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Carrie LaFrenz

September

Endeavour Group boss Steven Donohue is exiting the top job after six years as CEO and 30 years with the company.

Dan Murphy’s parent Endeavour rocked by CEO exit

Over three decades Steve Donohue rose from the Dan Murphy’s shop floor to the top job. On Friday, he shocked the market with his departure.

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The ACCC accused the two big retailers of targeting families with stretched budgets and seeking discounts.

Woolworths and Coles could be ‘innocent’: Samuel

Graeme Samuel says the higher prices charged by the two major supermarkets could have been caused by suppliers, as the ACCC found the retailers have increased their earnings and operating margins over the past five years.

Weet-Bix owner Sanitarium is seeking to buy rival cereal brand Vita Brits, owned by Nestlé Australia.

Sanitarium Weet-Bix and Vita Brits merger under ACCC microscope

The competition regulator is pursuing supermarkets over claims they offered non-genuine discounts. Now it’s taking a look at some of the most popular cereals.

The ACCC accused the two big retailers of targeting families with stretched budgets and seeking discounts.

Investors blame supermarket ‘arrogance’ for dodgy discount lawsuit

But some fund managers say a slump in Woolworths and Coles shares is a buying opportunity, betting the ACCC’s claims will be hard to stand up in court.

Vikesh Ramsunder, CEO of Sigma Healthcare, expects the ACCC to make a call on its merger with Chemist Warehouse on October 24.

ACCC call on Sigma, Chemist Warehouse $8.8b tie-up due in four weeks

Merger plans are tracking in line with expectations, with the competition watchdog to make a final decision on October 24 after a previous delay.

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Cettire has spent most of the year battling to convince investors of the merits of its drop-shipping business model for luxury goods.

Cettire gets auditor’s tick of approval, adding $247m to valuation

A month after the online luxury retailer delivered unaudited accounts, worrying investors, Grant Thornton have signed off, sending the share price surging.

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The competition commission has launched two separate lawsuits against Woolworths and Coles, led by Amanda Bardwell and Leah Weckert.

Woolworths, Coles faked discounts on hundreds of products, says ACCC

The regulator is suing the country’s two biggest supermarkets, claiming they told customers prices were falling when they were actually higher than before.

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Olivia Wirth, chairwoman of Myer, will have the review of the business finalised by year’s end.

Myer investors grow impatient over new strategy as growth stalls

The mid-market department store was expected to outline its growth plans next month. That has been delayed as it considers buying up well-known fashion brands.

Woolworths’ new chief executive Amanda Bardwell is facing calls to divest the company’s Big W business.

Woolworths faces investor calls to ditch Big W, New Zealand

The new chief executive of the country’s supermarket chain is being urged to focus on the company’s core business, which is losing ground to Coles.

Anthony Scali has big ambitions for his family’s furniture retailer.

Nick Scali wants to conquer Britain. Does it stand a chance?

The ASX-listed furniture retailer has made a big bet on the United Kingdom, where plenty of big Australian companies have come unstuck.

Adairs new CEO Elle Roseby at home in Brighton. She joins the retailer in January.

Adairs snares ex-Country Road boss as next chief

Two months on from exiting the turmoil at Country Road Group, Elle Roseby will next year take the top job at the ASX-listed home furnishings and linen company.

Mid-tier fashion group Country Road is owned by South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings.

Country Road goes cheaper at Mimco, Politix in brand ‘reset’

The high-profile retailer will also launch its first fragrance as part of the overhaul, part of a bid to arrest a slide in sales after a difficult year.

Solomon Lew (left) with former head of Smiggle John Cheston. Mr Lew’s Just Group has accused Mr Cheston of breaching is his contract but did not provide details.

Solomon Lew axes Smiggle boss John Cheston

The executive, who had already quit to defect to retail chain Lovisa, has been accused of “serious misconduct” by his former employer, which he denies.

Brett Blundy sold Bras N Things to Haines, the American underwear giant, for around $500 million.

Billionaire Brett Blundy plots new brand to relive lingerie glory days

The businessman was behind the Bras N Things chain, which was sold to Hanes for $500 million, and Honey Birdette, acquired by Playboy for $443 million.

New Passionfruit Seltzer from Fellr

Can sorbet sell hard seltzer? Fellr is banking on it for the summer

The local alcohol brand faces intense competition from overseas giants, including White Claw. The tie-up with hot gelato outfit Messina appears to be working.

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Cettire chief executive Dean Mintz earlier this year. He rarely makes public appearances or speak to media.

Dean Mintz splashes $15.8m on Cettire shares despite audit worries

The luxury fashion retailer’s founder had helped lift the company’s stock by about 50 per cent this week. The end of the spree sent it crashing on Wednesday.

Coles Liquor chief executive Michael Courtney is seeking to make its Liquorland the key umbrella banner.

Vintage Cellars to disappear under Coles’ bottle shop rebrand

Coles is trialling an enlarged Liquorland footprint as its best chance of catching up to rival retailer Dan Murphy’s.

Myer executive chairwoman Olivia Wirth joined in March from Qantas, where she was head of loyalty.

Sass & Bide stores to close as new Myer chief clears the decks

Olivia Wirth has moved quickly to axe the storied fashion chain’s standalone retail outlets ahead of a proposed merger with Premier Investments brands.

Woolworths and Coles are in a tight race for shoppers. The smaller of the two has had a better 12 months.

These three charts show how Coles is outperforming Woolworths

The country’s second-largest supermarket chain is doing better than its bigger rival – from more stock on shelves to lower theft and better value. Here’s why.

August

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn at a parliamentary inquiry in Canberra on Thursday.

Big business faces down Canberra’s ‘insidious’ populist policies

Commonwealth Bank chief Matt Comyn has warned “performative” attacks is eroding trust, highlighting the rising tensions between MPs and corporate Australia.

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/carrie-lafrenz-11bwz7