Australia’s supermarket leaders were thrown into the public eye more than ever in the first quarter of 2024, as the government and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) began their inquiry into grocery retailer pricing and competitive practices among major supermarkets.
, while witnessing major supermarket brands’ revenues and profit margins rise due to overpricing. Alongside this, farmers and suppliers have expressed discontent with dealings with retailers and the
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Australia’s grocery retail market leaders
The Australian supermarket industry has witnessed steady revenue growth over the past decade and is dominated by two major retailers, Woolworths and Coles, with German company Aldi and Metcash (IGA) holding the next largest market shares. As of 2023, over 80 percent of
Australia’s grocery retailer market share sits with the top four companies, with around 65 percent of the market attributable to Woolworths and Coles alone. Woolworths has enjoyed rising
food sales revenue and
steady profits over the past few years, with Coles experiencing a similar trend despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the country, leaving several households vulnerable to food insecurity and disrupted dietary behaviors.
Australia’s supermarket duopoly: is public perception changing?
Due to the two supermarket giants’ ongoing dominance in the country, it is increasingly difficult for new players to enter and deconcentrate the sector, create a more competitive grocery landscape, and grant customers greater choice and access to price promotions to balance their budgets. Previously among the most trusted brands, Woolworths and Coles’ reputations are on the line, with Australian consumer confidence sinking due to the two major grocery retailers’ failure to address public concern over
grocery price hikes across various categories. In an attempt to bring balance and fairness to Australia’s supermarket sector, in January 2024, the ACCC began its inquiry concerning grocery retailer price gouging allegations. The inquiry hopes to highlight key issues to ultimately introduce better regulations and pricing mechanisms to improve
satisfaction across the supply chain, from farm to consumer, and provide better market access for smaller chains, discount competitors, and independent grocers.
Online grocery in Australia: growing in popularity or fading out?
Popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which in-store shopping was highly restricted, online grocery shopping has become a convenient way for Australians to pick up their groceries from the comfort of their homes. While physical stores remain the
most popular grocery shopping channel among Australians, online food retail revenue has been slowly rising. Woolworths and Coles account for around three-quarters of the country’s online grocery sales, with e-commerce company, Amazon, encompassing
Amazon Fresh and Amazon Pantry, the next biggest competitor. While successful in Australia’s offline grocery market, Aldi has yet to introduce online ordering, thus remains behind its rivals. The online grocery sector also continues to endure competition from
food delivery platforms and meal kit services, boasting short delivery times and convenience.
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