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INDUSTRY NEWS
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Local Supermarkets preferred by Australians A recent CHOICE survey of Australian shoppers determined that most Australians prefer to shop at their local supermarkets. MGA TMA members, including Foodland stores in SA, Drakes Supermarkets in SA and Qld and family-owned NSW fresh produce retailer Harris Farms, have performed outstandingly well in comparison with the two large chains.
The two major chains are, however, leading the independent sector in online retail. Meaning that, consumers were very satisfied and praised their online shopping experiences. The survey results indicated that Australian consumers are very proud of their locally owned brands and businesses that produce high quality fresh and gourmet foods of every description. The compelling insight for members to take note of is that Australian consumers want to see a wide range of new and local foods in the independent grocery stores and supermarkets to choose from. This is a huge opportunity for MGA members, small to large, to engage with their local fresh and gourmet food producers. To invest in floor and shelf space in displaying and selling these local food products. The Foodland and Drakes stores performed well in the range of their products and local food availability, with shoppers eager to support their local producers. We are the hubs of the communities in which we trade, and we should never let the two big chains or the German discounters take that position away from us!
mga.asn.au | July - August 2021 | Edition 4
MGA members, please note that Choice Australia has the most discreet shoppers in Australia with over 3000 members, providing comprehensive feedback on their supermarket experience in-store or online against 39 criteria. The challenge for all of us is to lift our retailing standards in every respect and provide our customers with the locally produced fresh and gourmet foods they desire.
they buy. Moreover, it’s easier to browse and compare different products instore, according to our survey respondents. Between them, Coles and Woolworths have almost 70% of Australia’s grocery market. This duopoly certainly dominates in terms of the number of stores and geographical distribution, but does the sheer presence (and the convenience this offers) translate to satisfied in-store customers?
Here is how Australian supermarkets rank in the 2021 CHOICE Supermarket Satisfaction Survey: Until recently, just four percent of Foodland (82% overall) grocery shoppers bought their groceries Drakes Supermarkets (79%) online in an average month, according to Harris Farm Markets (78%) market research group Roy Morgan. Aldi (75%) Costco (75%) This number was always forecast to IGA / Supa IGA (74%) increase, but the COVID-19 pandemic Foodworks (72%) helped rapidly move a whole swathe of Woolworths (71%) customers from shopping in-store to Coles (69%) online. Friendly grocery (67%) Supermarkets, particularly independents, play a significant role in the lives of Australians favourite Australians, one that the COVID-19 Supermarkets pandemic has highlighted. Although online grocery shopping is on Over the past 12 months or so, the rise, most people still prefer to shop supermarkets and grocery stores have in the bricks-and-mortar branches of frequently made the news headlines, supermarkets – mainly because they like with stories about the panic buying of to check the quality of fresh produce (like toilet paper, grocery stockpiling, product fruit, vegetables, meat and fish) before
