Australia supermarkets Coles, Woolworths sued by regulator for misleading discounts

Woolworths and Coles allegedly briefly inflated prices on popular goods such as Coca-Cola and Tim Tams biscuits before reducing them to the same or slightly higher than the original price. - Reuters

SYDNEY: Coles Group Ltd and Woolworths Group Ltd, Australia’s two biggest supermarket chains, have been sued by the country’s competition regulator over claims they misled shoppers over discounting claims on hundreds of common products.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission alleged the companies briefly inflated prices on popular goods such as Coca-Cola, Tim Tams biscuits and Colgate toothpaste before reducing them to the same or slightly higher than the original price.