Legalese battle for Coles as execs clash over farmer deals
The difference between a ‘commitment’ to buy fresh produce from farmers and a ‘legally binding’ deal was a source of fireworks at the final day of the ACCC public hearing into supermarkets.
Retail
Coles boss denies private label used to undercut suppliers
Coles CEO Leah Weckert has told the ACCC inquiry into supermarkets that private label isn’t being used to undercut suppliers of branded groceries or weaken their bargaining power.
Accent shares dive on slowing sales
The footwear retailer released a trading update at its annual general meeting that showed a marked slowdown in sales growth and weaker margins.
Di Pilla data centre fund’s ‘upsized’ IPO poised to grow
After a string of big acquisitions and amid significant investor demand, David Di Pilla’s new REIT will list with an IPO of $2.75bn and global ambitions.
Freight company collapse threatens Nick Scali profit
The furniture retailer is facing significant delivery delays after being forced to go to Federal Court to secure shipping containers.
Rising costs, belt tightening drives surge in cafe failures
Business failures in the hospitality sector have almost doubled over the past year and are tipped to climb further as costs mount, tax debts grow and consumers tighten their belts.
Woolworths’ supplier rebates under scrutiny
Questions have been raised about the impact of supplier rebates on Woolworths’ profit and executive bonuses at the second ACCC hearing into supermarkets that also included a notable surprise.
Sales down at Kathmandu, Rip Curl owner
KMD Brands, the owner of Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz, is pinning its hopes on a bounce in sales from the crucial Black Friday and Christmas trading period as sales for all its brands continue to dive. Shares hit record low.
Bunnings defends facial recognition cameras after privacy breach
The retail giant has been found to have invaded the privacy of hundreds of thousands of customers, technology it says was only used to protect its team and other customers from ‘violent behaviour’ | WATCH THE VIDEO
Woolworths denies ‘land banking’ sites
Woolworths boss Amanda Bardwell has been asked about internal documents showing the retailer’s strategy around buying and holding land.
$50m a year up in smoke from illicit ciggy sales: Ritchies boss
The proliferation of the illegal tobacco trade and the dominant power of Woolworths and Coles are weighing on Fred Harrison’s independent supermarket chain, Ritchies.
Drakes boss lashes regulators over Coles and Woolies’ market power
Australia’s largest independent grocer says preventing further expansion of Coles and Woolies is the only way to rein in their excessive market power.
Guzman y Gomez and Gen Y a fast-food winning recipe
Gen Z and Gen Y are rushing to Guzman Y Gomez stores for its cheap but healthy Mexican food to take the fight to fast-food giants like McDonald’s and KFC.
Metcash no handbrake on competition, says food boss
Wholesaler Metcash has told an ACCC public hearing into supermarkets that the independent chains it supplies are a vital ingredient for competition and choice in the sector.
Billionaire lashes out at Endeavour Group as pub civil war reignites
Bruce Mathieson says the pubs and bottle shop empire’s management is taking too long to arrest declining sales and the CEO was ‘not good enough and should never have been there’.
Coles readies to launch AI-powered ‘smart trolleys’
New technology is coming to your local Coles store, as the retail heavyweight prepares to trial an AI-powered smart trolley that allows people to pick, weigh and pay for their groceries.
Country Road’s sales even worse as shoppers feel the pinch
Country Road Group has continued its sales dive, now down more than 13 per cent as the tough trading environment slams the brakes on fashion shopping.
Coles accuses leaders of ‘politicising’ cost-of-living crisis
Coles chair James Graham has taken a swipe at the nation’s politicians, accusing them of ‘politicising’ the cost-of-living crisis to attack supermarkets.
Aldi requests ACCC inquiry closed session to shield financial info
Appearing before the ACCC inquiry into supermarkets, German retailer Aldi has requested its responses to questions about sales and profitability be shielded from the public and competitors.
Christmas strike threat for Woolworths
The supermarket giant’s food distribution network faces disruption in the lead-up to Christmas, as warehouse workers threaten to escalate industrial action in support of above-inflation pay rises as high as 36 per cent over three years.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/retail/page/4