The Federal Government has been told to learn from an “episode of waste and mismanagement” in reference to the GroceryChoice debacle, while the role of the ACCC has come under fire. A leading retail representative has also been criticised in a Senate Inquiry report, with calls for an investigation into a possible breach of the Trade Practices Act. The Inquiry had been launched to look at the handling of the price monitoring website GroceryChoice, an election promise of the Rudd Government. The... ...Read more »

Consumer group Choice is still planning on a July 1 launch for the revamped GROCERYchoice website despite facing resistance from some retailers who are not keen to provide lists on a weekly basis. Choice recently announced that consultancy firm SMS Management & Technology would help the consumer group with the $13 million task of rebuilding the troubled Grocery Choice website. Currently, the site focusses on 61 broad regions, with prices updated on a monthly basis. This has been criticised as... ...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 »

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 »