Big change to popular Aldi product

Eagle-eyed Aldi shoppers will notice a big difference to the supermarket meat aisle, with the discount grocery chain updating its mince meat packaging from plastic trays to a plastic bag.

The update follows a 12-week trial in December in which Aldi’s Jindurra Station two-star beef mince was packaged in a plastic bag.

Aldi says the move reduced plastic by 70 per cent.

The trial’s success led the supermarket to keep the plastic sleeve, with plans to expand the packaging to other products in the range.

An Aldi spokesperson said the change would send less plastic to landfill.

“As part of our commitment to reducing plastic packaging by 25 per cent by the end of 2025, we are actively working with our supplier partners to explore innovative solutions that minimise our plastic footprint,” the spokesperson said.

The German chain is Australia’s third most popular supermarket behind Woolworths and Coles. Aldi occupies roughly 9.5 per cent of the market, while Woolworths and Coles holds 37.1 per cent and 27.9 per cent of the market respectively.

Figures released by the supermarket in late April reported Aldi grew their customers by 4.2 per cent between October to December 2022, increasing sales growth by 13.2 per cent year-on-year in the same quarter.

It’s a trend Aldi managing director Jordan Lack hopes will continue. He said the company was able to sell their products at lower prices by cutting out unnecessary costs.

Data from the report, compiled by accounting with PwC, said Australian families saved $3.1bn every year by shopping at Aldi. An analysis of prices found products were about 18 per cent cheaper at the discount grocery store compared with its competitors.

“We have seen a shift in customer purchasing behaviour. Existing customers are shopping with us more frequently and an increasing number of Australians are looking to Aldi for their grocery needs,” Mr Lack said.