Due to false discount claims, supermarkets in Australia filed a lawsuit.

Australian consumer protection agency sued two large grocery retailers for falsely claiming hundreds of goods were permanently discounted.

The ACCC claims Coles and Woolworths broke consumer law by briefly raising prices before decreasing them.

Coles defended itself while Woolworths investigated.

Supermarkets, who control two thirds of the Australian market, were attacked for price gouging and anti-competitive behavior last year.

If true, Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “completely unacceptable”.

“This goes against Australian values. At a news conference, he added, “Customers do not deserve to be treated as fools,” and pledged a supermarket “code of conduct” legislation.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Australian customers now view Coles and Woolworths’ ‘Price Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotions as progressive price reductions after years of promotion.

In many cases, “the discounts were, in fact, illusory” she said.

After customer complaints and surveillance, the ACCC found Woolworths mislead customers about 266 products over 20 months and Coles approximately 245 over 15 months.

Tim Tams, Bega Cheese, Kellogg’s. Sales included mouthwash, Band-Aids, and pet food. These Australian favorites were available.

The ACCC claimed the two companies “sold tens of millions” of affected items and “derived significant revenue from those sales.”

She claims “many consumers rely on discounts to help their grocery budgets stretch further, particularly during this time of cost of living pressures,” true.

“It is critical that Australian consumers are able to rely on the accuracy of pricing and discount claims.”

ACCC seeks “significant” penalties from the Federal Court of Australia and expanded charitable food supply by the two corporations.

Rising costs raised product prices, Coles said.

The company “sought to strike an appropriate balance” between managing that and “offering value to customers” by marketing “as soon as possible” new rates.
It “places a great emphasis on building trust with all stakeholders” & “takes consumer law extremely seriously.”
Woolworths will discuss ACCC complaints.
“Our customers are telling us they want us to work even harder to deliver meaningful value to them and it’s important they can trust the value they see when shopping our stores.”
The government will review the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct as supermarket inspections rise

the report suggested the ACCC to tighten its code of conduct to protect consumers and suppliers.
The ACCC claims Coles and Woolworths broke consumer law by briefly raising prices before decreasing them.
Coles defended itself while Woolworths investigated.

Supermarkets, who control two thirds of the Australian market, were attacked for price gouging and anti-competitive behavior last year.
Deputy PM Anthony Albanese called the claimed behavior “completely unacceptable” if true.This goes against Australian values. At a news conference, he added, “Customers do not deserve to be treated as fools,” and pledged a supermarket “code of conduct” legislation.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Australian customers now view Coles and Woolworths’ ‘Price Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotions as progressive price reductions after years of promotion.
In many cases, “the discounts were, in fact, illusory” she said.
After customer complaints and surveillance, the ACCC found Woolworths mislead customers about 266 products over 20 months and Coles approximately 245 over 15 months.
Tim Tams, Bega Cheese, Kellogg’s. Sales included mouthwash, Band-Aids, and pet food. These Australian favorites were available.
The ACCC claimed the two companies “sold tens of millions” of affected items and “derived significant revenue from those sales.”

She claims “many consumers rely on discounts to help their grocery budgets stretch further, particularly during this time of cost of living pressures,” true.
“It is critical that Australian consumers are able to rely on the accuracy of pricing and discount claims.”
ACCC seeks “significant” penalties from the Federal Court of Australia and expanded charitable food supply by the two corporations.
Rising costs raised product prices, Coles said.
The company “sought to strike an appropriate balance” between managing that and “offering value to customers” by marketing “as soon as possible” new rates.
It “places a great emphasis on building trust with all stakeholders” & “takes consumer law extremely seriously.”
Woolworths will discuss ACCC complaints.
“Our customers are telling us they want us to work even harder to deliver meaningful value to them and it’s important they can trust the value they see when discount discount shopping our stores.”

The government will review the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct as supermarket inspections rise.but

The report suggested the ACCC to tighten its code of conduct to protect consumers and suppliers. discount