Coles vs Woolworths specials, 18 October 2026
On Sunday 18 October 2026, 31.2% of the Coles products Cannonball read were on special at one store or more (7,946 of 25,440), and 30.1% of the Woolworths products read (8,247 of 27,429).
Figures for Sunday 18 October 2026. The latest are at Coles vs Woolworths specials.
| Chain | Products read | On special at one store or more | Share on special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coles | 25,440 | 7,946 | 31.2% |
| Woolworths | 27,429 | 8,247 | 30.1% |
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 | 39.0% (902 of 2,314) | 45.1% (706 of 1,566) |
| Drinks | 38.6% (758 of 1,966) | 37.3% (665 of 1,783) |
| Health and beauty | 43.3% (2,248 of 5,191) | 40.2% (2,293 of 5,709) |
| Pantry | 21.7% (1,089 of 5,022) | 23.3% (740 of 3,170) |
| Dairy and chilled | 25.2% (535 of 2,126) | 28.8% (392 of 1,359) |
| Frozen | 27.5% (341 of 1,241) | 29.3% (340 of 1,159) |
| Household and cleaning | 22.9% (336 of 1,465) | 22.0% (483 of 2,194) |
| Pet | 23.4% (138 of 589) | 26.6% (231 of 869) |
| Liquor | 40.6% (858 of 2,115) | 35.7% (764 of 2,138) |
Day by day
| Day | Coles | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 18 October 2026 | 31.2% | 30.1% |
| Saturday 17 October 2026 | 31.4% | 29.7% |
| 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% |
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 Sunday 18 October 2026, 31.2% of the Coles products Cannonball read were on special at one store or more (7,946 of 25,440), and 30.1% of the Woolworths products read (8,247 of 27,429). 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", 18 October 2026: https://cannonballdata.com/data/coles-vs-woolworths-specials/2026-10-18. That address keeps that day's figures; https://cannonballdata.com/data/coles-vs-woolworths-specials always has the latest.