Source : Perth Now news
All Aussies have been there after a long day: hungering for an easy hot dinner, but can’t be bothered cooking or ordering take-out.
Enter: the beloved bachelor’s handbag, a delicious roast chicken in an easy-to-carry bag ready to satiate the cravings of an entire household.
While the food is a suppertime staple for many families, a new study has revealed exactly what supermarket chook reigns supreme in the hearts of Australians.
Financial comparison site Canstar interviewed a cohort of more than 1900 Australians who recently bought a hot chicken in order to answer one of the country’s biggest questions: Which supermarket sells the best bachelor’s handbag?
The results came in quick, with an unexpected contender taking the gold from a five-time champion.
Local grocery franchise IGA took home the 2026 Most Satisfied Customer Award for Rotisserie Chicken, with their chooks officially deemed the best in the nation.
Roast chickens sold at the Australian chain were rated five out of five for overall satisfaction, with respondents also giving the bagged poultry top marks for tastiness.
Freshness, value for money and packaging were also considered during the study, with IGA earning four out of five stars for each category.
Wholesale giant Costco nabbed a close silver medal, a downgrade after its five-year winning streak.
The multinational retailer scored a top rating for overall satisfaction but only received three out of five stars when it came to the taste of their chicken.
Woolworths came at a close third with an overall rating of four stars, followed closely by Coles in last place.
The Australian supermarket, which is currently in court against the ACCC, scored only three out of five stars for all categories.
The study also investigated what factors influence Aussies when it comes to buying, eating and sharing a supermarket chook.
Roast chickens tend to be a highly social food for Aussies, with 25 per cent of people saying they like to bring one to family parties or gatherings.
A portion of Aussies prioritised budget over taste, with 18 per cent of participants only grabbing whatever the cheapest roast chicken was.
How the chickens were bred and raised was a preference for 18 per cent of shoppers, who said they would always choose free-range roast chickens when shopping.
Stuffing remains highly divisive among Aussies, with one in four people confessing to throwing it straight in the bin.
The study also found younger generations weren’t afraid of a little white lie when it comes to their hot chook, with 11 per cent of Gen Zs revealing that they have passed off a supermarket roast chicken as their own cooking.
A Canstar spokesperson said that completing the survey of one of Australia’s most-loved convenience foods was “no small feat”.
“Aussies rated supermarkets’ roast chickens on taste, value for money, freshness and packaging — with IGA earning Canstar’s most satisfied customers award thanks to high ratings across all categories, demonstrating a strong performance when it comes to customer satisfaction,” she said.
“With nearly a quarter of Aussies picking up a hot chook as part of their regular shop, it’s a category where expectations are high and loyalty is hard-won.”
More information about the study and how each supermarket rated can be found here.
