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 »

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 »

Woolworths Limited, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, yesterday withdrew its application to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal a judgement by the New Zealand Court of Appeal that prevented them from taking over NZ retailer The Warehouse. That judgment confirmed the decision of the Commerce Commission declining clearance to Woolworths acquiring 100% of the shares in, or assets of, The Warehouse Group. The decision does not mean Woolworths has given up on purchasing The Warehouse,... ...Read more »

Australian grocery and liquor wholesaler Metcash maintained earnings guidance of after tax profit of almost $197 million on the back of sales revenue expected to pass the $10 billion mark for the first time. The third largest player in the grocery industry, Metcash came under scrutiny from the ACCC during the recent Grocery Price Inquiry, but Chief Executive Andrew Reitzer was content with the outcome. Pleased with the “creeping acquisitions” proposals and “workably competitive”... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia’s peak food and grocery manufacturing industry group, has welcomed the government’s plan to examine creeping acquisitions laws, labelling it a move in the right direction to help address concerns about retail competition issues. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said the release of the Federal Government’s discussion paper calling for public comment on the best way forward on creeping acquisition laws is a win for consumers and... ...Read more »

The Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) claims the Consumer Choice website has misleading information that gives free promotion for Coles and Woolworths and provides distorted information to consumers and have called for the website to be shutdown. “I hope the government receives a fee from Coles and Woolworths for advertising and promotion of their brand,” said Bob Stanton, Chairman of COSBOA. Mr Stanton highlighted the example of the ‘Metropolitan Perth and Surrounds’... ...Read more »

The ACCC report into the state of competition in the grocery sector was released to mixed reactions yesterday. Federal Government “I believe that our action plan, combined with the broader reforms that are already in train to further strengthen competition policy, such as the amendments to the misuse of market power provision and the criminalisation of serious cartel conduct, will ensure that the grocery market remains competitive,” the Assistant Treasurer, Chris Bowen, said. “The introduction... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday handed their 642-page report into the state of competition in the grocery industry to the Federal Government and it has been suggested that a “competition test” may be among the recommendations. Changes already mooted have included unit pricing, which appears certain, changes to restrict “creeping acquisitions”, a price monitoring system and the introduction of an industry ombudsman. Alterations to zoning restrictions... ...Read more »