Amcor announced on Friday that they strongly dispute the estimate of damages suffered by Amcor customers, put forward in relation to the class action proceeding commenced by Jarra Creek Central Packaging Shed Pty Ltd.Jarra Creek has released to the parties an economist report which estimates, based on a range of disputed and contentious facts and assumptions, that the damages suffered by Amcor customers, should Jarra Creek be successful in its claim, are potentially in the vicinity of $466 million... ...Read more »

Consumer group CHOICE is calling for a new supermarket industry ombudsman to tackle competition and fairness across the grocery sector. According to CHOICE, the supermarket ombudsman would provide: Leadership - to ensure competition and fairness is driven at a national level so that real improvement can be brought about in the next five years not the next 50. Fair rules and fair play - that regulators enforce their rules and, if not sufficient, to suggest rule changes. Early stage market inquiries... ...Read more »

“Business is on notice - the ACCC will be pursuing tougher penalties for anti-competitive behaviour, including cartels,” Chairman of the ACCC Graeme Samuel said today. Speaking to an AICD luncheon in Melbourne, Mr Samuel noted that for around 14 years the maximum penalty for anti-competitive conduct, be it misuse of market power or cartel conduct, had been $10 million per contravention. “We saw cases where the profit from the conduct for the company far outstripped the reach of... ...Read more »

 Woolworths supermarkets yesterday posted the price of more than 5,000 packaged grocery products oline, with the launch of their Woolworths Price Check website. The company has commenced listing product prices online following calls from consumer advocate groups for the major supermarkets to deliver greater price transparency to customers. According to some commentators however, the website leaves a lot to be desired.  Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Competition and Consumer Law Expert at the... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) yesterday announced further agreements with major supermarket retailers to phase out restrictive provisions in supermarket leases in a bid to limit the market power of the major retailers. Competition Minister Dr Craig Emerson last month said that the  move will ensure the ACCC has the ability to reject acquisitions that would substantially lessen competition in any local, regional or national market. ALDI Foods Pty Ltd, Franklins Pty Ltd,... ...Read more »

The ACT Government has today outlined its new supermarket policy, which they argue will offer Canberra’s grocery shoppers “more choices, more suburban supermarkets and potentially cheaper prices”.Chief Minister and Minister for Business and Economic Development Jon Stanhope said the plan would guide future supermarket development and, in particular, address a shortage of larger, full-line independent supermarket stores in central Canberra and Gungahlin. “This Implementation... ...Read more »

The Federal Government is set to amend the Trade Practices Act to deal with creeping acquisitions, in a bid to limit the market power of the major retailers. The move will ensure the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has the ability to reject acquisitions that would substantially lessen competition in any local, regional or national market, Competition Minister Dr Craig Emerson said. “This comes after private legal opinion questioned whether the ACCC has the power to consider... ...Read more »

Belgian’s three major food retailers are under investigation for allegedly fixing the price of Ferrero’s iconic Nutella chocolate spread over a six-year period. The allegations stem from a long running investigation into the confectionery sector by Belgian’s Competition Council, with the case now set to go to a chamber of the Competition Council where retailers Delhaize, Carrefour and Colruyt, along with Ferrero, will have the opportunity to respond to the claims. The Competition... ...Read more »

Kraft has received conditional approval from European Union competition authorities for their planned takeover of Cadbury, and can now turn their attention to satisfying Cadbury shareholders - with a lot of convincing needed given they have so far only received acceptances for 1.52% of the confectioner’s stock. “The decision is conditional upon the divestment of the Polish and Romanian chocolate confectionery businesses of Cadbury,” the EU advised. “In view of the remedies... ...Read more »

Consumer group Choice has not let the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the GroceryChoice website stop them from comparing supermarket prices across the country. The national survey of grocery prices in Coles and Woolworths found residents of Geelong, Victoria, and the Central Coast of NSW enjoy the cheapest basket of goods in the country - while consumers in Bunbury (WA) pay up to 11% more. The independent price survey - which was carried out on a basket of 35 items, including bread,... ...Read more »