The competition regulator has found Woolworths and Coles are some of the most profitable supermarket retailers in the world and their margins have increased since the pandemic, but concedes little can be done about their market dominance.

After a year-long investigation, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has recommended the government force the supermarket giants to publish their prices online and provide suppliers with detailed information about price and sales forecasts, and modify zoning and planning laws so smaller rivals can expand more quickly.