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Supermarket inquiry

March

Led by Anthony Albanese, politicians have blamed Coles and Woolies for higher supermarket prices.

Why Ross Gittins is wrong about supermarket price gouging

Who would have thought oligopolies can sustain competition? Woolies and Coles have increased grocery prices less than British supermarkets.

The ACCC’s underwhelming report conceded that the supermarket market domination would continue for the foreseeable future.

Supermarket inquiry ends not with a bang but a whimper

Instead of wagging fingers at the big chains for the economic challenges, politicians must get serious about tackling some of the underlying causes of inflation.

The ACCC has found that Coles and Woolworths are some of the most profitable supermarkets in the world.

Woolworths, Coles warn more red tape means higher grocery prices

Disputing the ACCC’s findings that they have oversized profitability, the supermarket giants say increased costs will be passed onto shoppers.

Gina Cass-Gottlieb’s extensive look at the supermarket sector won’t change the underlying competitiveness of the market.

Why the ACCC can’t limit Coles and Woolies’ power

The two supermarkets will cop more scrutiny on their practices and globally impressive margins, but their long-term market position and power will stay intact.

After a 12-month inquiry, the ACCC has not come up with any smoking gun to support claims that supermarket price gouging is to blame for the inflationary cost-of-living squeeze.

ACCC fails to find smoking gun on supermarket price-gouging

After a 12-month inquiry, the regulator has not been able to support claims that Coles and Woolworths are to blame for the inflationary cost-of-living squeeze.

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Woolworths and Coles account for 67 per cent of all supermarket sales and have increased their market share over the period since the previous ACCC review of the sector in 2008.

Why Aussie consumers are losing the supermarket wars

While there is no silver bullet, the ACCC has some recommendations to improve competition in the sector.

February

Supermarkets aren’t price-gouging, but try telling that to politicians

The pricing and profits at Coles and Woolworths are set to become a political football again on the eve of the 2025 federal election campaign.

January

Corporate heavyweights such as Qantas and Coles cop a lot of heat for reporting healthy profits.

Four charts reveal surprising views on Aussie businesses

Voters hate Coles and Woolworths? Think again. Amid a debate on the role of business in society, a new poll unearths some unexpected views on business.

December 2024

The Oreo was one of the products that the ACCC said had “illusory” discounts.

Supermarket giants use the $5 Oreo to argue their discounts are real

The ACCC has accused Woolworths and Coles of misleading shoppers. The retailers say the regulator doesn’t understand how pricing works.

November 2024

Coles CEO Leah Weckert testified at the ACCC supermarket hearing on Thursday.

Coles says focusing only on low prices sent customers away

Appearing at a competition inquiry, chief executive Leah Weckert says experience has shown shoppers want more than just cheap products.

October 2024

Workers harvesting tomatoes in Manduria, Italy. Some are forced to work long shifts in extreme heat, one reason that SPC argues Italian tomatoes can be produced so cheaply.

Trade officials probe cheap Woolworths, Coles imported tomatoes

The investigation will assess whether Italian tinned home brand products sold in the supermarkets are being dumped at low prices to damage local growers.

Cost of living committee chairwoman Jane Hume questioning Woolworths and Coles representatives via video link.

Blame our suppliers for high prices, not us: Coles and Woolies

Woolworths says it has been inundated with requests from multinational suppliers to increase the price of thousands of products by more than 10 per cent.

June 2024

Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Metcash (IGA) will face massive penalties under the revamped and mandatory code of conduct.

The big lie of the big-stick code is lower grocery prices

By adding cost and complexity, these reforms may well increase the cost of doing business and this could be passed on to consumers at the checkout.

The new code views penalties as essential to working effectively.

Why this is a practical, workable supermarket code of conduct

The new code offers the best of both a mandatory and voluntary system of compliance for the supermarket giants.

May 2024

Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci is facing three big problems.

Woolies’ reputational crisis has cost it $8b and counting

The supermarket giant has aggressively brought down prices, but its sales are growing far more slowly than its great rival. That’s a serious problem. 

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April 2024

Woolworths boss Brad Banducci during his testimony to the Senate inquiry in Canberra on April 16.

Woolworths says forced store sales won’t lower prices

The nation’s largest grocery chain says the bill put forward by the Greens as a tool against the misuse of market power could even result in higher prices.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

National security committee to meet after stabbings: PM

Anthony Albanese says violence and extremism has no place in Australia; Richard Marles reveals defence spending will crack $100 billion by 2034. How the day unfolded.

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci says he does not focus on return on equity

What is the true measure of a grocer’s profitability?

There’s solid ground to dismiss Nick McKim’s use of return on equity. But his audience is not wonky accountants – it’s disgruntled punters facing higher bills.

Senator Nick McKim and Brad Banducci in full flight.

12 big players dominate fruit and vegetable supplies

12 suppliers make up half of the total value of all fruit and vegetables sold in Woolies; Coles paid its staff $5 billion in wages last year; Woolworths boss threatened with jail. How the day unfolded.

Greens senator Nick McKim and outgoing Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci.

Woolworths, Greens in fiery clash on profits

Outgoing Woolworths boss Brad Banducci was threatened with six months in jail for contempt of the Senate, in a fiery Senate hearing that went off the rails on Tuesday.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/supermarket-inquiry-6gh9