and grocery stores in June 2025 (seasonally adjusted). This was the final monthly Retail Trade release before the ABS ceased the series.
Where do Australians prefer to buy groceries?
Finder research from February 2023 found consumers' preferences were unchanged since 2021. Woolworths was the nation's favourite supermarket, with 48% of Australians saying they primarily shopped with the fresh food people. This was closely followed by Coles (39%). A further 10% said Aldi was their supermarket of choice, while 2% opted for IGA.
Women were marginally more likely than men to shop at Woolworths (49% compared to 46%) while men were more likely to choose Coles (40% compared to 38%).
Gen Z were the most likely to shop at Woolworths (55%), compared to baby boomers and gen Y (both 47%).
Interestingly, those that shopped at Aldi said they were spending the most on their weekly groceries ($210). Shoppers at Coles said they were spending $23 less than those at Woolies ($170 and $193, respectively). We do note that Aldi's range includes liquor and Special Buys such as camping gear, which could be a factor in the higher weekly spend.
How often do Australians buy groceries?
In Finder's February 2023 survey, more than half of Australians did their grocery shopping weekly (53%). This had risen significantly from just over a third (38%) in 2021. The number of Australians shopping more frequently than once a week had dropped slightly to 33%. Less than 1 in 10 (9%) stocked up every fortnight.
Interestingly, those who shopped for groceries once every few days tended to spend more per week ($201) than those who opted for weekly visits ($177).
How popular are supermarket points programs?
In Finder's July 2022 survey, Woolworths Everyday Rewards came out as slightly more popular overall (75%) than Coles Flybuys (68%).
Women were more likely to be signed up for points with Woolworths (78%) and Coles (72%) than men (72% and 64%, respectively).
Holding Woolworths points was most popular among gen X with 82% of people collecting them. Coles points were most popular among baby boomers (78%).
What do people use their supermarket points for?
In Finder's July 2022 survey, two-thirds (67%) of those signed up to supermarket rewards programs said they used their points to get cashback from their groceries, with 13% opting to convert them to Qantas Points or Velocity Points. A further 13% used their points to buy products, while 5% said they let their points go to waste.
Women (72%) were more likely than men (62%) to use their points to get cashback from groceries, while men were more inclined to convert their points to Qantas Points or Velocity Points (18% compared to 9% for women).
Gen Z were the least likely generation to make use of their accumulated points, with 1 in 10 (9%) saying they didn't use their points for anything. This had improved significantly from 2021 when a whopping 17% of gen Z said they let their points go to waste.
How many people struggle with their grocery bills?
Worryingly, in Finder's August 2024 survey almost 2 in 5 Australians (38%) said their grocery bill was one of their most stressful expenses.
Women (44%) were more likely than men (32%) to say the supermarket shop was one of their top financial stressors.
Gen Y (41%) were the most likely generation to worry about their grocery bills, compared to 33% of baby boomers.
How to get the most out of your supermarket trip
Plan your meals. Browse through cookbooks or online to figure out what you want to cook for the week ahead, then make a list of ingredients so you don't get overwhelmed and distracted at the supermarket. You can even check the prices of ingredients at the supermarket online before you go. Whatever you do, don't shop when you're hungry. You are more likely to splurge on snacks and lollies that can quickly add up.
Sign up to supermarket rewards programs. You can use your points to get cashback on your groceries and being a rewards member will also make you eligible for special discounts. Just make sure you're not letting your points go to waste. As long as you collect or redeem your Flybuys points at least once a year, and your Everyday Rewards points at least once every 18 months, your account will remain active and your points won't expire.
Buy frozen food in bulk. Buying frozen fruits and vegetables is often cheaper than buying them from the produce section and they are a great way to bulk out your meals. Foods such as peas, corn and berries are frozen while they're fresh, so you won't miss out on valuable nutrients and flavour. Bulk meals such as soups, curries and pasta are a cheap and tasty way to use frozen veggies.
Check out our Food and Groceries Finder for detailed guides on choosing the best products for your kitchen and pantry, so you can get the most bang for your buck.
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Hi, do you have the 2022 version of this?
Hi Josh,
We do not have a 2022 equivalent of this page, but you can find some similar information here: https://www.finder.com.au/budgeting/average-grocery-bill