For another year in a row, ALDI has rated best in Canstar Blue’s 2020 supermarket ratings – taking the top spot in Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers Award for 2020.
In Canstar Blue’s latest supermarket review, the survey asked more than 2,600 shoppers about their experiences of buying groceries from a retail supermarket in the last month.
This year, ALDI stocked up its seventh win in nine years. It rated best for the freshness of its fruit, vegetables and meat, the quality of private label products, store layout, deals and specials available, value for money and overall satisfaction.
“We are thrilled to be rated as Australia’s best supermarket! Winning the hearts of our customers is what we strive for every day. Our commitment to providing the highest quality products at incredibly low prices is clearly being noticed by Australian shoppers. This is a proud moment for ALDI and our many Australian business partners,” said ALDI Australia Group Director – Buying Simon Padovani-Ginies.
Best supermarkets
Here are the best supermarkets in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2020 review:
- ALDI
- Foodland
- Woolworths
- Coles
- IGA
ALDI maintains its title as a top shelf supermarket, after becoming the best-rated retailer for the third year in a row. Foodland has been the only chain to stop ALDI’s winning streak in the nine years, having taken over the top spot in 2013 and 2017.
Canstar’s latest ratings show ALDI was the only supermarket to receive five stars for overall satisfaction, while Foodland achieved four stars. Also, Foodland managed to edge out the champion in two categories, earning the only five-star ratings for variety of products and customer service and accessibility of staff.
Woolworths, Coles and IGA all finished on three stars for overall satisfaction.
Supermarket loyalty and switching
With plenty of options available when it comes to getting the grocery shopping done, Canstar Blue says sticking to the same supermarket chain may not be the best strategy for the household budget. The recent survey shows one in four (25%) respondents do all of their shopping with the same supermarket chain, and gave the following responses:
- It’s the most convenient to shop at (e.g. close to home): 72%
- I’m familiar with the store layout and don’t want to change: 64%
- I like collecting rewards points with the supermarket: 58%
- I think it has the best quality products: 40%
- I think it is the cheapest: 34%
Although a similar amount (24%) of Aussies said they could probably save money by shopping elsewhere, while 10% did end up switching to a different supermarket in the last year for the following reasons:
- To save money: 57%
- The new supermarket is now more convenient to get to (e.g. close to home): 33%
- To buy better quality products: 30%
- To earn rewards points with the new supermarket: 25%
- I was frustrated by something at the old supermarket (e.g. lack of parking): 22%
Compared to the 22% who said the same last year, more people are now driving their trolleys (and wallets) towards chains with better quality products. Convenience also proved another major factor for changing aisles (up from 29%).
Supermarket private labels and the cost of basics
With the supermarkets introducing their own products into almost every aisle, the grocery shop often becomes a choice between supermarket-owned and branded products. Nearly half (45%) of survey respondents think supermarket private label products are good quality, dropping from a similar amount in Canstar Blue’s previous ratings (46%) and the year prior (76%). Plus, 25% said they tend to buy private labels rather than big brands. This number also continues to go down, falling from 27% last year and 47% in 2018.
While supermarket chains attempt to equal out the playing field with tactics like miniature toys and limited-time special deals, only 15% of respondents said the costs of basics such as milk and bread determined where they shop. Again, this amount continues to decrease (down from 17% in 2019, and 33% in 2018). It also seems customers are showing more willpower in the aisles, with 35% admitting to making impulse purchases (down from 37% last year, and 58% in 2018).
The average amount Aussies at the supermarket checkout remains around the $140 mark.
Supermarket frustrations
Grocery shopping can be a struggle at times, particularly with kids in tow, or for those in a rush to grab something quick for dinner. Canstar Blue asked respondents for their biggest pet peeves when the weekly grocery shop comes around, with queues at the checkout the biggest issue for shoppers.
- Items I want being sold out/unavailable: 19%
- Other customers (e.g. blocking the aisle, getting in the way): 16%
- Queues at the checkout: 6%
- Self-service machines: 6%
- Trying to find a car park: 6%
- Not being able to find a staff member to assist: 5%
- People using the wrong lane (e.g. too many items for 10 items or less): 5%
- Store layout/not being able to find what I want: 4%
- Having to bring my own shopping bags: 4%
- Store opening/closing times: 2%
- Checkout operator talking too much 1%
Despite the lengthy list of gripes, 17% said they have no supermarket frustrations.