1. The “Weekend Overstock” Phenomenon

Supermarkets stock up heavily for the weekend rush. In 2026, if a store over-orders for a rainy Sunday, the surplus must be cleared by Monday or Tuesday evening before it expires.

• The Monday Logic: High-end cuts of meat (wagyu, organic chicken) that didn’t sell to weekend “treat” shoppers are often marked down by 50–80% on Monday night.
• The Tuesday Logic: Woolworths traditionally restocks many fresh lines on Tuesday nights for the Wednesday catalogue launch. To make room for “New Season” stock, they clear out existing shelf items at 7:00 PM Tuesday.

2. Why 7:00 PM is the “Golden Hour”

In 2026, night managers at Coles and Woolworths are incentivized to hit Zero Waste targets.

• The First Pass (4 PM): Staff do a “sanity check” and apply 20-30% stickers.
• The Second Pass (7 PM): On a quiet Monday or Tuesday, if the “First Pass” items haven’t moved, the manager will authorize the 80% “Flash Sale” stickers.
• The Benefit: Because foot traffic is significantly lower on a Tuesday night than a Friday, your “competition” for these stickers is minimal. You can calmly fill a basket with $1.00 bread and $3.00 mince.

3. 2026 Digital Sniping: Catalogues & Sneak Peeks

• Monday 5 PM: Both Coles and Woolworths release “Sneak Peek” versions of their Wednesday catalogues on their apps.
• The Hack: If you see an item is going on a “50% Off Special” starting Wednesday, look for that same item on Tuesday night. If the store has “Old Label” stock, they will often mark it down even further (Yellow Sticker) just to get it off the shelf before the official sale starts.