Groceries via delivery apps like UberEats, DoorDash and MilkRun can be up to 39% more expensive | Woolworths

Choice found Australian consumers are paying up to 39% more for food ordered through express delivery apps.

Selection of 13 common grocery items compared to store prices It’s available at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, with its equivalents available on third-party apps like UberEats, DoorDash and Woolworths’ MilkRun.

They found that items like pasta, milk, and fresh vegetables cost an average of 11% more on third-party apps, and delivery fees of $5 to $11 significantly increase bills.

While 7 of 13 items at Aldi were priced higher on DoorDash than in store, MilkRun charged more for 11 of 13 items at Woolworths.

“Not all products have increased in price,” said Choice editor-in-chief Mark Serrels, but “most have increased in price.”

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All of Coles’ products are more expensive on third-party apps UberEats and DoorDash.

“I don’t think there should be an increase in prices,” Serrels said. “There has to be a profit margin for the delivery itself.

“I don’t think anyone is saying these companies shouldn’t charge to deliver your food. [but] “There is absolutely no reason to pay more for bread just because someone is giving it away.”

Choice found UberEats to be the most expensive platform.

Including delivery charges, Woolworths and Coles hampers cost 39% and 35% more respectively than in-store purchases, while items are 12% more expensive.

A spokesperson for Uber told Guardian Australia: “Restaurants partner with Uber Eats in a variety of ways… Each seller chooses the model that suits their needs and sets their own prices on the platform, taking into account things like ingredient costs, supply chain pressures and day-to-day operating expenses. This flexibility allows them to run their business on their own terms.”

A spokesperson for Coles said: “Like most sellers, including retailers and restaurants, items sold through third-party delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash often have a higher price point compared to shopping direct.”

“This allows us to serve our customers who want instant delivery options (especially when they are pressed for time).

The spokesman said shopping at Coles online, which offers direct delivery and click and collect, gives customers the same prices as in store.

Choice’s comparison shopping confirmed that direct online shopping through Coles is cheaper than shopping through third-party apps, even when the $15 delivery fee is included.

Serrels described the way delivery apps and supermarkets explain price disparities as “like the Spider-Man meme.”

“I feel like they’re all pointing to each other,” he said. “I think they just need to put their heads together and solve this problem… It’s good that they defend themselves in this situation, but in Election we want the consumer to get a conclusion for the end of the story. So whoever is at fault, figure it out.”

Both Coles and Woolworths offer a number of delivery fee options via their websites, including free annual subscriptions.

Choice found that shopping through MilkRun, which was acquired by the Woolworths group in 2023, was cheaper than using some of the delivery options on the Woolworths website, despite many items being priced higher on Milk Run than on the shelf.

However, Choice’s findings may not be accurate for every purchase made through the Woolworths website.

Serrels said complex pricing structures are a problem for many services, from delivery to energy providers. “The more complex the pricing, the more likely it is that someone will pay more than they should,” he said. “So I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

A spokesperson for the Woolworths group said MilkRun was a 35-minute delivery service offered in addition to other collection and delivery options.

“With thousands of weekly specials [on MilkRun]“Pricing varies depending on the level of convenience offered,” they said.

“On the MilkRun website all product prices are clearly marked and delivery charges are clearly explained; this service aims to provide the best and fastest experience possible to customers who use it.”

Aldi trialled delivery via DoorDash in Canberra in July, then rolled out nationally in September.

During an initial trial, Guardian Australia found that the additional costs of ordering Aldi via DoorDash meant the discount German supermarket chain was no longer significantly cheaper than other major supermarkets.

In Choice’s research, the bill for food ordered from Woolworths through MilkRun was lower than an Aldi order placed through DoorDash; but the in-store cost of Aldi’s products was lowest overall.

Choice conducts quarterly supermarket price surveys. Based on those surveys, Serrels said Aldi’s price advantage is mostly on packaged and prepared foods. “It really depends on what you buy,” he said. “If you’re buying fresh fruit and vegetables in general, I think that price advantage is very, very small.”

A Door Dash spokesperson said: “The average Aldi shopper purchases around 20+ items per store on DoorDash, meaning delivery-related charges make up a much smaller share of the total order. “From this perspective, the overall difference in cost is significantly less than the figure quoted.

“DoorDash is working to ensure that every customer can see product prices and applicable fees before they pay, so they understand exactly what they are paying for.”

Aldi has been contacted for comment.