Why Thousands Of Shoppers Are Ditching Coles And Woolworths For Popular Grocery Staple At Aldi

Aldi has pulled off a major upset in Australia’s supermarket wars, taking home the top spot in four major meat categories and sparking fresh debate among shoppers who say they’ve already abandoned Coles and Woolworths for the budget retailer’s cuts.

The German supermarket chain has been crowned the nation’s best for chicken, lamb, seafood and fish in Canstar Blue’s 2025 Supermarket Meat Awards – a clean sweep that has stunned even long-term Aldi loyalists.

It marks the second year in a row Aldi has won both the lamb and fish categories, and the latest milestone in what has already been a trophy-stacked year for the retailer.

Aldi has now won the Most Satisfied Customers Award for supermarket meats every year since the award began, making it the only chain in the country to ever do so.

The win comes as meat prices remain a sore point for Aussie households, with many shoppers accusing major supermarkets of selling cuts ‘full of water’, ‘tough’, ‘subpar’, or simply unaffordable.

‘I find there is heaps of difference,’ one shopper wrote online.

‘Aldi is better quality and cheaper. Butchers have gone all in with price gouging – $30 a kilo for rump is way too much.’

‘Aldi absolutely for price. Steaks for $25 a kilo instead of $40 a kilo. Sure. I’m in,’ another added.

The awards are based on customer reviews, rating supermarkets on overall satisfaction, taste, freshness, value for money and range.

‘Congratulations to Aldi. They took top honours for chicken, lamb, fish and seafood. The chain scored five stars for value in every category, proving customers don’t have to compromise on quality or affordability,’ spokesperson Eden Radford said.

Australians clearly agree. The comment sections of local community pages have been flooded with people swearing off Coles and Woolworths.

‘I’ve found Aldi steaks to be reliable for the price. When I lived in Darwin without Aldi, (it was difficult).’

Another said they now buy Aldi’s scotch fillet roasts and slice their own steaks at home.

The win also comes during a broader shift in shopping habits as families head toward the end of the year looking to tighten their budgets.

Many are turning to mixed-shopping routines – Aldi for red meat, small local farms for specialty cuts, and butchers for mince or sausages.

Aldi’s Group Buying Director for Meat and Seafood, Adrian Nel, said the recognition was especially meaningful because it reflected real customer experiences rather than industry judging.

‘Our shoppers never have to compromise between quality and affordability – at Aldi they get both,’ he said.

‘Every item in our fresh meat range is carefully selected, locally sourced and rigorously tested.’

He added that the win ‘is a testament to our Supplier Partners, who work tirelessly to ensure our customers enjoy top–tier products every time’.

It caps off a huge year for Aldi, which was also named Australia’s best-rated supermarket by Canstar for the eighth consecutive year and crowned best overall supermarket by Roy Morgan.

Even its coffee range took home major awards, with Aldi’s Lazzio coffee winning Overall Champion of the Large Chain category at the 2025 Golden Bean Australasia Awards.

And while Coles and Woolworths still dominate in scale, many shoppers say the meat category is one area where loyalty shifts quickly – especially when every dollar counts.

For now, Aldi’s shelves are likely to stay crowded with bargain hunters – and Aussie barbecues this summer may look a little different as families vote with their tongs.