From a small Guardian update this morning:

From a small Guardian update this morning:

"A highly anticipated federal court battle between the competition regulator and supermarket giant Coles begins today, testing allegations the retailer offered “illusory” discounts on hundreds of everyday products.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking large penalties and community service orders against Coles, which, along with Woolworths, controls two-thirds of the Australian grocery market.

A similar case against Woolworths is expected to be heard at a later date.

The 10-day hearing in Melbourne will scrutinise pricing practices involving hundreds of products, from instant coffee to chocolate biscuits, over an extended period.

The regulator alleges that Coles temporarily inflated prices before marking the items as discounted under promotions like “Down Down,” in a practice known as “was/is” pricing.

Coles is defending the claims, arguing pricing was a response to increased costs from suppliers.

The case starts during a period of reigniting inflation, with groceries and other household costs rising strongly again."

#Coles #Shopping #News #Consumers #ACCC #PriceFixing #Corruption #Law #Supermarkets #Australia