Ultimate guide to affordable grocery shops in Gippsland

Have you ever found yourself emerging from a deep fugue state at a supermarket checkout, wondering to yourself: How did my weekly grocery shop get so expensive?

Well, the Monitor is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of Gippsland grocery stores where bargains are to be had. We’ve avoided going with any of the big supermarket chains and tried to pick locations from all over Gippsland. 

If you have any suggestions, feel free to email us at [email protected]. 

Coastal Bulk Foods

This Wonthaggi bulk food shop gives you the opportunity to avoid plastic packaging and make purchases by weight. This lets you bulk buy flours, nuts, grains and sweets at a reasonable price.

The store stocks two litres of Jersey milk for $4.95, natural peanut butter for $14.95 a kilogram and their nuts are cheaper than Coles and Woolworths.

This shop also offers freshly baked bread.

Where: 70 McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi.

Gippsland Pure

A local beef butcher just outside of Trafalgar that offers deals on large cuts of meat. You can grab a thick skirt of Angus beef for $20/kg or 600g of beef sausages for $8.

Where: 71 Giles Road, Trafalgar.

San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op

There are a few fishmonger cooperatives around Gippsland selling fresh, locally caught produce straight from the Bass Strait, including gummy shark, prawns, lobsters and the local favourite duckfish.

For locally caught fresh fish options, palla fish is $44 a kilogram, gummy shark is $44.90 per kilogram and rock flathead $67 per kilogram.

Where: 170 Marine Parade, San Remo.

Manny’s Market

Manny’s Market is in Morwell and Traralgon, offering a wide range of fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. Examples of the market’s specials in late April included brown pears for $1.49 per kilogram, and red plums for 99 cents a kilo.

Where: 186 Commercial Road, Morwell and 39 Post Office Place, Traralgon.

Ai’s Cafe and Asian Grocers

This Asian grocery store in Morwell has a large range of affordable noodles, chips and frozen meals.

Where: 87-91 George Street, Morwell.

Gippsland Fresh Wholesale

Gippsland wholesalers are hard to come by, but this one in Warragul is a family-run business that sells everything you need for your weekly shop. Examples of specials include apples and broccoli for $3.99 per kilogram, or two punnets of berries for $8.

Where: 9A Endeavour Street, Warragul.

Lean and Green

With a focus on healthy foods, organics and speciality produce, Lean and Green in Warragul is an option if you have dietary restrictions. They sell a serving of organic soup for $6.99 or 500g ready made spinach and ricotta cannelloni for $14.99.

Where: 3/43 Smith Street, Warragul.

Duc Thien Trading

With shops in Sale and Bairnsdale, these Asian grocery stores offer fruit and vegetables along with a large selection of affordable Asian meals and snacks. They stock Dubai chocolate, mini moon cakes and various Southeast Asian seasonings.

Where: 340 Raymond Street, Sale and 196 Main Street, Bairnsdale.