Supermarket Meat Awards 2023
How we rate supermarket meats
For many Australians, grocery shopping involves a stop at the meat aisles to stock up on meals for the week. It’s for this reason that our big supermarket chains compete fiercely to offer the best quality meats at the most competitive prices, which means there’s often only small differences in actual costs. Canstar Blue’s annual review aims to look beyond costs to determine which supermarket chain provides customers with overall satisfaction with their meat purchases. We identify a Most Satisfied Customers award winner in each major meat category – beef, chicken, lamb, pork, fish and seafood – but also give a breakdown of which supermarket shoppers determine is best for each meat subcategory.
Our review compares supermarket meat products on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which supermarket meat product they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 4,014 Australians for their feedback on the fresh supermarket home brand meat and/or seafood products they’ve purchased and eaten in the last month. Note: This refers to supermarket’s own-brand products, not name-brand products purchased in a supermarket and not products purchased from an independent butcher, deli, farmers market or similar, and does not include cooked products such as rotisserie chickens or frozen meat products.
- The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their supermarket meat product(s) from zero to 10, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and 10 is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
- Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a supermarket meat product as an individual score, NOT a combined total of all criteria.
- Value for money: quality and quantity of product for price paid.
- Taste: as expected for the product.
- Freshness: perceived freshness of the meat cut/product.
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
- Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
- When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
- The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.
Supermarket meat products must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all supermarkets and grocers have been compared in this survey.
Our 2023 customer satisfaction survey saw 23 different meat categories rated, covering beef, chicken, lamb, pork and seafood.
Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customers methodology.
Beef Award Winner – ALDI
ALDI was the overall winner of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Supermarket Meats award for beef for the sixth consecutive year in 2023.
Beef Burgers – ALDI
ALDI topped the beef burger rankings, scoring five stars in all categories: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was second with four stars in each rating category. Woolworths followed with five stars for value for money, taste and freshness, along with four stars for overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Beef Mince – ALDI
ALDI was rated the top pick for beef mince, with five stars in all rating categories: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths was second with four stars across the board. Coles followed with four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction and three stars for taste and freshness. IGA came in next with three stars in each rating category.
Beef Sausages – ALDI
ALDI scored five stars across all beef sausage categories: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths ranked second with four stars in every rating category, followed by Coles with three-star ratings across the board. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory for 2023.
Beef Steaks – ALDI
ALDI topped the beef steaks category, scoring five stars in all rating categories: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths came in second with four stars across the board. Coles ranked third with four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction and three stars for value for money. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Beef Roast – Coles
Coles won the beef roast category, with five-star reviews for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction and four stars for value for money. Woolworths came in second with five stars for value for money, taste and freshness and four stars for overall satisfaction. ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Award Winner – Woolworths
Woolworths was the overall winner of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Supermarket Meats award for chicken in 2023. It topped the same category in 2022 as joint winner with ALDI.
Chicken Breast – ALDI
ALDI won the chicken breast award, scoring five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths and Coles both scored five stars for taste and freshness, as well as four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction. IGA scored five stars for freshness, four stars for taste and three stars for value for money and overall satisfaction.
Chicken Wings – Woolworths
Woolworths topped the chicken wings rankings, scoring a five-star rating in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was rated five stars for value for money and four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI scored five stars for taste and freshness and four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Thighs – Woolworths
Woolworths scored five stars in every chicken thigh category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI was second with five stars for value for money and taste and four stars for freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was rated four stars for value for money and taste and three stars for freshness and overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Drumsticks – Woolworths
Woolworths topped the chicken drumstick rankings, scoring five stars in each rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was rated five stars for value for money and four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI scored four stars for value for money, taste and freshness and three stars for overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Sausages – Woolworths
Woolworths was the winner of the chicken sausage award, scoring five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles came in second, scoring four stars across the board. ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Mince – Woolworths
Woolworths was the top chicken mince pick, receiving five stars in each rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI scored four stars in every category, while Coles scored three stars across the board. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Burgers – Woolworths
Woolworths topped the chicken burger rankings, scoring five-star ratings in each rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles received four-star ratings across the board, while ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Chicken Roast – Woolworths
Woolworths was the chicken roast winner for 2023, scoring a five-star rating in every category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was rated five stars for value for money and four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI scored five stars for freshness, four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction and three stars for taste. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Lamb Award Winner – Woolworths
Woolworths was the overall winner of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Supermarket Meats award for lamb in 2023.
Lamb Chops – Woolworths
Woolworths was the top pick for supermarket lamb chops, with five stars in each rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles received five stars for value for money and freshness and four stars for taste and overall satisfaction. ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Lamb Cutlets – Coles
Coles won the lamb cutlets category, receiving five stars for value for money, freshness and overall satisfaction and four stars for taste. Woolworths scored five stars for taste and freshness and four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction. ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Lamb Mince – Woolworths
Woolworths won the lamb mince award, with five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles followed with four stars across the board. ALDI and IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Lamb Roast – ALDI
ALDI was the top pick in the lamb roast category, scoring five stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction and four stars for value for money. Coles received five stars for value for money and four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths scored five stars for value for money, four stars for overall satisfaction and as three stars for taste and freshness. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Pork Award Winner – Coles
Coles was the winner of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Supermarket Meats award for pork in 2023. It topped the same category in 2022 as joint winner with Woolworths.
Pork Chops – Coles
Coles topped the pork chop category, scoring five stars in all rating categories: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI received four-star ratings across the board. Woolworths followed with five stars for value for money, taste and freshness and four stars for overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Pork Sausages – Coles
Coles was rated highest for pork sausages, scoring five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. ALDI received five stars for value for money, four stars for freshness and overall satisfaction and three stars for taste. Woolworths scored five stars for value for money, four stars for taste and freshness and three stars for overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Pork Mince – ALDI
ALDI was the top pick in the pork mince category, with five stars for value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles received four-star reviews for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction and three stars for value for money. Woolworths scored four stars for value for money and taste and three stars for freshness and overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Pork Roast – Woolworths
Woolworths topped the pork roast rankings, scoring five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles was second, followed by ALDI, with both receiving five stars for taste and four stars for value for money, freshness and overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat subcategory in 2023.
Fish Award Winner – Woolworths
Fish – Woolworths
Woolworths won the top spot in Canstar Blue’s fish ratings, with five-star ratings for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction and four stars for value for money. ALDI came in second with five stars for value for money and four stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Coles followed with four stars for value for money and three stars for taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat category for 2023.
Seafood Award Winner – ALDI
Seafood – ALDI
ALDI was the winner of Canstar Blue’s 2023 seafood awards, scoring five stars in every rating category: value for money, taste, freshness and overall satisfaction. Woolworths came in second with four stars across the board. Coles followed with three-star ratings in each category. IGA didn’t receive the minimum required survey sample size to feature in this meat category in 2023.
Aussies’ meat consumption habits
Here are some of Australia’s meat consumption habits revealed by Canstar Blue’s survey:
- Aussies spend on average $31 per week on meat (including seafood) at the supermarket.
- More than half of shoppers (57%) try to purchase meat that’s on special.
- 16% of respondents will pay more for ethically sourced meat while 32% have reduced the amount of meat they eat to cut costs.
- More than a third of Aussies (40%) would eat more seafood or fish if it was less expensive.
- 15% have been disappointed with the quality of the meat they purchased from a supermarket.
About our consumer experts
Kate Lockyer: Content Producer
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Producer Kate Lockyer. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland. Kate’s been writing professionally for two years, and has worked as a content writer, media assistant and newsroom contributor for a variety of organisations and publications, including the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, community radio station 4ZZZ and Shelly’s Swim School.
Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist
Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and two years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.
Past ratings
Here are the past winners of Canstar Blue’s supermarket meat ratings:
2022:
- Beef: ALDI
- Chicken: Coles & ALDI
- Lamb: Coles
- Pork: Coles & Woolworths
- Fish: Coles
- Seafood: Coles
2021
- Beef: ALDI
- Chicken: ALDI
- Lamb: Coles & ALDI
- Pork: ALDI
- Fish: ALDI
- Seafood: ALDI & Coles
2020
- Beef: ALDI
- Chicken: Coles
- Lamb: ALDI & Woolworths
- Pork: ALDI
- Fish: ALDI
- Seafood: ALDI
2019
- Beef: ALDI
- Chicken: ALDI
- Lamb: ALDI
- Pork: ALDI
2018
- Beef: ALDI
- Chicken: ALDI
- Lamb: ALDI
- Pork: ALDI