Coles Supermarkets have expanded their online grocery shopping areas to include Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Towoomba, Darwin and selected Top End locations. Shoppers in the new areas will be able to use the Coles website to shop for over 18,000 product lines, including groceries, fresh produce, bakery, meat and deli products, which will be delivered to their homes. The new service will also create more than 20 jobs in Darwin and more than 85 in Tasmania, and has been welcomed by the Premier of... ...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 »
The latest Roy Morgan Supermarket Satifaction Report reveals Aldi still on top in the customer satisfaction stakes, with 91.4% surveyed as satisfied, despite a slight downturn from last month. Coles was the only supermarket to show improvement in the January survey, with IGA taking the biggest hit, dropping nearly 2% to 85% from December. Roy Morgan Industry Communications Director Norman Morris commented on the result. “The three major supermarkets, Coles, Woolworths and IGA, have been jostling... ...Read more »
Fairtrade is growing in profile in the UK and the supermarkets have been keen to get on board for the past few years, highlighting their growing Fairtrade offering, introducing additional promotions and helping to educate their customers on the virtues of Fairtrade. But, Jonny Steel asks, have the millions of pounds poured into Fairtrade education resulted in increased interest and, ultimately, sales? Have the millions of pounds poured into Fairtrade education resulted in increased interest and... ...Read more »
The Federal Government’s decision to make Queensland the host state for a national heavy vehicle regulator will help steer transport regulation in the right direction, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said on Friday. Under long-awaited transport reforms, the Government has proposed national regulations to streamline safety and improve productivity in the heavy trucking industry, which is critical for allowing transport operators to get products on to supermarkets shelves. The... ...Read more »
Supermarket group Woolworths Ltd plans to ramp up its investment in price in order to drive sales volumes.In its earnings release on Friday (26 February), Woolworths posted a 6% increase in half-year revenues to A$27.2bn due to rising own-brand sales and lower prices. During the half, Woolworths spent A$120m on lowering prices on 3,500 grocery items, cuts that came on top of the retailer’s programme of weekly promotions, CEO Michael Luscombe revealed during a presentation to analysts. However,... ...Read more »
The UK and US are forecast to remain at the centre of the growing global market for online grocery retailing, new research has shown, as new technology continues to change the way consumers shop. A report published this week by just-food.com shows the UK will remain Europe’s largest market by some distance. By 2014, market value is forecast to reach GBP20.1bn (US$30.9bn), having more than tripled on the levels seen in 2009. During this time, the online sector’s share of the retail food... ...Read more »
Australia’s second largest supermarket group Coles has posted a strong increase in first half sales as its turnaround efforts continue to pay off. Coles supermarket business booked revenues of A$15.16bn in the six months to 31 December, up 3.7% compared to A$14.62bn for the half-year of last year. Speaking during a conference call with analysts, Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder said that the turnaround at Coles was “on track”. Detailing the supermarket operator’s... ...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 »