Aldi has held on to its title as Australia’s cheapest supermarket as consumer group Choice releases its latest quarterly report on prices across the country.

“Aldi had the best deal for shoppers looking to keep cosy this winter, with the full basket of 14 items without specials costing $55.35,” Choice chief executive Ashley de Silva said.

“Woolworths wasn’t too far behind at $58.92. The Coles basket without specials came in at $59.22, and the IGA basket would cost you $69.74.”

Choice’s quarterly study of national grocery prices is in its second year of a three-year $1.1 million government-funded program.

To get its latest results, Choice sent fieldworkers to price groceries at 104 supermarkets in 27 locations across Australia in March.

For all items chosen, factors such as ingredient lists, country of origin and packaging similarities were accounted for to ensure we made fair comparisons.

When items were unavailable, Choice looked for the closest alternative.

It also amended its “base basket”. Some products have been replaced, while the overall basket is smaller.

Choice said the changes would allow it to add more spotlight items each quarter and compare a wider variety of products across the whole year.

In addition to base items, which will be tracked across the year, this quarter’s basket surveyed the prices of popular winter products – vegetable stock, sour cream, drinking chocolate, butternut pumpkin, quick oats, garlic, and onions.

“Without specials, Woolworths had the cheapest chicken breasts and pumpkin, while Coles had the best deal on apples. At IGA, you paid less for carrots and garlic than at the three other supermarkets. For all other products in our basket, Aldi is your best bet,” de Silva said.

“When taking into account specials, Aldi still came out on top, with its basket costing $54.44. Coles was next at $57.67, then Woolworths at $58.86, and IGA at $67.54.

“All up, if you’re planning a hearty porridge breakfast, or wanting a cup of hot chocolate to keep you feeling snug, Aldi should be your first stop.”

On Wednesday, IGA said the Choice survey was an “inaccurate and unfair representation” of its stores. 

“The Choice research team has knowingly compared the pricing of independently owned small local grocers to full range Coles and Woolworths supermarkets,” it said.

“It is disappointing that Choice acknowledges IGA stores surveyed vary widely in range due to their independence and are not of similar size but continue to include their findings regardless.”

IGA said it engaged with Choice after the release of last year’s first report, but the same approach had continued.

“This is frustrating for the hundreds of independent IGA owners across Australia who are supporting their local communities,” it said.

“It is unhelpful to consumers, government and regulators who rely on the Choice team to conduct fair, comparable, and thorough research.”

The latest study comes after the most recent data showed price rises for food and non-alcoholic beverages beginning to ease in Australia. The segment slowed from 3.4 per cent to 3.1 per cent in April – and would have been lower but for a steep rise in the price of eggs due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

Choice said the cost of food and groceries remained a concern for most Australian households. In its most recent survey, conducted in January, 96 per cent of respondents said their household expenses and bills had risen in the previous 12 months.

De Silva said other ways to save on the weekly grocery shop, included:

• Checking unit pricing
• Keeping an eye on specials;
• Shopping around;
• Trying house brand products.

All could add up to considerable savings, he said.