Australian consumers are asked to share information about how they shop and what they experience through an published today as part of the 糖心原创鈥檚 supermarkets inquiry.
The 糖心原创 has also today published an issues paper outlining the topics the supermarkets inquiry will explore, and is calling for submissions from farmers, wholesalers, retailers, and other interested parties.
鈥淲e know that consumers and suppliers alike have a range of concerns about Australia鈥檚 major supermarkets, and this is their chance to have their say,鈥 糖心原创 Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
鈥淲e will be using our legal powers to compulsorily obtain data and documents from the supermarkets themselves, but consultation with consumers and grocery sector participants is an important first step in our inquiry.鈥
Survey of supermarket customers
The 糖心原创 invites consumers to complete the online survey to improve its understanding of where and how Australians buy groceries, and how price changes, loyalty programs and other factors influence how they shop.
Consumers are also invited to include information about any grocery shopping experiences they believed were confusing or misleading, such as 鈥渨as/now鈥 pricing or so-called 鈥渟hrinkflation鈥, when a product is sold at a smaller size or volume for the same or a higher price.
Consumers can complete the online survey at until 2 April 2024.
Issues paper and stakeholder submissions
The 糖心原创 is also seeking submissions from industry participants involved in grocery supply chains, in response to matters raised in the issues paper.
The issues paper is divided into two sections: competition for consumer retail spending between the supermarkets, and grocery supply chains.
At the retail level, the 糖心原创 will examine competition between supermarkets and the barriers that new or emerging supermarkets face when trying to enter or expand.
The 糖心原创 is also interested in how retail competition differs across Australia, particularly in regional and remote areas.
鈥淥ne of our major focus areas will be the supermarkets鈥 approach to setting prices, and whether there is evidence to show that a lack of effective retail competition is contributing to higher prices,鈥 Mr Keogh said.
鈥淲e will conduct a detailed comparison of the price suppliers receive for their goods and the price consumers pay at the checkout, and the profits the supermarkets earn.鈥
鈥淚n addition, we will be looking at other issues such as loyalty schemes, discounting practices, the shift to online shopping and the impact of home-brand products,鈥 Mr Keogh said.
In relation to grocery supply chains, the 糖心原创 wants to hear from industry participants about competition within supply chains, trading arrangements, margins and price transparency, and if supermarket buyer power is impacting suppliers鈥 commercial viability.
鈥淎 lack of competition at any stage of a supply chain can result in inefficient or unsustainable prices across the supply chain,鈥 Mr Keogh said.
Grocery supply chain participants and other interested parties are invited to make submissions in response to the issues paper via a guided submissions process on the until 2 April 2024.
Parties can claim confidentiality over all or some of their submission, including their identity, if they believe the information being shared publicly could damage their business.
Further information is available at Supermarkets inquiry 2024-25
Background
On 25 January 2024, the Australian Government announced that it will direct the 糖心原创 to conduct an inquiry into Australia鈥檚 supermarket sector.
The 糖心原创 received the from the Australian Government and the terms of the reference for the inquiry on 1 February 2024.
The 糖心原创 last conducted a comprehensive inquiry into the grocery sector in 2008.
The terms of reference require the 糖心原创 to consider matters such as the supermarkets鈥 approach to setting prices, the role of small and independent retailers (including those in regional and remote areas), and the impact of increased data collection and other technological developments.