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Even before COVID hit, online shopping was becoming more popular amongst time-poor and budget-driven consumers. And then the pandemic took over the world and grocery deliveries went through the roof.

Both Woolworths and Coles have been promoting their online shopping offerings, with Woolies nabbing 57.4 per cent of online grocery sales by the first quarter of 2020, according to figures released by Roy Morgan. Coles’ share of online shopping food sales is trailing behind at 26.1 per cent.

“Over the last three years, and particularly in the last 18 months, we’ve seen a really substantial increase in online [food] expenditure,” Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said.

IGA Online Shopping

Even IGA has dipped its toes into the online shopping environment and fast-tracked its online delivery platform.

“We were not really in [online] for IGA and the retailers weren’t that interested in it, but all of that changed at the beginning of the pandemic,” Mr Jeff Adams, CEO of IGA supermarkets’ supplier Metcash said. “And suddenly all the IGA operators became interested.”

What about Aldi?

But there is one major supermarket player that is totally silent when it comes to online shopping actions. While we would love our favourite Bao buns, Choceur chocolate bars or beef steaks delivered right to our door, Aldi is staying well away from the online world.

Just imagine being able to secure a Special Buy from the comfort of your couch? How amazing the world would be if you didn’t have to queue up for a TV deal or get elbowed out the way to grab a jar of Caviar face cream! Ah, we can only but dream.

Unfortunately, Aldi’s actions (or lack thereof) show that they are pretty adamant that they’re going to be sticking to the traditional way of shopping for the foreseeable future.

Point Of Difference

Professor Gary Mortimer, a retail expert from the Queensland University of Technology, spoke to Yahoo News Australia saying that Aldi has always prided itself on being different from its competitors.

He said that offering an online shopping option could lead to Aldi price hikes.

“There are costs involved in picking and packing and delivery, as well as setting up distribution centres,” Prof. Mortimer said.

Keep Prices Low

The Aldi model is built around cost savings. In many stores, you even have to pay to “hire” a trolley and there is certainly very minimal customer service, with shoppers having to speed-pack their own purchases.

Since supermarket online shopping, in reality, only represents about five per cent of the grocery retail market, it’s probably not worth the expensive outlay for Aldi to set up a delivery infrastructure.

“If Aldi were to go online it would literally be starting from scratch. While they do have the money to do that, it’s never been part of their model.” Prof Mortimer said.

Special Buys Online?

The professor did suggest that the discount retailer could consider offering their Special Buys online.

“That rocking chair or ski gloves could be sold online and that merchandise could be sent out using a third party like Australia Post or Toll. Distributing and moving food however is more challenging because they are perishables.”

Ah, how awesome would that be!

It May Not Be Too Far Off!

But while Aldi online shopping in Australia seems a far-off fantasy at the moment, on the other side of the world, Aldi is trialing an online shopping pilot program across 15 stores in the UK.

“We have to make sure that whatever we do fits with our low-cost model,” Giles Hurley, head of ALDI’s operations in the U.K. and Ireland, told the Financial Times. “That is absolutely critical.”

Would you be keen to do your online shopping through Aldi? Tell us in the comments below.

  • I’d prefer if they started bagging groceries first or at least took the pressure off so the staff would slow the hell down instead of throwing my food at me.

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  • Prefer to pick my own food and Aldi is one store I do not shop at.

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  • If it was available – and cost effective – I’d certainly give it a try.

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  • That wound be good to implement as I never go to aldi only because it’s a bit further from my home. I have two kids under two so it’s hard for me to get out which is why online shopping suits me so much.
    I wish more places offered it to be honest! Would love to have stores like the Reject Shop and Daiso to offer online shopping, it would honestly make my day as I can never get to either of them because they’re so far.

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  • I don’t shop at Aldi and I don’t shop online ☺️ However I think it’s good that the possibility of online shopping is there in case of sickness or other challenging circumstances. When Coles and Woolies offer that choice, there’s no need for me for Aldi to do so as well

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  • The issue I have with Aldi is that they currently have advertised specials being really hit and miss due to covid19 and delivery delays here in SA. It sucks because I don’t know if I can get the awesome specials or not. However, if keeping it offline helps with the costs, I say that’s ok with me. We literally halved our shopping bill by shopping here for our staples.

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  • That will be dreams come true

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  • I don’t shop online for food, I like to choose my own products. I find Aldi fresh produce not the best and not really that much cheaper overall.

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  • I dont do online shopping. Good on Aldi for not bending to trends.


    • I love the opportunity to get out and about and shop in person.

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  • Sure the initial costs would be a bit but you gotta spend money to make money in this day and age

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  • I prefer to shop for groceries in store for the exercise and to select the products.

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  • Please keep the prices low ????

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  • I’m.all.for.keeping prices low

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  • It would be nice to be able to access special buys online

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  • Only for the special buys. I don’t like grocery shopping online.

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  • I do my grocery shop online as it does help me stay within my budget & I don’t have to wrangle 4 kids while trying to get groceries. I’d love for ALDI to come online!

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  • I’m not over the moon about shopping for groceries online, happy to browse the store.

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  • No l am good with Safeway,thanks!

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  • Fortunately I have Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all within walking distance from my home, so I don’t do online shopping. I like in-store shopping.

    Reply

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