Was $4.39 now $4.00, Two for $6.00......pppfffftttt, please!
This piece is about our new age culture where we classify reliability and worthiness on a brand name, and also the human lifestyle of having multiple choices.
ALDI .VS. WOOLWORTHS
Not only did I walk around both supermarkets with my smart phone taking pictures, using a dictaphone app, but I have also created a cost comparison based on my own personal, single female, aged 20-25, grocery list to calculate the amount of money I could save if I could be bothered to make two stops every Sunday. It may not seem like much, but over a substantial length of time.. it could buy me a lot of handbags!
Here are a few examples of items I purchase in my shopping, and how they compare against each other, in regards to price. (Excluding home brand, information based on larger corporation names)
W = Woolworths A= Aldi
Clumping Clay Kitty Litter
W - 7kg - $12.43
A - 10kg - $5.59
Cling Wrap
W - 60m - $3.82
A - 60m - $1.39
Apple Juice
W - 2.4L $4.49
A - 2L - $1.99
Red Capsicum/Bell Pepper (Both Australian grown)
W - per 1kg - $8.98
A - per 1kg - $5.99
Tim Tams Original (Same product comparison)
W - 330g - $4.39
A - 365g - $3.99
Sustain Cereal (Same product comparison)
W - 480g - $5.22
A - 480g - $4.69
Blueberries (Both Australian grown)
W - 125g - $3.48
A - 125g - $1.99
You can clearly see, for the above products, it is definitely a benefit for me to shop at Aldi. However, there are some items that I should stick to gathering up from Woolies.
For example, I make my own baked beans because the pre-made products have added sugar to make them tasted better.
For me, I prefer a generic brand of four or five beans can, I add a diced tomato can with fresh basil and oregano. It in no way, tastes like the 'baked beans from the shelf' because mine are real. No extra additives, no sugar for taste, just good ole fresh herbs and real beans. And if I'm feeling adventurous, I chop up some fresh tomatoes and chuck them in too!
In regards to the canned tomatoes and beans, I found even though the items were cheaper in Aldi, the nutritional value in the Woolworths products is favourable. I'm not about to substitute a lower price, for higher fat and carbohydrate contents.
I guess the point to this post, is to inform people that sometimes the grass is greener on the other side, and to do your research. Read the ingredients, read the quantities and make an educated decision.
Distributors are sneaky, they mislead information and show false advertising, and it's up to you to put an end to it and stop believing them. They rely on consumers who are too busy with their life, to stop and calculate how much they're paying per gram or milliliter, and if it's cost effective to get the larger size which is on sale.. which generally, is not financially better because of the extra grams you're getting isn't needed, or you're only getting another 50grams for the extra $2.00 to which you're better buying two of the smaller size product.
Why, as a human race, are we so set on having multiple choices when it comes to food?
Wouldn't we just rather fresh vegetables and fruits from farmers markets, and one or two brands of everything else? It sure would make things a lot easier.
It's so difficult for people to choose the right nutritious food for themselves and their families with all these companies adding extra flavorings and chemicals into our food. For instance....
Emulsifiers & Xanthan Gum - to ensure the ingredients in a product remain mixed together, instead of clumping... Am I the only one that thinks foods shouldn't get cellulite?? We're adding chemicals into our foods to make sure they stay together... what the F ??
One thing is for sure, you don't find emulsifier in broccoli or carrots!
