If you’ve read the news in the past few days you might have heard the rumours that Aldi are considering coming to New Zealand.
This came from a number of news outlets after Grant Robertson – the acting Prime Minister – told RNZ he was in talks with a number of players to expand competition in the New Zealand grocery sector and bring down the duopoly of Foodstuffs and Countdown.
It’s important to note that there has been no confirmation from Aldi that they are planning to enter the New Zealand market.
Grant Robertson’s actual words were in response to the host who questioned if Aldi was one of the players looking at entering the New Zealand market.
He mentioned Costco’s arrival before stating “there were other players in the Australian market that people can take a look at”.
“Aldi is one of the players, but I’m not going to announce things for people today”.
He then went on to explain that the government was focused on making the playing field more competitive so that outsiders would find it easier to move into the New Zealand market.
Why is Aldi cheaper than regular supermarkets?
There are a few reasons why Aldi can keep its prices low.
One reason is that they sell primarily generic products. This means that they don’t have to pay for advertising or marketing, which can be expensive.
They also have a smaller selection than most other supermarkets, which helps to keep costs down.
You might have heard about Aldi copycat products. This is when Aldi make their own version of a popular brand name product.
They design the packaging and name the product to closely mimic the original, well-known product as you can see in this Sydney Morning Herald article.
In addition, Aldi stores are typically smaller than other supermarkets, which also helps to reduce operating costs.
Finally, Aldi uses a “no frills” approach, which means that they don’t offer extras like bagging services or in-store cafes.
By keeping their costs low, Aldi can pass those savings on to their customers in the form of lower prices.
Why Isn’t Aldi Coming To New Zealand?
Aldi has previously mentioned they have no plans to enter the New Zealand market and up until recently, they had good reason not to.
With the government putting the supermarket duopoly on notice by seeking recommendations from the Commerce Commission, Aldi may reconsider.
If the duopoly is forced to stop land banking (which is currently common practice) this may allow for other players to step in.
What Is Being Done To Bring Aldi To New Zealand?
Kiwis are well-travelled savvy shoppers. Many of us have shopped at Aldi in Australia or further abroad and seen the huge price disparity.
The Facebook page Bring Aldi to New Zealand has a strong following and is worth checking out if you want to voice your support publicly.
Where Can Shoppers Go Instead Of Aldi In New Zealand?
There are no real Aldi alternatives in New Zealand right now. The Warehouse is doing a stellar job of bringing down the price of essentials like butter, Weetbix, milk, and instant coffee.
Their flour and baking supplies are also reasonably priced and high quality.
When combined with the Spend 50 Get 5 back offer in The Market club app, there are serious savings to be had.
I am now doing over 30% of my weekly grocery shop at The Warehouse and this will continue if they keep increasing their range.
Is Aldi Coming To New Zealand In 2022?
Right now, it’s just rumour’s circling. But if ever there were a time for Aldi to make a move, it’s now.
The people want (need) change and the cost of living crisis might just make us usually apathetic Kiwis take action to get the change we need.
If Aldi were to come to New Zealand, they would have a ready made customer base keen to explore their range.
The government has cast its line, let’s all hope Aldi bite, for the sake of our wallets.
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