March
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
April 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.