Supermarket Sleuths: The subtle product pairing trick that entices shoppers to spend more

We've all heard the advice not to grocery shop on an empty stomach to prevent delicious impulse buys as we pass biscuit displays.

But there are so many other strategies at play at our local supermarket designed to entice us to spend more. They are so subtle and well thought out, you may not even be aware of them.

From brightly-coloured sales tickets to two-for-one offers, every part of your supermarket experience has been carefully curated to maximise your spend.

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These ones are obvious, and more easy to avoid.

One that is more subtle and very effective is how supermarkets choose where to place products, often pairing them to subconsciously whet the appetite so customers buy them together.

During a recent visit to Aldi and Coles, I found so many examples of this 'product pairing' strategy and found myself wanting to buy all of them.

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Walking into my local Aldi, I immediately spotted the strategy in use with this enticing display of berries, yoghurt and muesli – a perfect choice for breakfast or afternoon snack.

On the flip side of this display was delicious cheeses next to crackers.

Even if customers only need cheese or crackers, they are more likely to buy them together as a result of this display.

Aldi has also grouped together breakfast items including coffee, breakfast spreads, long-life milk and cereal, all one after the other on the same side of a long aisle.

My partner Shamus has introduced me to the deliciousness of dishes that combine rice and eggs, a popular choice for many lunch and dinner dishes.

Even Aldi's sales display makes use of this strategy, popping some honey products next to discounted coffee products, which, again, reminds customers of the coffee and honey toast breakfasts.

Then we have this classic combination of pasta and pasta sauces, which you will find in all supermarkets from Aldi to Coles to IGA to Woolies.

Even if customers have enough pasta or pasta sauce, they are more likely to stock up on both when they are placed together like this.

Walking into my local Coles, I noticed the 'product pairing' strategy began at the entrance.

I was greeted by this display of charcuterie choices such as deli meat, olives and crackers, all of which go together perfectly.

In the chilled section, Coles had placed deli meats and dairy spreads together, which immediately triggers memories of sandwiches, a perfect choice for lunch.

Coles also repeated Aldi's pasta and pasta sauce combination, which is a popular dinner choice.

Then there is Coles' coffee and tea aisle, which is placed in the same row as biscuits, designed to entice customers to buy both.

Seeing them together prompts thoughts of enjoying a hot beverage with a delicious biscuit, making them hard to resist.

Coles also uses the 'product pairing' strategy on their sales displays.

Here, their Kellogg's Corn Flakes are paired with long-life milk, making it very difficult not to think of pouring the milk onto the crunchy cereal.

Then there are these bespoke displays in Coles were popular breakfast items are placed together including iced coffee, yoghurt, hummus and bacon.

Imagine how delicious these would be for breakfast. You could fry up the bacon and pop it on toast with some hummus, then some yoghurt, all washed down with a delicious iced coffee.

See how well it works?

Also, who's hungry?!?