Yesterday
Labor targets supermarket ‘shrinkflation’
Changes to unit pricing rules have been designed to help consumers avoid a hidden form of inflation.
- Tom McIlroy
This Month
- Updated
- Healthcare
Sigma shares surge as it offers concessions for Chemist Warehouse deal
The pharmacy retailer and wholesaler says its franchisees will be allowed to leave without being penalised if it secures the $8.8 billion merger.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
Credit score agencies combine, creating Australia’s newest duopoly
Experian has completed its $820 million acquisition of Illion, which Experian’s CEO says will help banks assess credit risk more dynamically.
- James Eyers
September
Competition watchdog gets $30m boost for supermarket probe
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will receive a $30 million funding boost to investigate misleading and deceptive pricing practices.
- Tom McIlroy
Open banking limps to life with ANZ customers seeking full picture
ANZ is the first major bank to use open banking to aggregate multiple accounts through its app. Ultimately, it will be used as a tool to lure new customers.
- James Eyers
Negative gearing explodes | Coles’ and Woolies’ dodgy discounts | The corporate Power list
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James and Anthony look at how the supermarket giants were accused of dodgy discounting, ask who will win the brawl over negative gearing, and examine the corporate Power list.
Competition watchdog dissects Namoi takeover
Undertakings provided by Singapore’s Olam may be insufficient to approve a takeover of Namoi Cotton, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says. .
- Brad Thompson
Fight or fold? Coles, Woolies face the angry shoppers they ‘fooled’
With its bombshell allegations this week the ACCC has given the big supermarkets two options, neither particularly palatable. Do they fight or do they fold?
- Patrick Durkin
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
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.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Retail politics of ACCC Coles and Woolies case are bad for business
The investor reaction underlines challenges facing the business community which has tried to push back against the populist anti-big business bashing in Canberra.
- The AFR View
Woolworths, Coles price manipulation claims come at tough time for BCA
Liberal and Labor MPs say that the claims against the supermarkets undermine corporate Australia’s efforts to position itself as a critical plank of prosperity.
- Tom McIlroy
How a Caramello Koala helped catch Coles and Woolies out
As consumers’ belts tightened, price-sensitive shoppers vented their frustrations online on Reddit, TikTok and X. The ACCC, it seems, was listening.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Aldi the big winner from Woolworths and Coles price gouging backlash
Investment banks warn of huge penalties and reputational damage after the ACCC alleged the supermarkets advertised specials that were cheaper weeks earlier.
- Joshua Peach and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Opinion
Coles and Woolworths score own goal on dodgy discounts
The big supermarket chains have already lost the public relations war over the ACCC’s allegations of fake discounts. What’s the next move?
- Jennifer Hewett
It was cybersleuths who (allegedly) caught Woolies, Coles in the act
In the end, it wasn’t the government, or Treasury, or a parliamentary committee that caused the biggest headache for the country’s supermarket giants this year.
- Kylar Loussikian
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Coles, Woolies go ‘Down Down’ in the court that matters
Lawyers may tell Coles and Woolworths to fight the ACCC. But this is much more than a legal battle.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
Did ‘illusory’ discounts from Coles, Woolies really mislead consumers?
The murky legal issue for the ACCC case against the big two supermarkets is what constitutes a “reasonable” period between a price increase and a subsequent promotional saving.
- Robert Hadler