01.A Fair Deal for Supermarket Customers
We’re as angry about the power of the major supermarkets as many of you. We need your help to get a better deal for Australian consumers. Here's what you can do.
Australia has one of the most concentrated supermarket sectors in the world. The two supermarket giants - Woolworths and Coles - have around 70% of the market for packaged good and around 50% for fresh food. They face limited competition from smaller chains like Aldi, and independents operated by Foodwords and IGA.
Australian consumers have higher grocery prices than comparable countries, including
New Zealand. And grocery prices are rising faster in
Australia than anywhere else.
While consumers are paying more for their weekly shop the profits of the big supermarkets have remained high. Woolworths is one of the most profitable supermarket chains in the world; and Metcash – which has a monopoly on distribution to the independents – is even more profitable.
Changes to competition and planning laws will help to create greater competition for the big supermarket chains, but it’s time for grocery shoppers to take a stand and make choices that will promote a fair and dynamic grocery market.
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Sign up to join thousands of other Australians who want a better deal for supermarket shoppers.
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Take action
: send an email to your supermarket asking it to publish local grocery prices online.
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Use it or lose it! Try your local independent stores - greengrocer, baker, butcher or deli - and share your experiences here.
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Stay tuned: watch out for a CHOICE report on our investigation into supermarket prices - on CHOICE Online and in CHOICE Magazine from 1 December 2009.