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Coles Accused of 'Utterly Misleading' Grocery Prices
The ACCC alleges Coles inflated prices on 245 products for up to 45 days before discounts, potentially misleading consumers about genuine savings during 2022-2023.
- A 10-day Federal Court hearing began on Monday in Melbourne as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges Coles misled shoppers on 245 products.
- Alleging a systematic practice, the watchdog traced the conduct to February 2022–May 2023, saying Coles briefly increased non-promotional prices then advertised the later 'Down Down' price as a discount across hundreds of items.
- The ACCC used product-level examples such as Nature's Gift wet dog food sold at $4 for almost 300 days, rising to $6 for seven days, then advertised at $4.50 under a 'Down Down' promotional ticket, and Rexona antiperspirant showing similar short-term price spikes.
- The ACCC is seeking declarations and financial penalties for 255 alleged breaches, with fines up to $50 million per breach potentially impacting Coles Group's net profit after tax of over $1 billion for 2024-2025.
- The ACCC's broader allegations include Woolworths facing court in the coming months, with Gina Cass-Gottlieb stating `We also allege that in many cases both Woolworths and Coles had already planned to later place the products on a Prices Dropped or Down Down promotion before the price spike.
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left8Leaning Right5Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Left
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
54% Left
L 54%
13%
R 33%
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