Price of Tim Tam biscuits in Australia compared to overseas prompts big questions of Coles, Woolworths and Arnott’s

The cost of Tim Tams has been pulled into the war on supermarket prices after it was revealed that it is cheaper to buy them in London than it is in Australia, despite them being manufactured here.

A quick search online shows Coles selling 200g packets of the chocolate biscuits for $4.50, on special from $6. You can pick up the same original variety from Woolworths for $6.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cost of Tim Tams becomes latest flashpoint in war on supermarket prices.

But a picture shared to social media platform Reddit showing Tim Tams for just £2 ($3.88) at UK chain Waitrose has Aussies up in arms.

“What the hell is going on when it’s cheaper to buy Tim Tams, imported from Australia, in a posh supermarket in the UK than in Coles?” reads the post caption.

The cost when converted to Australian dollars, and when the product was not on sale, is £2.50 ($4.85).

Speaking on Friday — as Australian supermarket giants faced a committee examining cost of living issues — Opposition Finance spokesperson Jane Hume said it sounded “strange” that a product manufactured in Sydney is more expensive here than overseas.

She was referring to the price of Tim Tams at Tesco, which has them for sale at the same price as Waitrose.

“A packet of Tim Tams costs $4.85 in London but it costs $6 in Sydney, $6 in Melbourne, $6 in Cairns,” she said.

“Seventy per cent of working Australians are now not just shopping around for better deals but actively looking for value by going to more than one supermarket when they do their shopping in a week.”

The chains shifted the focus to suppliers, who they say set the price and are facing inflationary pressures.

Woolworths, Arnott’s address Tim Tam price differences

Woolworths said in a statement: “Our retail price is influenced by how much we pay our suppliers for their product. Food manufacturers may have different pricing strategies in other markets, which means they may sell a product to retailers overseas for a lower price than they do here.”

Manufacturer Arnott’s told 7NEWS.com.au that the average price paid by Australian consumers over the last year for a regular pack of Tim Tams was $3.15.

That is compared to the average price for UK consumers of $4.50.

The news comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged both Woolies and Coles misled customers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of products.

The Federal Government will arm the consumer watchdog with an additional $30 million to crack down on misleading and deceptive pricing practices and unconscionable conduct in the supermarket and retail sector, allowing the agency to conduct more investigations, enforcement, and monitoring.