Honest to God, I nearly tripped over my trolley when I saw the price of these chocolate Easter eggs at Coles the other day.
How the hell can a family, any family, afford something like this?
And just in case someone thinks this is Coles bashing, I also checked out the Woolies offerings on Easter eggs, and, surprise, surprise, the story is pretty much the same.
Not sure if you can tell from my photo, but these chocolate Easter Bunnies are also pretty small, 100 grams each to be exact.
The average adult would need at least a couple to feel satisfied, but maybe that’s just me.
Just a couple of weeks ago, both supermarket chains reported their half yearly result before interest and tax, and it certainly raised some eyebrows.
Woolies raked in $1.5 billion in profit in just six months, while poor old Coles could only manage a paltry $1.2 billion.
Fair enough, we live in a capitalist system, and we are not communists.
And both have shareholders to think about – we get it.
But $9 for 100 grams of chocolate, which according to the Coles sign includes a $3 discount!
Pull the other one.
Remember that these Easter Bunny chocolates are just the latest example of outrageous pricing by the so called big two supermarkets.
As anyone who does the family shopping will know, this kind of price gouging has become a regular occurrence.
It was happening before the pandemic, but it has accelerated since then.
I know the authorities have their eyes on them and their pricing practices, but just wish they could get on with it.
Here we are in Australia, a wealthy country where the cost of living is pushing some families to the brink.
It’s just one big challenge we face, I know, but it’s the one we need to get stuck into, and somehow find some answers.
To Coles and Woolies I say think about the social impact of your pricing policies versus your fat profits.
How would you like fewer and fewer customers, to start with.
With Easter around the corner, it may be the perfect time for them to start being more socially responsible.
Just a thought.
Anyhow, here are my Top 5 price shockers of the past few years:
Number 1. A 2 litre orange juice bottle went from $2 to $5 almost overnight.
Number 2. Coffee beans, 1 kilo bags up, $10, $20 in some brands.
Number 3. Cheese, a staple, right, for most of us, not far off being unaffordable for many.
Number 4. Fresh fish and meat, maybe once a month for most budgets.
Number 5. And of course my favourite, chocolate Easter Bunnies, as per above.