Insights

Regulator takes Coles to court over supplier payments for profit, stock losses

1,027 Comments / Business matters, Other FMCG Retailers /

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched additional legal proceedings against Coles Supermarkets and alleged that Coles took advantage of its superior bargaining position by demanding money from suppliers that it was not lawfully entitled to, and was, in all the circumstances, unconscionable. “The ACCC has commenced these proceedings because it considers the alleged […]

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Caltex responds to NSW EPA proceedings, faces $2 million fine

303 Comments / Business matters, Petrol /

Caltex Australia acknowledged last week the EPA proceedings regarding the 2013 incident at its Banksmeadow terminal and said that it undertook an extensive investigation following a leak from a petrol tank at its Banksmeadow (NSW) terminal in July 2013 into secondary containment. Caltex Australia said that although there was no harm to the environment, Caltex

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Less Australians buy soap brands as supermarket labels grow

1 Comment / Category insights, Non-food Products /

Roy Morgan Research has found that the proportion of Australians who buy soap in an average four-week period has shrunk almost 10% over the last five years, while supermarket house brands have grown to become the fourth most popular soap brand. The latest data from Roy Morgan shows that after four consecutive annual declines, just

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ACCC alleges unconscionable conduct towards suppliers by Coles

Leave a Comment / Business matters /

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today instituted proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd and Grocery Holdings Pty Ltd (together, Coles) alleging that Coles engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACCC is alleging that Coles took advantage of its superior bargaining

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Note recycling to enhance efficiency at Coles

982 Comments / Business matters, Retailer news, Technology /

NCR Corporation has announced that it is upgrading Coles Supermarkets’ NCR FastLane SelfServ™ Checkout lanes with NCR Note Recycling capability. The Note Recycling solution will assist Coles to lower cash floats and reduce replenishment cycles as it recycles cash notes accepted in self-checkout machines, dispensing them as change in subsequent transactions. In addition, the Note

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Consumer confidence remains below expectations

915 Comments / Business matters /

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment Consumer (released yesterday) shows consumer sentiment has recovered slightly but remains below expectations with households reluctant to spend in the light of lingering economic concern two months after an unpopular federal budget. The Index showed a 1.9% increase, from 93.2 in June to 94.9 in July, and revealed

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Costs inflated by red tape: Productivity Commission report

244 Comments / Business matters /

Retail groups have called for immediate action by all Australian governments after a new Productivity Commission report released last Friday found that – while largely market driven – retailers’ costs are being inflated by ‘red tape’, such as trading hours restrictions, planning and zoning regulations and occupancy costs. Productivity Commissioner Patricia Scott said that the

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Some hope for convenience and impulse stores that are losing in the bread war

Leave a Comment / Category insights, General/grocery /

Woolworths Supermarkets’ recent announcement that they were reducing the price of their Homebrand white bread from $1 to 85c a loaf not only attracted widespread media attention, but prompted Coles and ALDI to match the price with their equivalent ‘store’s own’ white loaves. Will these ‘bread wars’ impact smaller specialist stores such as Bakers Delight?

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Red Bulls wings clipped in $US13 million settlement

Leave a Comment / Beverages, Business matters /

Red Bull has agreed to pay $US13 million ($A14.76 million) to settle a class action lawsuit over alleged false advertising of its energy drinks. A statement provided to C&I by Red Bull Australia notes that “Red Bull settled this lawsuit to avoid the unpredictability and exorbitant costs of litigating in the USA. Red Bull’s marketing

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Union helps Woolworths casuals become permanent

Leave a Comment / Business matters, News /

Next week 13 previously casual workers at the Woolworths supermarket warehouse in Yennora will become permanent employees after fighting for greater job security and certainty in working hours and entitlements. The National Union of Workers helped the 13 casual positions become permanent through a Memorandum of Understanding with the company. According to Mark Ptolemy of

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Food sales growth flattens, retail needs Government, RBA support

1 Comment / Business matters, General/grocery /

Job worries, rising unemployment and falling real wages have put retail sales on a slowing growth pattern before the expected Christmas spending pick up, while peak industry body the Australian Retailers Association remains hopeful that September figures will continue to highlight positive growth. ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said retailers enjoyed only a small increase

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Fair Work Ombudsman helps Coles end exploitation of trolley collectors

290 Comments / Business matters, Retailer news /

Following the Fair Work Ombudsman’s August call to national supermarket chains and shopping centres, Coles is the first major chain to publicly declare it has an “ethical and moral responsibility” to join with the Ombudsman and stamp out exploitation of vulnerable trolley collectors. Some trolley collectors are being paid as little as $5 an hour,

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