Grocery price website under fire

The GROCERYchoice website continues to come under attack, with independent supermarkets, the Federal Opposition and leading retail industry bodies all indicating a lack of support for the scheme. The site, which highlights to consumers the cost of certain baskets of goods at different grocery chains in their area, has been criticised as a “stunt”, “unfair” and too “broad” by some sections, but the Federal Government continues to defend the website. As a host of media outlets have reported, the ACCC-operated website found that Coles was cheaper than Woolworths on a complete basket of groceries in 52 of the 61 regions - a figure that disappointed Woolworths. On the prices of a basic staples basket, however, Woolworths reversed this figure - coming out ahead of Coles in 49 of 61 regions. But how relevant are such comparisons?... [read full story]