Here’s the latest on Woolworths and the ACCC price-case as of now.
- The ACCC’s high-profile case against Woolworths (and related actions against Coles) has dominated Australian consumer-law coverage in early 2026, focusing on whether so-called “Prices Dropped” and similar promotions misled shoppers about discounts.[3][4][6]
- Key allegations include that some items were temporarily price-increased and then labeled as discounts, making the “was/now” pricing illusory rather than genuine savings.[5][3]
- The court proceedings began in April 2026 and have included detailed arguments about whether the price spikes were pre-planned and whether discounts actually reflected true reductions for consumers.[4][3]
- Coverage notes that Woolworths defends its pricing and argues that changes were driven by supplier negotiations and broader inflationary pressures, while the ACCC maintains that the promotions misled customers.[6][3]
- There is ongoing scrutiny, with observers watching how findings might affect pricing practices and discount promotions across Australia’s grocery sector, including potential broader regulatory impact if the ACCC succeeds.[5][6]
If you’d like, I can:
- Pull specific statements from the major court documents and ACCC releases for precise quotes.
- Summarize which products were highlighted in trial hearings and the comparisons used by the ACCC.
- Compile a timeline of key court events and outcomes to date.
Would you like a concise timeline or a product-by-product table of the main allegations?
Citations:
- ABC News summary of the case and timing.[1]
- Guardian coverage on the opening of court proceedings and key allegations.[3]
- Guardian overview of anti-discount claims and promotions involved.[4]
- ACCC media release outlining the broader context of the Woolworths/Coles actions.[5]
- ABC News recap on how the case is evolving and its implications.[6]
Sources
The ACCC is taking Woolworths and Coles to federal court for alleged breach of Australian Consumer Law, after an investigation revealed they had been misleading consumers through discount pricing clai...
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.auAustralia's biggest supermarket chain has defended its discounts, as the consumer watchdog's joint court case against Woolies and Coles nears the finish line.
aapnews.aap.com.auAuthors: Jeannie Marie Paterson
findanexpert.unimelb.edu.auAs the Woolies federal court case wraps up and the Coles matter awaits judgment, here's what we've learned so far from the high-stakes cases.
www.abc.net.auThe sequel to Australia's supermarket pricing wars is about to kick off in the federal court as the ACCC takes on Woolworths over what it argues are misleading pricing practices.
www.abc.net.auThe trial between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the supermarket giant began in the federal court in Sydney on Tuesday
www.theguardian.comVinegar, Tim Tams and baby rice are among the products to be scrutinised in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's case
www.theguardian.comThe ACCC has commenced separate proceedings in the Federal Court against Woolworths Group Limited (ASX:WOW) and Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Coles Group Limited - ASX: COL) for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.
www.accc.gov.au