Are supermarket specials actually cheaper?
Spot real supermarket specials in Grocero. Open a yellow-ticket deal, compare stores on one screen, and only keep the ones that beat the competition.
Not every supermarket special in Australia is a real save. A yellow ticket means a store is promoting an item, not that the price beats another supermarket's regular (or special) price. The ACCC's 2024-25 supermarket inquiry found some "was/now" specials used inflated reference prices, so the discount looked bigger than it was. In Grocero you check that in one place: open the special, read each store's price on the same screen, and see whether the "sale" wins.
Grocero compares Coles and Woolworths at launch, with ALDI next on the roadmap and more Australian supermarkets (IGA, Harris Farm Markets, and others) as we can match products accurately. Here's the walkthrough, using the everyday staples and pantry deals where it's easiest to overpay if you only read one catalogue.
Open this week's specials
The Specials tab shows current promotions in one feed. At launch that means Coles and Woolworths; more stores join the same feed as they ship. Each card shows the special price, a discount like -30%, the old price struck through, unit pricing, and + List.
Want to narrow it down? Use Search specials, or open the filter and pick a store (at launch: Both stores, Coles, or Woolworths) plus brand and category filters.
Example 1: Open a special that looks like a win
Tap a card that feels familiar, then open the product. Dairy Farmers yoghurt is a good example: Woolworths is on special at $4.00 (-33%, was $6.00) against Coles at $4.20.
On the product screen you should see:
- A price row for each supported store
- The discount badge and struck-through old price on the special
- Unit pricing on every row
- BEST PRICE on the store that genuinely wins
- + on each store row to add it to your list
Example 2: Check when the special does not win
This is the real-specials test. Open another product and read each supported store side by side, even when the yellow ticket looks strong.
Tassal smoked salmon is on special at Woolworths for $16.00 (-24%, was $21.00), and Coles is also $16.00. The ticket is real versus Woolworths' own "was" price, but it does not beat the other supermarket. A discount badge does not earn BEST PRICE when the other store matches or undercuts.
Skip it, or buy it at the other store, instead of treating the yellow ticket as an automatic win.
What's on every specials product screen
Every specials card and product screen gives you the same honest price details:
- A price row for each supported store, so the special sits next to the other supermarket
- Unit pricing, so pack-size tricks never win
- Discount and old price when a store is on special (e.g. -11% with the struck-through was price)
- BEST PRICE only on the store that genuinely wins (on the product screen)
- + List on the card when you want it on your list from the feed
Keep only the specials that pass
Add the item when the special wins. Skip it (or buy it at another store) when it fails. Your list and basket comparison stay honest instead of filling up with "specials" that cost more than the other store's regular price.
More supermarkets over time
The majors come first, ALDI next, then the other Australian supermarkets people actually shop (IGA, Harris Farm Markets, and more as we can match products accurately). Specials work differently by chain: Coles and Woolworths run weekly half-price rotations, while ALDI leans on everyday low prices plus time-limited Special Buys. Until those stores land in Grocero, the guides still help: supermarket specials in Australia, ALDI vs Coles vs Woolworths prices, and ALDI specials.
The in-app habit stays the same as each store is added: open the deal, read every supported price on one screen, trust BEST PRICE only when it wins.
Frequently asked questions
Are Coles and Woolworths specials real?
Many are genuine cuts versus that chain's own higher price. Some still fail when you compare to another supermarket's regular price. The ACCC's 2024-25 inquiry found some "was/now" deals used inflated reference prices. Grocero shows each supported store so you can tell.
How does Grocero flag a weak special?
On the product screen you see each store's current price side by side. The BEST PRICE tag only goes to the store that genuinely wins. A half-price badge doesn't earn it if another store is still cheaper.
What did the ACCC say about specials?
Its 2024-25 supermarket inquiry found some advertised specials used inflated "was" prices, making discounts look bigger than they were. Cross-store checking is how shoppers verify a deal item by item.
Which supermarkets does Grocero cover?
Coles and Woolworths at launch, ALDI next, then more Australian supermarkets (including IGA and Harris Farm Markets) as we can match products accurately. Specials, search and BEST PRICE work the same way as each store is added.
Does this work for ALDI specials too?
ALDI's model is different (everyday low prices plus Special Buys), so the "half price vs was" trap is less of the story. Once ALDI is in Grocero, the same product screen still shows whether its price beats the majors on that item. Until then, see ALDI specials in Australia.
Can I browse only specials in the app?
Yes. Open the Specials tab, use Search specials or filter by store and category, then open any deal to run the cross-store comparison before you tap + or List. At launch the store filter is Both stores / Coles / Woolworths.
Which products should I check first?
Staples and pantry brands that rotate through specials often: milk, eggs, chicken, bread, coffee, pasta sauce. Those are where a weak "was/now" ticket is easiest to miss if you only read one catalogue.
Is Grocero free?
Yes. Checking specials and comparing prices is part of core free comparison. Grocero is independent and not affiliated with any supermarket.