Coles tips bumper Christmas as it loads up the aisles

Coles boss Steven Cain expects Australian homes to hold grander Christmas celebrations this year, with the grocery giant beefing up the range of supermarket and liquor products on its shelves for the festive period.

Despite rising cost-of-living pressures, Cain said the supermarket expects consumer spending to increase year-on-year, adding that the absence of COVID travel restrictions would see Australians more inclined to host larger gatherings.

“There [are] about 10 per cent of customers out there who say they’re going to have a much bigger Christmas than last year in terms of the number of people coming to their house because there’s more mobility,” Cain said on Thursday.

“There’s going to be a lot more travel to see relatives and friends. So, that’s a good thing for us because that’ll be entertaining at home.”

Coles has expanded its Christmas range this year by 27 per cent to 151 Coles-exclusive supermarket products, including a range of over 25 products for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free consumers.

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With shoppers tightening their belts, Coles has also locked in the price of more than 1,250 household staples, including Beechwood Smoked half-leg and full-leg ham, until the end of January. Rival supermarket Woolworths also has a price freeze in place on certain products, though the scheme is expected to end in November.

Coles said on Thursday that it was sourcing more Australian-made products, such as Christmas tree decorations and wrapping paper, to fill its shelves, instead of getting them from overseas suppliers.

Cain told this masthead that inflation will remain elevated for the remainder of the year, before beginning to cool next year.