Choice, Australia’s largest consumer group, has officially been announced to take over control of the oft-criticised GROCERYchoice website, according to ABC Online. The change will enable more weekly supermarket specials to be shown on the website, as Choice is not as restricted as competition regulator, the ACCC - the current operator of the site. The site launched in August after the ACCC approved its introduction following the Grocery Price Inquiry, but interest has waned - with hit numbers... ...Read more »

The latest survey on the GROCERYchoice website has indicated that, on a total grocery basket, Woolworths supermarkets are the cheapest in 45 of the 61 regions surveyed. This compares with 30 of 61 regions in the previous month’s survey. Independents are again the cheapest in the Eastern Central Queensland sector, with Coles on top in the other 15 regions. The basket prices represent the average price for a retailer within a specified region, not the price for a specific individual supermarket... ...Read more »

The Federal Government is contemplating handing control of the oft-criticised GROCERYchoice website to consumer advocates Choice for a reported $13 million. Despite strong interest upon launch the number of hits on the site has waned from 3 million a month to just 104,000 causing criticism of the taxpayer funded site to escalate. Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen has claimed that handing the reins to Choice would enable specials to be published on the website and create synergies. “We said on... ...Read more »

Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon is planning to introduce a notice of motion to Parliament next week that will seek changes to the current GROCERYchoice website. The survey, implemented following the Grocery Price Inquiry, has been criticised by some, who claim it does not provide enough timely information for consumers and allay concerns that too much focus is on Coles and Woolworths. The grouping of all independents together has also been questioned. The ACCC has advised that... ...Read more »

The fourth findings of the GROCERYchoice comparison survey were released on Monday and discovered Woolworths and Coles were each cheaper in 30 out of 61 regions for a total grocery basket, with independents cheapest in Eastern Central Queensland. Aldi, which is not included in the total grocery basket category, again led the way in terms of a basic staples basket in all 40 regions in which they operate. Coles, meanwhile, turned the tables on their primary competitor in the basic staples basket category... ...Read more »

The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Chris Bowen, has announced a package of measures providing criminal sanctions for serious cartel conduct, including providing power to the ACCC to tap telephone calls for investigatory purposes. After lengthy consultation with businesses, academics and the community at large, the Government yesterday released the final cartels bill in response to their election promise. “Together with the United States, the 10‑year... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted final authorisation for the continuation of milk pricing and milk purchasing policies between Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative (DFMC) Limited and Australian Cooperative Food Limited (ACF) following the sale of ACF to National Foods. DFMC acquires raw milk from its farmer members and sells this milk to ACF for processing into dairy products. National Foods proposed a $910m takeover of ACF in August, which received the approval of both... ...Read more »

Cadbury has announced third quarter revenue growth of 6 per cent, in-line with expectations, as the caution of consumers fails to dampen their profit expectations. Australian results, dragged down by a 5% decline in beverage sales, were not as impressive. Cadbury reported a renewed focus on strengthening their global chocolate, gum and candy divisions and new initiatives in their Vision into Action (VIA) strategy. They will change their structure, with four regions to become seven; including Asia-Pacific... ...Read more »

Peak retail body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today criticised the Rudd Government’s GROCERYchoice website as a “brand promotion” tool for Australian supermarkets after the October grocery survey data released today labelled a major supermarket brand as the ‘cheapest’. ARA’s Executive Director Richard Evans believes the ‘highlights’ section of the GROCERYchoice website shows dangerous signs of government brand promotion. “Since its... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is proposing to authorise, for five years, milk pricing and milk purchasing policies between DFMC (Dairy Farmers Milk Co-Operative) and ACF (Australian Co-Operative Foods) to enable their continuation following the sale of ACF to National Foods*.DFMC acquires raw milk from its farmer members and sells this milk to ACF for processing into dairy products. Agreements in place between ACF and DFMC require DFMC to adopt the same price and purchasing arrangements... ...Read more »