Description of Conduct

On 20 March 2020, Coles Group Limited lodged an application for authorisation, including requesting urgent interim authorisation, for Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and Metcash to cooperate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure the supply and fair and equitable distribution of Retail Products to Australian consumers. See section 3.1 of the Application, linked below.

Coles also lodged the application on behalf of any other grocery retailer who wishes to engage in the conduct in the future, providing the ACCC is notified.

Retail Products are defined as fresh food, groceries, household products, and liquor.

On 23 March 2020, the ACCC granted interim authorisation. On 26 March 2020 the ACCC revoked the interim authorisation granted on 23 March, and substituted it with a conditional interim authorisation.

On 9 June 2020, to narrow the scope of the authorised conduct, the ACCC revoked conditional interim authorisation granted on 26 March, and substituted it with another conditional interim authorisation.

On 15 July 2020, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to grant conditional authorisation until 31 March 2021.

On 3 September 2020, the ACCC issued a final determination granting conditional authorisation until 31 March 2021. The final determination document can be found below.

Applicant(s)

  • Coles Group Limited
  • Woolworths Group Limited
  • ALDI Stores
  • Metcash Limited

Authorisation number(s)

  • AA1000477-1