Grocery retail sales value of supermarkets Australia 2014-2023

In 2023, the value of grocery retail sales from supermarkets in Australia exceeded 106 billion Australian dollars. This marked an increase from the previous year, in which grocery retail sales were valued at just shy of 101 billion Australian dollars. 

Which supermarkets dominate Australia’s grocery landscape?

Australia’s supermarket and grocery sector is highly concentrated, with the top four companies, Woolworths, Coles, IGA (Metcash), and German company, Aldi, holding over 80 percent of the country’s grocery retailer market share. The top two supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles, have extensive retail networks across the country, with around 2,250 stores in the Woolworths network as of June 2024, including Woolworths Supermarkets, Ampol Woolworths, and EG Ampol locations.

Inquiry into Australia’s grocery sector

Going into 2024, the price of groceries was one of the most pressing financial issues for many Australian households, with over 70 percent of consumers surveyed in April 2024 saying they felt grocery prices had increased compared to the previous year. Only 27 percent of Australian consumers indicated in the same survey that, in their view, grocery products were priced fairly by supermarkets. Following price gouging allegations against major supermarket chains in the country, including Australia’s supermarket duopoly, Woolworths and Coles, the Australian Consumer Competition Commission (ACCC) launched its inquiry into the country’s grocery retail sector in January 2024. The inquiry endeavors to highlight key issues across the supermarket sector and introduce improved regulatory framework and pricing mechanisms, enabling better market access for smaller grocery retailers and discounters, as well as improving customer, supply chain contributor, and farmer satisfaction.