The Grocery Action Group (GAG) has welcomed the Commerce Commission’s decision to bring criminal charges against Woolworths NZ, Pak’nSave Silverdale, and Pak’nSave Mill Street for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials.
“The supermarkets really have to up their game. For things as basic as food and groceries, it’s not acceptable for supermarkets to keep on making mistakes with their pricing. Yet the Commission says they’re seeing ‘continuing issues’ with this ‘basic right,” said Sue Chetwin, GAG’s chairperson.
“If the supermarkets can’t get their pricing right, we have to ask what else are they not getting right? They are extremely profitable, pour huge amounts into technology that gives them insights into their customers and facial recognition, but something as basic as charging their customers the right price seems to be a problem.”
Chetwin added that inaccurate pricing was not the only way the New Zealand public was misled. For instance, the duopoly has argued there has been competition in New Zealand and has strongly resisted any attempts by competitors to enter the market.
This denied reports from the OECD and the Commission that New Zealand is one of the least competitive markets in the world.
She added Foodstuffs’ appeal of the Commission's decision to deny the merger of its South and North Island operations also went against what suppliers and consumers wanted: more competition and fair prices.
“For things as basic as food, the New Zealand public has a right to expect supermarket prices always to be accurate.”
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