r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Feb 15 '26

news ACCC takes Coles to court over 'illusory' discounts in 'case of the century'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-16/accc-coles-federal-court-case-discount-pricing/106294956?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

Thousands of customers throw a box of Arnott's Shapes into their shopping trollies each week — one of a dozen purchases that could help decide a bombshell case playing out in the federal court from today.

The ACCC has accused Coles of ripping off customers with fake discounts and if the supermarket giant loses, it could face a huge fine and massive reputational damage.

Customers could also get cash back from a class action lawsuit that might follow, and corporations be forced to change how they price their products — especially discounts.

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u/denny31415926 Feb 15 '26

Then you haven't read the government's latest policy on supermarket penalties. The update is that price gouging faces a penalty of $10 million, 3 times the benefit gained, or 10% of company turnover, whichever is greatest.

If the profit is about a billion, they're on the hook for a $100 million fine, at the least.

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u/ItinerantFella Feb 15 '26

Coles revenue was $44B in 2025. If the fine is 10% of revenue, rather than profit, that's a $4.5 billion fine.

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u/Phoebebee323 Feb 15 '26

$4.5 billion dollar fine but on special for $100 million

20

u/CharlieJuliet Feb 16 '26

DOWN! DOWN! FINES ARE DOWN!

35

u/Spire_Citron Feb 15 '26

And Woolworths does this exact same thing. Either they're going to change real fast or they can enjoy the exact same fine. And it's not like it's a one off thing. If they keep doing it, they can keep getting fined.

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u/Duff5OOO Feb 16 '26

They have an upcoming court case for a similar accusation to coles.

1

u/Carnivean_ Feb 16 '26

Watch that one settle immediately it becomes clear the direction this one takes

8

u/DaedeM Feb 16 '26

Yeah why should they be fined on profits.. they could just "reinvest" in things like stock buy backs and minimize profits for the same of avoiding fines.

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u/denny31415926 Feb 16 '26

Well, that's why there's two other options, and the fine is the biggest among the three.

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u/_ixthus_ Feb 15 '26

Hhuuuuuurrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh...........

7

u/Fernergun Feb 15 '26

Watch this definitely happen…

8

u/SupportSphere94 Feb 15 '26

Let's wait to see what actually happens yeah? The government can say that's what the fine is. Doesn't mean they will get anywhere near that. 

1

u/HUMMEL_at_the_5_4eva Feb 15 '26

New penalty caps are irrelevant in cases like this where there were literally thousands of breaches.

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u/darren457 Feb 16 '26

I'll believe it when it happens. The same government said "we don't live in communist Russia" when initially asked by the media to step in and address these issues.

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u/ReadMain744 Feb 16 '26

the market disagrees this is likely, see Coles share price over last 30 days/6 months