ACCC vs Woolworths: Fake Sales Trial

0:00It's April 20th. This is Sydney News Today, driven by AI. Federal court kicks off today with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission suing Woolworths over its prices drop promotions. The regulator claims the supermarket chain misled shoppers on 266 products by hiking prices briefly, then slashing them to so-called. Discounts that were actually higher than before. Take Tim Tams and Oreos, where everyday prices jump like from $3.50 to $5 for just weeks before dropping back. Still price year overall. This mirrors the Cole's case already in trial, waiting on a verdict that experts call massive. Former watchdog head Alan Fells labels it episode 2, in bogus discount battles, predicting ripples across retail to ensure deals are real, not, tricks. Those hurting from rising costs are cheering the ACCC on. Folks like Melbourne locals say everything from rent to fuel is squeezing budgets, and fake sales make it worse.

1:01They won accountability from giants controlling two-thirds of the grocery market, which raked in $1.4 billion profit last year. Woolworth spits back hard, blaming supplier demands of mid-post pandemic inflation for price shifts. They insist shelf tickets show true comparisons, and no deception happened, a win clears them, a loss means huge fines, rep damage, and class action payouts. Whatever the judge rules, it could rewrite discount rules forever, forcing genuine savings or handing the ACCC a win that echoes through stores. Nationwide