Why Coles and Woolies should be in public hands   :-?
March 2, 2026
Green Left Weekly

Coles’ ‘down down’ promotion has been revealed as a price-gouging scam.
With millions already struggling in a cost-of-living crisis, one of the supermarket giants, Coles, is finally being investigated.   :)

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken legal action against Coles, accusing it of manipulating prices to make false claims that products are on sale, despite prices going up.

See also
Josh Cullinan calls for state-owned supermarket to reduce prices, break the duopoly
Will Labor act on supermarket duopoly price gouging?

It found that Coles would raise prices significantly for a short time, then reduce them to a sum that was still above the original price, while claiming it was discounted.   :(

For example, Coles sold baby formula for $18, then temporarily lifted the price to $24, only to reduce it to $21 and claim the price was “Down, down”.

People noticed the $3 price hike and the overall dodgy practice because they are keeping a close eye on their budgets. Some who saw the scam have submitted a class action lawsuit against Coles. Soon after, the ACCC launched its legal action.

Woolworths has also been found to use some of the same dodgy practices and is facing similar legal action from the ACCC later this year.   :)

This makes the ACCC case doubly important, but it also calls for a change of approach. Why are Coles and Woolworths allowed to control an enormous 80% of the grocery market? Third place ALDI has about 9%.

It means people have limited grocery market options, particularly in regional and remote areas, which may only have one supermarket.

Woolworths has more than 1100 stores across the country, while Coles has more than 850. This does not include other subsidiaries, such as Dan Murphys, Liquorland and Big W.

These dodgy “sales” are not the only way the duopoly rip people off. The Australia Institute found that Woolworths and Coles coordinated their “sales” on various products, to avoid direct competition.

This price gouging has allowed both corporations to post massive profits: $1.5 billion for Woolworths and $1.2 billion for Coles in the first half of the financial year. This is a rise of 10% and 15%, respectively, on the previous year and puts them among the world’s most profitable.

Such overwhelming market dominance hands Coles and Woolworths CEOs enormous power to manipulate prices. Meanwhile, up to 20% of households are regularly skipping meals, according to a 2025 report.

Coles is also under fire for its high-tech surveillance, including CCTV cameras, “smart” exit gates and AI technology that creates a unique ID for every person in the store. It has partnered with Palantir, the United States-based tech/surveillance company with links with the US military, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Israel Defense Forces. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned for publicly owned supermarkets to tackle food insecurity and reduce prices. He said the US$140 million in tax breaks and incentives that go to private supermarket companies could instead be redirected to set up a publicly owned supermarket in each city borough.

Here, it would be simpler for the supermarket giants to be taken into public hands to ensure that food and other basic goods remain affordable and profits be redirected into improving supply and distribution.

Removing the profit motive would allow publicly run supermarkets to sell products at close to cost price. Farmers and food producers would be able to negotiate fairer deals, instead of being held over a barrel by the conglomerates. Coles and Woolworths workers, who are underpaid and overworked, could be fairly paid and their conditions improved.

A publicly owned supermarket run democratically would also allow workers and customers to have a real say over decisions on goods and pricing.

Green Left has long campaigned for critical industries, such as energy and water, to be returned to public hands. Putting supermarkets into public hands makes just as much sense. We all need to eat.

I sold a $40,000 car for $55,000.

Public ownership experiment did not work out well in USSR.

People don't need $40,000 or $55,000 cars but they need to eat.  Got to do something to stop the price gouging.   :(

NO

But they should be more accountable and better employers.

Just put all the senior Coles and Woolies people in jail -

that will teach them and act as a deterrent to others.

The ACCC is taking Coles to court for price gouging.  Then I think sometime in April it will be wollies turn.   :)   

No. Any more than BHP, Wesfarmers or CSL should be.

How many people are actually too stupid to shop around for a better price when they need to?

How many supermarkets will be fined for price gouging?.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 11:35am:

How many supermarkets will be fined for price gouging?.   :(

They all do it sir Crook  &

if you shop around you can use up a lot of petrol and time.   :(

Yes well said Bobby, and as usual right again.   :)

Grow your own veggies and stop buying tim tams.

If you live on over processed food then you are going to pay not only with money but health.

We eat far too much food and complain how expensive it is.

Then again though, we don't seem to complain enough about CEOs big fat pay packets and bonuses.   :( 

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 11:44am:

Then again though, we don't seem to complain enough about CEOs big fat pay packets and bonuses.   :(

Remember the stories of farmers who bulldozed fruit orchards
because they were losing money supplying to Coles or Woolies?

My bet is that millions of trees have been destroyed -
but Coles and Woolies never lost money.   ::)

Yes Bobby and how many poor workers were being ripped off on those farms, with poor wages and conditions?.   :( 

Leroy wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 11:41am:

Grow your own veggies and stop buying tim tams. If you live on over processed food then you are going to pay not only with money but health. We eat far too much food and complain how expensive it is.

Works for us.

I hardly ever buy Tim Tams, but it is the price that is the point.  Stop the price gouging.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 10:28am:

Here, it would be simpler for the supermarket giants to be taken into public hands to ensure that food and other basic goods remain affordable and profits be redirected into improving supply and distribution.

Ah yes. Paid out of your taxes presumable at the share price?

So how much profit overall constitutes "gouging"? You never really say.

As for Dan Murphy's etc, I didn't know they sold household groceries. It sounds more like hype than hope. ;)

How many Aldi's in small, remote locations? ;)

Well lee its not for me or you to say, but it seems that the ACCC  thinks they are price gouging.  I guess that can be worked out in a court of law.  They can start with Coles.  Lets see what happens.   :)   

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 2:33pm:

Well lee its not for me or you to say, but it seems that the ACCC  thinks they are price gouging.  I guess that can be worked out in a court of law.  They can start with Coles.  Lets see what happens.   :)

So the ACCC is some mysterious overlord whose fundamental principles are meant to be beyond the grasp of mere mortals?

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 2:33pm:

Well lee its not for me or you to say, but it seems that the ACCC  thinks they are price gouging.

So why hold an enquiry then if they are so sure? ;)

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 11:09am:

People don't need $40,000 or $55,000 cars but they need to eat.  Got to do something to stop the price gouging.   :(

To quote a Lefty Greenie:
"IM OFFENDED. THATS DISCRIMINATION" >:(

Don't worry about it.  We are being groomed successfully for the advent of AI and the takeover of pure profit as the only motivating force in the economy - with no real workers and the populace holding only the position of consumer.

We've been steadily groomed into accepting 'part-time as 'normal ' employment, and to accept that some (Capital City) are somehow entitled to make excellent earnings while the majority (Hunger Gamers) are forced to get by on what they can eke out of a rapidly disintegrating overall economy.

Now we are being groomed to accept that 'unemployment' doesn't really exist, and that social/economic disparities that drive thousands onto the beaches in tent cities while others prosper unearned... are somehow the normal functioning of a viable economy and society.

To add to that - whenever the actual profiteering gets too low or it seems the peasants may actually begin to re-establish a beachhead on Prosperity for all - the 'solution' is to simply add more consumers to make up the shortfall of available dollars to be sucked up for profit alone, and to continue to do that even long after it has become clear that this is the death of the nation and the economy.

Have no concerns - the master plan is proceeding at a great pace - and soon you will be functioning as nothing but a consumer - one of countless millions imposed upon the country - who will eke out a minimal subsistence by virtually begging or through criminal behaviour that principally impact on your own 'class' while the Lords are protected in their high castles - and - due to the inflated numbers of you - be able to continue to contribute to the economy through your desperate need to buy the necessities.

Short of dollars as you will be - you will still need to buy Skynet produced canned goods to get by on, Skynet petroleum to get around,  Skynet clothing..... litle bit Skynet Soylent Green ..... and if you are lucky you might get a job repairing the machines..... or similar.... maybe you can con the Lords into believing they need to constantly update and upgrade the machines.... and so give you a job for dollars!!!

I've told you all many times that those running the show are psychopaths.

Siegfried Sassoon
“Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
“He's a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.

But he did for them both by his plan of attack."

Quote:

Should Coles And Wollies Be In Public Hands?

Both Coles and Woolworths are large public companies
listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Well it looks like they have had their inquiry.  So now they are taking them to court.   ;)

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 5:41pm:

So now they are taking them to court.

And we'll  see how that plays out. ::)

Apparently, when 6 mines open around a rural town.
A loaf of bread can cost $50 and rent is increased to x10 it original.
Do you think the town was price gouging the rich miners?


Afterall, thanks to Unions White knight, Australians are one of the highest labour rates in the world.
Don't you think Moles & Warts is just trying to cash in on that wealth?

Thank heavens for the good unions of Australia.   :)

All that Coles has to say against the ACCC is that they followed the same Promise marketing as the ALP with electricity for votes. ;)

whiteknight wrote on Mar 9^th, 2026 at 5:19am:

Thank heavens for the good unions of Australia.   Smiley

So which are the good unions? ::)

whiteknight wrote on Mar 8^th, 2026 at 10:28am:

Why Coles and Woolies should be in public hands   :-? March 2, 2026 Green Left Weekly Coles’ ‘down down’ promotion has been revealed as a price-gouging scam.

Woolworths Group Limited (ASX: WOW) is a publicly listed company, meaning it is owned by over 350,000 shareholders, including retail investors, employees, and1 large institutional investors. The largest shareholders are major investment firms and superannuation funds, with State Street Global Advisors, BlackRock, and AustralianSuper being the top holders



Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL) is primarily owned by institutional investors, with major stakes held by State Street Global Advisors (approx. 7.26%), BlackRock (approx. 6.22%), and The Vanguard Group (approx. 6.02%) as of July 2025. The company is widely held, reflecting its status as a top Australian retailer.