Issues Companies
The Guide > Retail > Stores > Supermarkets
Supermarkets
Both Coles and Woolworths have been criticised for the building of supermarkets in small towns despite local protests. Notable are the townships of Mossman (QLD), Thornleigh (NSW), Mullumbimby(NSW) Mittagong (NSW), Maleny (QLD), Macksville (NSW), Lane Cove (NSW), Erskineville (NSW); and recently Newport (NSW), Seville (VIC) and Woolgoolga (NSW).
Flavour Crusader
Australia has one of the most concentrated grocery markets in the world. Woolworths and Coles account for over 70% of the grocery market. The biggest supermarkets in the USA, Walmart and Kroger, have combined share of 23%; Sainsbury and Tesco in the UK 47%.
The Conversation - July 2013
  • Support your local community by shopping at independently owned supermarkets.
  • Look beyond the supermarkets for essentials. Find food co-ops, box systems, swap meets near you at Local Harvest. Local Harvest
Supermarket owned brands command a 25% market share, expected to rise to 30% in the near future. For customers this means less variety, less choice and the disappearance of familiar brands from the aisles. For supermarkets it creates a shift in bargaining power further down the supply chain; Australian farmers and wholesalers have little choice but to sell through the supermarkets own brands and are forced to compete with cheaper and often heavily subsidised foreign imports.
  • Support local Australian businesses and Australian manufacturing directly by buying Australia owned and made products where possible.
  • If buying a house brand, look for 'Product of Australia' and 'Made in Australia' on the label over 'imported'.
  • For more on house brands see our FAQ page. FAQ
With huge power and control of the market, Coles and Woolworths have been criticised as squeezing more and more concessions from suppliers.
Four Corners, The Price We Pay, 2008
Brand
Company
Owned
Rating
Company Ratings
A Praises, no criticism
B Some praise, no criticism
? No rating
C Praises, some criticism
D Criticism, some praise
F Criticisms
Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
> More about ratings
OTHER ICONS
Australian Owned
★
  		Outstanding product feature

Latest Tweets