Check-out this fee: Woolies adds surcharge to pick-up and delivery orders

Ordering your groceries on a Sunday or public holiday is about to get a little pricier.

Woolworths has announced a new $2 surcharge for all click-and-collect and home delivery orders placed on Sundays and public holidays, starting this February. It’s a first for a major Australian supermarket, with Woolies saying the fee is necessary to cover the higher cost of picking and packing orders on those days.

While a couple of dollars might seem like small change, it’s another hit to the hip pocket for convenience-seekers—and a move that mirrors the weekend surcharges we’ve become used to at our local cafes.

Who will be affected?

The $2 surcharge is a flat rate, regardless of your order size, and will be added to all Sunday and public holiday orders. Notably, the fee also applies to Delivery Unlimited customers who already pay $119 a year for free delivery.

How to avoid the extra cost

If you want to keep that $2 in your pocket, your options are straightforward:

• Change your day: Schedule your delivery or collection for Monday through Saturday.
• Shop in-person: The surcharge only applies to online orders, not at the checkout in-store.
• Switch supermarkets: Shop at a supermarket that doesn’t have surcharges–just make sure you compare the cost of groceries first so you don’t end up paying more at the checkout.

How to slash your grocery bill by $2,000+

Grocery prices are a major headache for Australians right now. However, a few simple swaps at the checkout can put thousands of dollars back in your pocket.

The power of the home brand swap

The easiest way to save is to stop paying for fancy labels. Canstar research shows that switching just half of your trolley to home-brand products could save you $2,424 a year.

5 ways to save at the checkout

If you want to trim your bill further, try these tactics:

• Buy the ‘ugly’ stuff: Many supermarkets sell marked-down ‘odd-shaped’ fruit and veg that tastes exactly the same.
• Shop the seasons: Buying produce when it’s in season is significantly cheaper than buying imported goods.
• Check the specials: Compare weekly catalogues between the big giants before you leave home.
• Shop in-person: Avoid delivery and pick-up fees by heading into the store yourself.
• Use unit pricing: Check the small text on the shelf label to see the price per 100g or kilo to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Supermarkets under the spotlight

Woolworths’ new surcharge comes at a tense time for the retail giant. The major supermarkets are currently under the microscope, facing intense scrutiny over grocery prices following an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) inquiry into price gouging.

In December, the Federal Government announced new regulations designed to stop Coles and Woolworths from overcharging customers. This move follows concerns the ‘big two’ dominate the market so heavily they have little incentive to compete on price.

While these rules are a step in the right direction, they won’t offer immediate relief. The new regulations don’t kick in until July 1, 2026—leaving Aussie shoppers to navigate price hikes and new fees on their own until then.

So what can you do in the meantime? Don’t wait for the government to fix your grocery bill. With new fees like this $2 surcharge creeping in, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to prices and shop where the value is.