The ACCC’s decision regarding supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths fuel discounts is a slap in the face for small business says Independent senator Nick Xenophon.
The ACCC ruled in favour of the supermarket giants three day fuel discount promotions – where customers were offered discounts on fuel purchases of a maximum of 40 cents per litre if they spent up to $300 in a single transaction in Coles or Woolworths supermarkets during the three day period July 13 -15 – stating they were not in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
According to Xenophon the commission has failed small business operators by finding in favour of the two supermarket giants.
“The commissioner’s comments completely ignore the hundreds of independent fuel retailers who couldn’t match the discount and have suffered substantially as a result,” he said.
He added that the promotions not only hurt small business operators, but consumers also.
“These promotions will only hurt consumers in the long run as more and more independent retailers are driven out of business by the anti-competitive market power of the big supermarket chains.”
Senator Xenophon called on the commission to investigate the effect the offer had on grocery prices.
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