Unit pricing became mandatory in supermarkets across Australia yesterday, with Competition Minister Dr Craig Emerson suggesting the move will see the average family save at least $96 a year. Unit pricing, a recommendation stemming from the ACCC’s Grocery Inquiry, is where grocery items are priced by reference to common units of measure such as per 100 grams and per 100 millilitres. For example, a 600 gram jar of jam that costs $4.50 would have a unit price of $0.75 per 100 grams. “Unit... ...Read more »

A caped calculator character called Unit Man will soon be seen in supermarkets and grocery catalogues across Australia in an endeavour to assist consumers better understand unit pricing – which was brought into law earlier this year.Unit pricing is a labelling system that shows prices per standard unit of measurement such as by volume or by weight. For example, laundry detergent in a 2.5 litre bottle priced at $7.62 will have a unit price per litre of $3.05. “Unit Man has been developed... ...Read more »

Consumers are reportedly responding well to the increased information offered by unit pricing, according to some of the leading supermarket chains. Unit pricing law came into effect on Wednesday, although retailers have been given until December 1 to fully comply. Small retailers are not required to introduce unit pricing due to the costs involved but are welcome to participate if they please. Andrew Hall, the Director of Corporate and Public Affairs for Woolworths, said feedback from customers had... ...Read more »

The Federal Government’s unit pricing* Code of Conduct becomes operable today, with retailers given until 1 December 2009 to display unit pricing on food based grocery items. The Australian National Retailers Association, which represents Coles, Woolworths and Franklins, said today that many supermarkets had already made the move ahead of schedule. “Thousands of every day grocery items across the country’s largest supermarkets already display unit prices,” ANRA CEO Margy Osmond... ...Read more »

The Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen MP, yesterday released the draft industry code to implement a mandatory unit pricing scheme. “This code – once enacted – will create a nationally‑consistent unit pricing scheme, so that all Australian consumers can have access to prominent, legible and unambiguous unit pricing information when they do their weekly grocery shop,” Mr Bowen said. The code was based upon the framework previously announced in January, with stakeholder... ...Read more »

Chris Bowen, the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, has today announced the details of the Federal Government’s plans for the roll-out of a mandatory unit pricing regime. They include, as anticipated, an exemption for grocers that operate stores no greater than 1000m2, with the law set to be established by July 1, 2009. A transition period of six months will be granted to all retailers impacted by the legislation change. Unit pricing, the display of the price of goods per... ...Read more »

Australia’s Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, has told reporters in Sydney today that the framework for a national unit pricing scheme is nearing completion and will be revealed early next year. Unit pricing, one of the recommendations from the ACCC’s Grocery Price Inquiry, requires supermarkets and grocers to display the price per unit of measurement e.g. per gram or kilogram as well as the product price for packaged goods. “It’s been the law in Europe for 10 years,... ...Read more »

Woolworths has launched a roll-out of unit pricing at their 780 stores, making them the first national retailer to display both the actual and unit price on their labels. Aldi, which only operates in Australia’s eastern states, and Franklins, which is based in NSW, were the first to add the unit price (price per kilogram or litre) to their labels. Woolworths general manager of supermarkets, James Aylen, reported that they made their final commitment after a successful trial period, with eight... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has urged state and federal governments to restrict the introduction of new legislation that could burden retailers with added compliance costs during this period of economic concern.ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said during one of the hardest economic times for retailers, decision makers are continuing to push through legislation across the country – including unit pricing, plastic bag bans, emissions trading schemes,... ...Read more »

Competition Policy & Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, has released an issues paper calling for public comment on developing a national unit pricing regime. This is the next step toward introducing a nationally-consistent unit pricing regime, announced as part of the Government’s preliminary response to the release of the ACCC’s Grocery Inquiry. Unit pricing (or comparative pricing) is the display of the price of goods per unit of measure, for example per 100 grams,... ...Read more »