ALDI’s National Pricing Would Deliver Big Savings in Tasmania

Leigh Gray
“With ALDI Tasmanians would no longer be ripped off compared to the mainland on most items and this could easily save hundreds of dollars a year.
Battling Tasmanians are struggling with the increasing cost of living especially the rise in grocery prices and our State needs more competition in the supermarket sector to provide some price relief.”

Media Release
Leigh Gray - Brighton Councillor
Tuesday June 10 2008

ALDI’S NATIONAL PRICING WOULD DELIVER BIG SAVINGS IN TASMANIA
Brighton Councillor Leigh Gray said today that ALDI supermarkets’ policy of national pricing on most items could save battling Tasmanians hundreds of dollars each year on their grocery bills.
“Everyone knows that many grocery items cost more in Tasmania than on the mainland, but if we can get ALDI supermarkets into Tasmania then local shoppers would pay the same price as mainlanders,” Councillor Gray said.
And:
Media Release
Leigh Gray
Brighton Councillor
Wednesday June 11 2008
GRAY TO TABLE COUNCIL MOTION TO GET ALDI SUPERMARKETS TO TAS.
Brighton Councillor Leigh Gray said today he will table a motion at next week’s Brighton Council meeting as the next step in his campaign to lure the ALDI supermarket chain to Tasmania.
“The motion that I will table at next Tuesday’s meeting will request the Brighton Council indicate its in principle support to get ALDI to set up in Tasmania and that it write to ALDI to express this sentiment,” Brighton Councillor Leigh Gray said.
“I am continuing to have people contact me to indicate their support for my campaign to get ALDI to our State and I would hope that the Brighton Council would give consideration to this motion in light of the effect that rising grocery prices are having on Tasmanians particularly those in the Brighton municipality.
“Battling Tasmanians are struggling with the increasing cost of living especially the rise in grocery prices and our State needs more competition in the supermarket sector to provide some price relief.
“The ALDI supermarket chain is a discount retailer that has around 167 stores in Australia in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria but has not yet entered the Tasmanian market.
“Given the number of ALDI stores elsewhere in Australia there should be no reason why they could not set up in Tasmania.
Councillor Gray said he had already received significant support for getting ALDI into Tasmania including indications from State Opposition Leader Will Hodgman who has supported the campaign for greater competition and lower grocery prices in Tasmania.
Other actions taken by Mr Gray to date include:
· writing to Premier Bartlett asking him to explain what the State Government has done to date to get ALDI to Tasmania and requesting it be more proactive on this important issue.
· having discussions with representatives of ALDI; and
· writing to ALDI inviting the company to give greater consideration to Tasmania.
“ALDI’s national pricing policy means that no matter where their stores are, on most items, you pay the same price.
“This compares to Tasmania where supermarket catalogues from the same supermarket can often charge different prices in different areas in this State let alone with supermarkets on the mainland.
“With ALDI Tasmanians would no longer be ripped off compared to the mainland on most items and this could easily save hundreds of dollars a year.
“Battling Tasmanians are struggling with the increasing cost of living especially the rise in grocery prices and our State needs more competition in the supermarket sector to provide some price relief.
“The ALDI supermarket chain is a discount retailer that has around 167 stores in Australia in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria but has not yet entered the Tasmanian market. Given the number of ALDI stores elsewhere in Australia there should be no reason why they could not set up in Tasmania.
Councillor Gray said he had already received significant support for getting ALDI into Tasmania including indications from State Opposition Leader Will Hodgman who has supported the campaign for greater competition and lower grocery prices in Tasmania.
Actions taken by Mr Gray in his campaign to ALDI to Tasmania to date include:
· writing to Premier Bartlett asking him to explain what the State Government has done to date to get ALDI to Tasmania and requesting it be more proactive on this important issue;
· having discussions with representatives of ALDI; and
· writing to ALDI inviting the company to give greater consideration to Tasmania.