For singles/couples and also those with limited hand abilities the most attractive product might be to pick up a couple of the loose washed potatoes. The most expensive option at $4.50 kg. It seems counter to logic that it costs less to prepack and handle 2kg bags than bulk loose. Perhaps a temporary spike?
As many have observed prices are not always connected to costs of production and distribution but are what the market will bear. In other cases they may want to move old stock that is prepacked, or move loose stock that they know has been sitting for a week, and sometimes a single variety/flavour of product will be half priced with the others at full RRP if it hasn’t moved.
The last few weeks the lose snap peas have been pretty ordinary looking but what one could feel in the prepacked bags seemed much better as well as more expensive. The differences would be in the bags, the packing overheads, and recently the perceived (and proven) freshness. Sometimes the prepacks have been cheaper with the reverse tactile impressions. It makes sense for inventory management.
I am a regular consumer of rice “milk” (why manufacturers can get away with calling such a product “milk” is mystifying and not only to dairy producers).
My go to brand was ALDI’s (as it’s price at $1.59 per litre was cheaper than its rivals and its ingredients were almost identical), but that changed recently when the price escalated by 25% to $1.99 and the new product was calcium-free. As far as I know, it’s the only calcium free rice milk sold and hence it’s nutritional value escapes me.
While in a Woolies store this morning, I found my new brand of choice: Pure Harvest. This until last week sold for $2.20 per litre.
Today I saw it selling for $2.75, a whopping ALDI-like 25% price rise. What possible justification is there for such a hike? Is it a coincidence that two retailers apply mirror image price changes?
Oddly, Woolies online shows this very product selling for not $2.20 or the new shelf price of $2.75 but for $2.60, see
Well, more shocks in store…
Further to my above post in August, did the shopping yesterday, and found the milk price has now increased to $3…for a litre…that happened within the last week.
What annoys me just as much is they are just adding lactase, not actually removing anything. So unless the cost of lactase has skyrocketed, how on earth can they justify this??
I had heard a few months back the cheap 1 dollar coffee at Coles and 7 elven are going up because of coffee prices going up. I noticed the banana bread went up 25 cents at 7 elven. Amazing it already cost 2.50 per slice anyway i still like them.
The cheek of retailers calling a sugar laden banana cake a “bread”! While on the topic of price rises and bread, Fairfax Media on 14/01/23 mentioned grain prices have FALLEN in the last year. So one would expect cakes and breads to FALL or at least not RISE in price.
So why has ALDI cranked up the price of their multigrain sourdough, which was $2.99 until from memory 2021 and now sells for $3.99. A whopping 29% mark up!
Is the Aldi product made in Australia from all Australian ingredients?
If so consider -
A large portion of the inputs to the production of baked products is the gas used to heat the ovens. Look to the most recent trends in increased cost of East Coast natural gas supply for part of the answer.
While the grain price may have come down there are also increased energy costs for transport and milling.
If only the price of grain determined the selling price of the bread.
There are other costs to breadmaking, labour and fuel among them.
Then there are the mysteries of marketing. Why were all the other prices between 2.99 and 3.99 skipped? Perhaps 2.99 was a loss leader and 3.99 is nearer the “real” price.
I was speaking to a local store owner he said that when the price of fresh fruit for example is on special he makes no money because it is below the normal price. He said old ripe fruit vegetables get thrown out after a period. He said the previous owners were pretty slack at getting rid of the older stock.
Even if energy prices rose, even by 20%, which is not true for those who have long term contracts, I doubt energy is so large a component of the cost of production to justify a whopping 29% price hike. Let’s not forget not only have grain prices tanked but wages are not rising.
I think that ALDI is becoming more comfortable in the AU marketplace and is behaving like the two Big Boys.
Thanks for the reply. I don’t think this bread was a “loss leader”. For some years it was selling for $2.99 then in 2020 or 2021 it climbed to $3.09 and a few weeks ago $3.99. FWIW ALDI sell very fancy breads for $5.99 a loaf. Similar to what a corner store catering to those with fine tastes, for $7.99. The cheaper selling price at ALDI reflects their better buying power than that of a corner store.
When ALDI shoots up the price to $8.49 should the public “understand” that at $5.99 it was a “loss leader” too?
Energy itself doesn’t. Increasing energy costs are only one component impacting on current food price inflation. The Guardian and ABC penned some articles explaining what factors are involved:
And the current food price inflation isn’t restricted to Australia. It is occurring around the world.
No. I don’t know in detail why this price went up. I was pointing out that absent any information directly about it the reason is just speculation. The common refrain of greed and the desire to exploit the customer is often an assumption.
True, it’s just one of many cost components in the manufacturing of bakery products. Modern businesses and their cost structures are complex. Noted @phb has provided some useful links as to why the overall cost increases.
As an alternate point of reference.
I could suggest that today Helgas basic loafs by crude memory from early 2022 retailed at Woolies for $3.30 to $3.50. As low as $3.00 on specials prior. Abbotts Bakery were typically a little dearer by 10-20cents. Today they are $4.40 and $4.30 respectively. Subjectively an approx 20-25% price increase.
This is correct, many products advertised with a price reduction of 10% or 20% are still a lot dearer than they were a year ago.
The writer of the article doesn’t seem to know or care whether the quoted percentage figures relate to increases over 1 month, 3 months or 12 months. For the record, they all seem to relate to annual increases. Just when you think the bar for being a journalist couldn’t get any lower …
Bread in my nearest town travels 570km to get there. With fuel prices what they are, and energy prices, the big increase in bread prices is to be expected. Price has gone up from $5.40 to $6.70.
“…The common refrain of greed and the desire to exploit the customer is often an assumption.”
An assumption which, in areas of weak competition, and/or lack of regulation where there are monopolies or duopolies, I would suggest is more right than wrong?
