More than 18,000 Australians have joined a class action against Coles and Woolworths. They’re fighting for their rights as consumers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has sued these big supermarkets. They say the stores used fake pricing to trick millions of shoppers.
The ACCC found that Coles and Woolworths raised prices by at least 15% before discounts. This could have affected tens of millions of items sold. People might get $200 to over $1,300 each, or $2,000 to $5,000 for a whole household, as compensation.
Major highlights
- Over 18,000 Australians have joined class action lawsuits against Coles and Woolworths for alleged deceptive pricing strategies.
- The ACCC has taken legal action, alleging the supermarkets misled consumers about the prices of hundreds of products over 15-20 months.
- Potential compensation payouts range from $200 to over $1,300 per shopper or $2,000 to $5,000 per household.
- Consumers who shopped at Coles or Woolworths during the affected period may be eligible to join the class actions.
- The legal battle highlights the ongoing struggle for consumer rights against the powerful grocery duopoly in Australia.
ACCC’s Legal Action Against Major Supermarkets
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken legal action against Woolworths and Coles. They are accused of competitive behaviour and misleading pricing practices. This move is to address concerns about retail workers’ entitlements and underpayment claims.
Timeline of Price Manipulation Investigation
The ACCC’s allegations cover a long period. Woolworths is accused from September 2021 to May 2023. Coles is accused from February 2022 to May 2023. The supermarket watchdog says both made false claims about hundreds of products’ prices.
Products Affected by Misleading Pricing
The ACCC found 266 products from Woolworths and 245 from Coles with misleading prices. These include Tim Tams, Dolmio sauces, and Kellogg’s cereals.
Scale of Consumer Impact
The ACCC believes tens of millions of products were sold by Woolworths and Coles. This action aims to stop the breach of Australian Consumer Law. It also seeks to make retail pricing more transparent.
| Supermarket Chain | Number of Affected Products | Duration of Investigation |
|---|---|---|
| Woolworths | 266 | September 2021 to May 2023 |
| Coles | 245 | February 2022 to May 2023 |
The ACCC’s action against Woolworths and Coles highlights the need for fair competition. It also shows the importance of protecting consumer rights in Australia.
Coles Woolworths Shopper Lawsuit: Class Action Details
Two class action lawsuits have been started against Coles and Woolworths, Australia’s top supermarkets. Carter Capner Law (CCL) is leading the first lawsuit, covering September 2021 to May 2023. Gerard Malouf & Partners (GMP) is handling the second, focusing on purchases between February 2022 and May 2023.
The lawsuits come as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigates the supermarkets. They are looking into pricing practices and the relationship between wholesale, farmgate, and retail prices. The ACCC’s report is due in February 2025, around the same time as the lawsuits.
Coles and Woolworths plan to defend against the lawsuits. They are accused of deceptive pricing practices. It’s claimed they raised prices by at least 15% before promoting discounts. This could have made customers pay more than they thought, leading to big financial losses.
