Independent grocers network wins most satisfied customers award for the first time
A new retailer has taken out Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Award for Supermarket Fruit & Veg, with IGA named the 2026 winner.
Aldi has won the award five years in a row, but IGA came out on top this year with Australian consumers rating it the highest across the five categories that drive customer satisfaction. Canstar’s analysis revealed freshness of produce was the main driver of customer satisfaction, followed by value for money and variety, with presentation last.
“Congratulations to IGA for winning Canstar’s 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Supermarket Fruit & Veg. Taking the top spot from a long-reigning champion like ALDI is no small feat,” said Canstar’s consumer expert, Eden Radford.
“Canstar’s analysis shows produce freshness is the single biggest driver of customer satisfaction, outranking value for money and sitting far ahead of variety and presentation. It proves that for shoppers, crispness and quality remain non-negotiable.”
IGA was selected following a survey of more than 2,500 supermarket shoppers. Consumers also shared insights into their fresh produce shopping habits.
The results showed the cost-of-living crisis was affecting consumer behaviour, with the average weekly spend on fresh fruit and vegetables decreasing 26 per cent from 2025. Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of supermarket shoppers said they’ve reduced their fresh produce consumption to manage rising grocery costs.
Consumers have cut costs in many ways, with 42 per cent only buying what’s affordable rather than what they’d actually like to eat and 33 per cent opting for cheaper, “ugly” produce. Around 25 per cent go frozen to save money and avoid the risk of fresh produce spoiling before they use it.
Some shoppers have even turned to reducing the weight of the produce they buy, such as removing stalks from broccoli, while 6 per cent admit to selecting the cheaper version of a more expensive item at the self-serve checkout.
“Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping how Australians shop for fresh produce. Whether buying only what’s affordable, choosing ‘ugly’ produce, or perhaps getting tactical by trying to drop some weight, it’s evident that shoppers are trying all approaches to stretch their dollar further,” said Radford.
“However, the data has also shown that for more than one-fifth of those surveyed, trying to save has meant cutting down on the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables consumed altogether.
“These shifting habits have had an impact, with the average weekly produce spend dropping 26 per cent to A$32. Whether it’s adopting new saving tactics or switching supermarkets entirely, this is evidence that Australian households are taking active steps to manage rising grocery costs.”
