Major supermarket chains that enter the Northern Territory will be offered free land to open stores.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the proposal, announced ahead of next Saturday's election, aimed to drive down the price of groceries in a market with two main players - Woolworths and Coles.
“I’m saying to Aldi or Costco that we will roll out the welcome mat and streamline every process if they come to the Territory and set up shop here to lower grocery prices for Territorians," Ms Lawler said on Saturday
“We know that Territorians are feeling the pinch every time they go to the checkout at Coles and Woolies."
The Fair Go Groceries Plan would kick off in October with a working group featuring Solomon MP Luke Gosling and representatives from the public service and local businesses formed to bring in the new chain.
Crown land would be provided and approvals streamlined through the major project process if proposals were to proceed.
A Woolworths spokesperson said its operation in the NT focused on delivering groceries to remote areas including cattle stations, mines and Indigenous communities.
"We welcome other market entrants, and are accustomed to operating in a highly competitive national market," they said.
Aldi has been contacted for a response.
Coles declined to comment.
Research from consumer group Choice in June found Aldi had the lowest prices of the major supermarkets for a basket of average goods.
An average basket of 14 common household items from Aldi cost $51.51 compared to $68.58 at Woolworths and $69.33 at Coles.
The report said the lack of Aldi stores in Tasmania and the NT contributed to higher average grocery prices in those jurisdictions.
Shoppers in Tasmania paid $68.90 on average for the basket of goods, while those in the NT paid $68.82.
On average, customers in the remaining jurisdictions paid between $62 and $64 for the same items.
