It’s time for another instalment of price comparisons between Costco Australia and the big two Australian supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths. In our trolley on this week’s trip to Costco in Docklands were following grocery items (and a few other non-grocery items, but they are for other posts):
- Catsan Cat Litter (Crystals) – 8kg = $25.99
- Handee Ultra Paper Towel – 960 sheets = $17.99 [Double Length Rolls]
- Walnuts (Californian) – 1.36kg = $19.99 [Kirkland brand]
- Unibic Anzac Biscuits – 1kg = $6.59
- Broccoli – fresh – 1kg = $2.69
- Sliced Ham – 0.5kg = $5.99 [pre-packed sliced champagne ham]
- English Muffins – 0.8kg = $4.39 [Tip Top brand]
- Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers – 0.576kg = $9.49 [4 x 144g packs]
- Sweetcorn on the cob – fresh – 1kg = $4.49 [5 cobs pre-packed]
- Mushrooms – closed cup – 0.5kg = $4.49
- Nurofen – caplets/tablets – 24pk = $4.39
- Canadian Club Whisky – 1L = $44.99
- Lamb Shanks – 1kg = $8.99 [vacuum packed]
Using Coles online pricing, the following prices were obtained:
- Catsan Cat Litter (Crystals) – 2kg = $9.32
- Handee Ultra Paper Towel – 240sheets = $5.20
- Walnuts (Californian) – 0.5kg = $10.98 [Coles brand]
- Unibic Anzac Biscuits – 0.3kg = $3.24
- Broccoli – fresh – 1kg = $4.98
- Sliced Ham – 1kg = $25.00 [Deli item]
- English Muffins – 0.4kg = $2.29 [Tip Top $4.20 per 400g pack ($1.05 per 100g)]
- Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers – 0.144kg = $3.24
- Sweetcorn on the cob – fresh – 0.2kg = $1.00 [$1 per ear, estimated 200g per ear per Costco pack]
- Mushrooms – closed cup – 1kg = $10.98
- Nurofen – caplets/tablets – 24pk = $5.06 [Online exclusive price (15% off regular price)]
- Canadian Club Whisky – 1L = $49.00 [Used 1st Choice Liquor price]
- Lamb Shanks – 1kg = $9.99
We found the following prices at Woolworths online:
- Catsan Cat Litter (Crystals) – 2kg = $9.57
- Handee Ultra Paper Towel – 240sheets = $5.20
- Walnuts (Californian) – 0.19kg = $4.40
- Unibic Anzac Biscuits – 0.3kg = $3.21
- Broccoli – fresh – 1kg = $3.98
- Sliced Ham – 1kg = $19.98 [Deli item]
- English Muffins – 0.4kg = $1.99 [On special]
- Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers – 0.144kg = $3.21
- Sweetcorn on the cob – fresh – 0.5kg = $4.25 [pre-packed]
- Mushrooms – closed cup – 1kg = $10.98
- Nurofen – caplets/tablets – 24pk = $5.90
- Canadian Club Whisky – 0.7L = $31.70
- Lamb Shanks – N/A
Breaking that down to unit pricing results in the following:
|
Product |
Unit Size |
Unit |
Unit Price |
||
|
Costco |
Coles |
WW |
|||
| Catsan Cat Litter (Crystals) |
1 |
kg |
$3.25 | $4.66 | $4.79 |
| Handee Ultra Paper Towel |
100 |
sheets |
$1.87 | $2.17 | $2.17 |
| Walnuts (Californian) |
1 |
kg |
$14.70 | $21.96 | $23.16 |
| Unibic Anzac Biscuits |
1 |
kg |
$6.59 | $10.80 | $10.70 |
| Broccoli – fresh |
1 |
kg |
$2.69 | $4.98 | $3.98 |
| Sliced Ham |
0.1 |
kg |
$1.20 | $2.50 | $2.00 |
| English Muffins |
0.1 |
kg |
$0.55 | $0.57 | $0.50 |
| Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers |
0.1 |
kg |
$1.65 | $2.25 | $2.23 |
| Sweetcorn on the cob – fresh |
1 |
kg |
$4.49 | $5.00 | $8.50 |
| Mushrooms – closed cup |
1 |
kg |
$8.98 | $10.98 | $10.98 |
| Nurofen – caplets/tablets |
24 |
pk |
$4.39 | $5.06 | $5.90 |
| Canadian Club Whisky |
1 |
L |
$44.99 | $49.00 | $45.29 |
| Lamb Shanks |
1 |
kg |
$8.99 | $9.99 | N/A |
So apart from a potential ‘loss leader’ special at Woolworths on English muffins, Costco won this round and just about every front.
My Grocery Price Check For June 7th 2013