Woolworths Faces ACCC Scrutiny Over Prices Dropped Program

0:00It's April 22nd. This is Sydney News Today, AI-powered stories from your sitting. I'm Corey with The Storing. Woolworth is in Hot Water and Federal Court, facing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over its prices dropped program. The ACC claims the discounts were fake, accused of misleading shoppers on savings for basics like Tim Tams and Pasta. Former Chief Commercial Officer Paul Harker testified they tweaked internal rules to stop supplier's gaming promotions, but inflation sparked a flood. Of price-hike requests from them, earlier this week Harker explained the program aimed for steady prices over time, making it tough for suppliers to jack up cost mid-deal or yank, products off without solid reasons. Getting back on was no easy feat, all to build trust with everyday buyers. Shoppers felt the sting during skyrocketing living costs, thinking they scored real deals from those red and white tags. After stress, the law demands no misleading claims, just hold prices reasonably long and

1:01sell decent volumes. No hard rules beyond that. New details emerged on how Woolworth's shifted gears, ditching prices dropped last December for a lower shelf promise lasting at least 12. Weeks, Harker, with over 30 years at the chain, led buying teams until stepping down last year. Meanwhile, coal space is a similar probe, even shortening its own price hold to match. Justice Michael O'Brien's overseeing both, with ruling still pending as the big supermarkets reshape their discount games.