Aldi is generally cheaper upfront, so it doesn't need the heavy, frequent discounting you see elsewhere. It does run some discounts on food items, but they're smaller, less frequent, and not tied to big-brand promotions. One of the main reasons is that Aldi's range is mostly private-label and unique, so it doesn't participate in the same supplier-funded discount system that drives specials at Coles and Woolworths. Coles and Woolworths work on predictable 4–8 week discount cycles, where major branded products regularly drop to half price. These specials are usually subsidised by the brands, who pay for catalogue placement and fund much of the price reduction in exchange for higher volume. Because both supermarkets rely on the same suppliers, their specials end up looking almost identical each week. So overall, Aldi offers lower everyday prices with light discounting, while Coles and Woolworths offer the biggest promotions—but largely because brands are paying for them, not the supermarkets themselves.

ALDI's clearance process is different, focusing on earlier, fixed-rate markdowns rather than a late-night final sweep. An official policy is that most fresh food—including meat, dairy, and ready meals—is marked down by 20% two days before its expiry date, with most markdowns typically completed before 6:00 PM. ALDI bakery goods are often prioritized for donation. Your best strategy is to look for the red sticker items around 5-6pm but markdown strategies can vary widely store to store as per the managers discretion.

The final and most significant markdowns at Coles often appear between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, particularly at stores with a 9:00 PM closing time. Coles staff tend to perform a large reduction sweep in the hours immediately before the store closes to ensure minimal waste, focusing on high-value items like meat, deli goods, and hot roast chickens (which are reduced 4 hours after cooking). The specific final time can vary, so shoppers should check their local store's schedule or look for staff clearing items with a trolley in the late evening.

Woolworths generally uses a progressive markdown schedule, with the deepest discounts occurring in the late afternoon and evening. The best time to hunt for the maximum reduction (often 50% to 80% off on meat, chilled meals, and dairy) is typically after 6:00 PM and up to one hour before closing. Earlier in the day (around 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM) you will find initial, smaller markdowns (20% to 40% off), but the staff perform the final, aggressive reduction sweep in the evening to clear items expiring that day.