• im_fine_sandy@nord.pub
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    5 days ago

    We have two chains which form an oligopoly in the grocery market here. Coles and Woolworths (Colesworth). Like tesco or something. Better presented than Aldi.

    • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 days ago

      So, like everywhere else I guess. 1-3 chains taking over everything. When I was young we had a Mon&pop near our house. Now it’s like 3-5 supermarket brands, of which most are from the same group and only virtually competing.

      • im_fine_sandy@nord.pub
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        4 days ago

        Yes, we recently had a formal govt enquiry into the lack of competition. Not very effective.

        Until a few years ago there was an independent supermarket just down the road. They did very well, but sold to a foreign group that owned a few dozen stores and they just didn’t understand the market here - it collapsed within months.

        Our left wing party just announced a policy for govt owned grocers like mamdani has implemented. However, they have no chance of applying any pressure to govt to implement that.

        • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 days ago

          Our left wing party just announced a policy for govt owned grocers like mamdani has implemented

          Sounds like a great solution to being overrun by de-facto-monopolies. But I know nothing about Australia’s politics to make an educated comment.

          Here it seems like a faint smell of diversity, but often 3 chains are owned by the same group. But at least there still is some competition.