The ACT Government has a Supermarket Competition Policy...
Help A.C.T. Retailers
For years, Canberra residents have put up with a retail sector that is uncompetitive and has limited diversity and choice. The major chains have a dominant strangle-hold on our grocery market. Despite promises to fix the problem, better, more diverse supermarkets are now further away after Jon Stanhope blocked IGA retailers from five designated sites across the territory.
The ACT has the most concentrated grocery market in Australia. And Australia has the most concentrated grocery industry in the world. This means that in the ACT, Woolworths and Coles share a whopping 90 per cent of the large format sites.
Despite this unfair market, Mr Stanhope is denying IGA operators the chance to compete against the major chains. He’s also denying the people of Canberra a better deal for their grocery shopping.
Even the Government’s own Review of ACT Supermarket Competition recommended IGA retailers be preferred for new supermarket sites. However, the Government has left IGA out in the cold.
Genuine competition against Woolworths and Coles can come only from independents like IGA. What’s more, unlike the major chains, IGA supermarkets are generally family run businesses and have strong links to the community and their customers.
All we’re asking for is a fair chance to compete against the chains and continue to deliver great service to more customers in Canberra and more benefits to local communities.