Today
Woolworths NZ faces criminal charges for allegedly misleading shoppers
The Commerce Commission was not satisfied that “specials really are special”, leading to legal action against the supermarket and its rival Pak’nSave.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Yesterday
Hit to Woolworths sales from strike grows to $140m, expected to rise
The supermarket giant agreed to a pay deal with the union on Saturday, ending industrial action. But it will take weeks to restock stores and warehouses.
- Carrie LaFrenz and David Marin-Guzman
This Month
Frustration gives birth to ‘the Mecca of the baby world’
Phoebe Simmonds and Kate Casey saw customers embrace big changes in the beauty world. So they brought them to the baby industry.
- Lauren Sams
$3 hot dogs and a mini-shop behind $1.2b petrol bet
Service stations with the lot have arrived in Sydney as part of Viva Energy’s national rollout of the OTR brand, in a makeover that is 30 years overdue.
- Simon Evans
- Updated
- Executive shake-up
Wesfarmers shuffles the decks to double down on Kmart, Anko Global
The move involves the department store’s CFO, Aleksandra Spaseska, being elevated to the top job. Her predecessor will focus on expanding the Anko brand.
- Carrie LaFrenz
The one key lesson for family firms from Chemist Warehouse founders
After building a $30 billion pharmacy giant, brothers Jack and Sam Gance say the secret to a thriving business comes down to decision-making.
- Joanne Tran
Endeavour mulls an executive chairman as CEO search drags on
The largest shareholder of the Dan Murphy’s operator, Bruce Mathieson, said Ari Mervis could be a “short-term solution” to a permanent chief executive.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Amazon’s Temu copycat to fuel mindless Australian consumerism
The e-tailing giant’s “Haul” shopfront – an answer to cheap marketplaces that’s now on a US trial – is feeding a growing subculture of over-shopping.
- Vanessa Friedman
Collapsed drink maker’s creditors in line for just 7.4¢
The Victorian manufacturer of ready-to-drink spirits aimed high and grew fast, but ultimately it was cruelled by giant rivals like Asahi and Suntory, administrators found.
- Simon Evans
Amazon is quietly turning into a major rival for Coles and Woolworths
Goldman Sachs estimates it is now the second-largest online retailer in Australia, but sales are still a fraction of the big supermarkets. Will that change?
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Updated
- Retail
Woolworths strike bill tops $50m as disruption spreads to Dan Murphy’s
The nation’s largest supermarket operator has applied for an urgent tribunal order to keep unions from blocking access to distribution sites in Victoria and NSW.
- Carrie LaFrenz and David Marin-Guzman
Making money from $8 burgers gets harder for KFC
Rising wages costs and energy bills at a time of consumer cutbacks crunched profits at Collins Foods, which operates 285 of the 750 KFC outlets in Australia.
- Simon Evans
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Woolies’ fresh crisis is nasty, but there’s a much bigger story here
New chief Amanda Bardwell’s baptism of fire has worsened, with a big hit from strikes. It’s a reminder that the cost-of-living crisis is far from done.
- James Thomson
Why this beer maker (and Nick Kyrgios) are all in on Gen Z drinkers
Low-carb beer group Stryda is raising capital. It says the percentage of Millennial and Gen Z drinkers will overtake Baby Boomers by 2026 – just don’t call it craft beer.
- Simon Evans
Supermarket giants use the $5 Oreo to argue their discounts are real
The ACCC has accused Woolworths and Coles of misleading shoppers. The retailers say the regulator doesn’t understand how pricing works.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
Retailers exhale as Black Friday stokes demand
From sneakers to Frank Green water bottles, shoppers opened their wallets for early Christmas deals.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
What’s really at stake in Coles and Woolies’ pricing fight with ACCC
Coles and Woolworths know they’ve already lost their fight with the ACCC over allegedly dodgy discounts in the court of public opinion. But there are two reasons they’ll still want a legal victory.
- James Thomson
Pubs billionaire lashes rival’s ‘appalling’ Australia Day stance
Bruce Mathieson says it is “stupid stuff” for rival Australian Venue Co, with 234 venues, to steer clear of Australia Day celebrations.
- Simon Evans
The ASX-listed distiller behind Ned whisky puts itself up for sale
Top Shelf has brought in EY as it considers its options; several interested parties are conducting due diligence on all or part of the business.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
November
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Don’t be fooled by those Black Friday deals
The imported phenomenon of Black Friday seems to get bigger each year. It’s all part of a psychological game of cat and mouse between retailers and shoppers.
- James Thomson
- Updated
- Retail
Harvey Norman sales fall behind major rival The Good Guys
But the company’s billionaire chairman, Gerry Harvey, says that the retailer is not losing ground to the JB Hi-Fi-owned appliance store chain on key categories.
- Simon Evans
Fashion retailer The Iconic plots recovery, one Samba at a time
The boss of the popular fashion app is aiming to restore sales growth and shrink its net loss after a tough 12 months. But the field is getting crowded.
- Carrie LaFrenz
How a yearning for travel grew a 35-year-old overnight success
Diversification has been key to the success of these three fast-growing retail and travel businesses.
- Sue Mitchell
City Chic chair hits the phones ahead of AGM
With the shares off 73 per cent over the past year and considering 27.6 per cent of shareholders voted against its report at the 2023 AGM, it’s only prudent for Michael Kay to get on the front foot.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Essential Ingredient failure spurred on by skeleton sales staff
A report prepared for creditors also said the gourmet retailer may have traded insolvent for months before its collapse in September owing $7 million.
- Simon Evans
