How much do Australians spend on groceries each month?
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australians spent $14.18 billion at the supermarket in December 2023 – equivalent to about $532.20 per person.
Where do Australians prefer to buy groceries?
Finder research has found consumers' preferences are unchanged since 2021. Woolworths is still the nation's favourite supermarket, with 48% of Australians saying they primarily shop with the fresh food people. This is closely followed by Coles (39%). A further 10% say Aldi is their supermarket of choice, while 2% opt for IGA.
Women are marginally more likely than men to shop at Woolworths (49% compared to 46%) while men are more likely to choose Coles (40% compared to 38%).
Gen Z are the most likely to shop at Woolworths (55%), compared to baby boomers and gen Y (both 47%).
Interestingly, those that shop at Aldi say they are spending the most on their weekly groceries ($210). Shoppers at Coles say they are spending $23 less than those at Woolies. ($193 and $170, respectively). We do note, that Aldi is the only 1 of the 3 stores that sell alcohol and special items like camping equipment, so this could be a factor in the higher weekly spend.
How often do Australians buy groceries?
More than half of Australians do their grocery shopping weekly (53%). This has risen significantly from just over a third (38%) in 2021. The number of Australians shopping more frequently than once a week has dropped slightly to 33%. Less than 1 in 10 (9%) stock up every fortnight.
Interestingly, those who shop for groceries once every few days tend to spend more per week ($201) than those who opt for weekly visits ($177).
How popular are supermarket points programs?
Overall Woolworths Everyday Rewards come out as slightly more popular (75%) than Coles Flybuys (68%).
Women are more likely to be signed up for points with Woolworths (78%) and Coles (72%) than men (72% and 64%, respectively).
Holding Woolworths points is most popular among gen X with 82% of people collecting them. Coles points are most popular among baby boomers (78%).
What do people use their supermarket points for?
Two-thirds (67%) of those signed up to supermarket rewards programs use their points to get cashback from their groceries, with 13% opting to convert them to Qantas Points or Velocity Points. A further 13% use their points to buy products, while 5% say they let their points go to waste.
Women (72%) are more likely than men (62%) to use their points to get cashback from groceries, while men are more inclined to convert their points to Qantas Points or Velocity Points (18% compared to 9% for women).
Gen Z are the least likely generation to make use of their accumulated points, with 1 in 10 (9%) saying they don't use their points for anything. This has 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, more than 2 in 5 Australians (42%) say their grocery bill is one of their most stressful expenses.
Women (45%) are more likely than men (38%) to say the supermarket shop is one of their top financial stressors.
Gen X (44%) are the most likely generation to worry about their grocery bills, compared to 36% 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. Find out which brands have won in the 2021 Finder Awards, from bread and butter to bleach and toilet paper. The Awards are based on feedback from thousands of customer interviews, rating products on metrics such as taste, texture and value for money, helping you to make better decisions at the grocery store and get the most bang for your buck.
Sophie Wallis is a senior insights analyst with a passion for data storytelling. She spends her time turning complex data into digestible stories and uncovering new consumer trends. When she isn't working, you'll find her planning her next overseas holiday or bingeing on a big novel. Sophie has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Melbourne.
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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/average-grocery-bill