Speaking last night to the Law Society of NSW on the first anniversary of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,  Mr Rod Sims, issued a warning to businesses. According to Mr Sims, ensuring that businesses do not engage in misleading and deceptive conduct “goes to the heart of a market economy where consumers can make more informed choices.” “Too many businesses still have a long way to go before they meet legal and public... ...Read more »

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s chairman Rod Sims has announced that the ACCC will not appeal the Full Federal Court’s decision to allow Metcash’s acquisition of the Franklins supermarket business. In a media statement released today, Mr Sims said that the ACCC took action to block the proposed acquisition by Metcash of the Franklins supermarket business because it considered that such an acquisition was likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the... ...Read more »

Wholesale giant Metcash today announced it is in the final stages of selling its newly acquired Franklins supermarket chain to Australian IGA Supermarkets. Metcash Chief Executive Officer Mr Andrew Reitzer said the company had so far received over 200 expressions of interest to buy the supermarket chain and was looking forward to transitioning Franklins into the “right hands”. Mr Reitzer said discussions with potential buyers of the Franklins supermarkets would begin on 21 November. The process... ...Read more »

Aldi has won its Federal Court case against ePAL, which has been found liable for misleading and deceptive conduct under the Competition and Consumer Act. The case related to the fact that the ePAL payment system is changing for Eftpos from 1 October 2011. From that date, a bigger share of the Eftpos payment will flow to owners of ePAL itself. Under the new ePAL system, the retailer’s bank will have to pay an “interchange fee” of up to 15c to the shopper’s bank. The ePAL... ...Read more »

Wholesale giant Metcash is free to complete its acquisition of Australian supermarket chain Franklins after the Federal Court refused an application by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) for an injunction to prevent the acquisition taking place. The Federal Court also granted an expedited timetable for the appeal hearing with a three day hearing scheduled for 24 October 2011. As a result, Franklins parent company Pick n Pay can now agree with Metcash to waive the condition... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has applied to the Federal Court for an interim injunction restraining Metcash’s proposed acquisition of the Franklins supermarket chain. The ACCC was given notice on Sunday 11 September by Metcash that after the expiry of five business days Metcash considers itself free to agree with Pick n Pay to waive the condition requiring ACCC approval for its proposed acquisition of the Franklins supermarket business. In a statement, the ACCC said... ...Read more »

Major fast food chain KFC has removed claims that it sources chickens that are ‘free to roam’ from its Australian website. The move comes days after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accused Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd and Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd, both of which supply chickens to KFC in Australia, of making misleading promotional claims to sell their chicken products. The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd and Bartter Enterprises... ...Read more »

Australian grocery and hardware wholesaler Metcash has notified the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that, from Friday 15 September, it will no longer require the ACCC’s approval to acquire the Franklins supermarket chain. Metcash has signalled that, after this Friday, it intends to complete the agreement with Pick n Pay, which owns the Franklins chain, by waiving a condition requiring the ACCC’s approval and to settle the acquisition of the Franklins supermarket chain. Metcash’s... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today announced it is appealing against the Federal Court’s judgment dismissing the ACCC’s application to prevent grocery and hardware wholesaler Metcash from acquiring the Franklins supermarket business. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said today, “We are appealing this case for two reasons. First, because of the adverse effect of the proposed acquisition on independent supermarket retailers, consumers and competition in the New South Wales... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has accused some of Australia’s best-known chicken brands of making misleading promotional claims for sell their chicken products. The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd and Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd which supply chickens nationally under the Steggles brand, as well as Turi Foods, which supplies La Ionica brand meat chickens in New South Wales and Victoria, and the Australian Chicken Meat... ...Read more »