Coles vs Woolworths specials, 16 October 2026
On Friday 16 October 2026, 31.5% of the Coles products Cannonball read were on special at one store or more (8,000 of 25,421), and 29.2% of the Woolworths products read (8,001 of 27,373).
Figures for Friday 16 October 2026. The latest are at Coles vs Woolworths specials.
| Chain | Products read | On special at one store or more | Share on special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coles | 25,421 | 8,000 | 31.5% |
| Woolworths | 27,373 | 8,001 | 29.2% |
By category
The share of each category’s products read that day that were on special at one store or more.
| Category | Coles | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|
| Snacks and confectionery | 39.3% (909 of 2,312) | 43.4% (683 of 1,572) |
| Drinks | 39.1% (768 of 1,965) | 37.0% (660 of 1,786) |
| Health and beauty | 43.6% (2,263 of 5,191) | 38.7% (2,186 of 5,654) |
| Pantry | 21.8% (1,094 of 5,019) | 22.2% (705 of 3,172) |
| Dairy and chilled | 25.6% (544 of 2,124) | 27.9% (378 of 1,357) |
| Frozen | 28.0% (347 of 1,238) | 29.8% (345 of 1,159) |
| Household and cleaning | 23.1% (338 of 1,464) | 22.0% (476 of 2,162) |
| Pet | 25.0% (147 of 589) | 26.9% (235 of 872) |
| Liquor | 40.1% (848 of 2,115) | 34.0% (721 of 2,120) |
Day by day
| Day | Coles | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 16 October 2026 | 31.5% | 29.2% |
| Thursday 15 October 2026 | 31.6% | 28.8% |
| Wednesday 14 October 2026 | 32.0% | 30.7% |
| Tuesday 13 October 2026 | 28.9% | 29.5% |
| Monday 12 October 2026 | 29.0% | 29.7% |
| Sunday 11 October 2026 | 29.1% | 29.6% |
| Saturday 10 October 2026 | 29.3% | 29.5% |
| Friday 9 October 2026 | 29.4% | 29.7% |
| Thursday 8 October 2026 | 29.5% | 29.8% |
| Wednesday 7 October 2026 | 29.9% | 31.7% |
| Tuesday 6 October 2026 | 29.9% | 28.0% |
| Monday 5 October 2026 | 29.9% | 27.5% |
| Sunday 4 October 2026 | 30.0% | 26.8% |
| Saturday 3 October 2026 | 29.9% | 27.3% |
Every day since 29 September 2026 as a spreadsheet: coles-vs-woolworths-specials.csv.
How it’s measured
A product is on special when the chain shows a promotion on it at one store or more that day, as the chain itself labels it. Specials are counted at Coles and Woolworths, where every store’s promotions are read the same way, every day (a Sydney day). Shares are of the products read at one store or more that day: almost all of Coles' list, about two thirds of Woolworths'. A product that wasn't read is left out, never counted as not on special. Specials change mostly once a week: see when Coles and Woolworths specials change. The full method: about Cannonball’s data.
Questions
Does Coles or Woolworths have more specials this week?
On Friday 16 October 2026, 31.5% of the Coles products Cannonball read were on special at one store or more (8,000 of 25,421), and 29.2% of the Woolworths products read (8,001 of 27,373). Both are counted the same way, every day, so the two shares can be read side by side; the share moves from day to day, so compare the same day.
What counts as on special?
A product is on special when the chain shows a promotion on it at one store or more that day, as the chain itself labels it. It counts products, not catalogue pages: a special in some stores or states only counts too.
Why only Coles and Woolworths?
Every Coles and every Woolworths store's promotions are read the same way, so their figures can stand side by side. IGA stores each set their own specials, and ALDI isn't compared here: its regular range rarely goes on special.
Why a share of the products read, not of every product?
Shares are of the products read at one store or more that day: almost all of Coles' list, about two thirds of Woolworths'. A product that wasn't read is left out, never counted as not on special.
How do I cite this?
Cannonball (cannonballdata.com), "Coles vs Woolworths specials", 16 October 2026: https://cannonballdata.com/data/coles-vs-woolworths-specials/2026-10-16. That address keeps that day's figures; https://cannonballdata.com/data/coles-vs-woolworths-specials always has the latest.