Customers and food suppliers will air their grievances over supermarket prices as the consumer watchdog digs into the grocery giants.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will begin a series of public hearings for its inquiry into the supermarket sector.
Consumer advocacy groups and supplier representatives are first up, with Choice and the Australian Food and Grocery Council set to attend on Thursday.
“We have received a large volume of information … and these hearings will provide an opportunity for us to seek clarification on a range of the very complex matters,” the commission’s deputy chair Mick Keogh said.
Aldi, Metcash, Woolworths and Coles will all appear at the hearing in coming days.
Coles and Woolworths have come under fire as Australians accuse them of benefiting from the cost-of-living crisis.
The federal government has vowed to take action, announcing in January it would set the consumer watchdog for the supermarkets and directing the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into the sector.
Many consumers have lost trust in supermarket pricing while suppliers have said they are forced to agree to unfavourable terms, according to the commission’s interim report.
A final report on the inquiry is due to be delivered to the government by February.
The ACCC in September launched a court case against Coles and Woolworths, claiming the retailers had misled customers with illusory discount schemes.
Both grocers deny the allegations and say the legal cases against them are misconceived.
The federal government will provide $30 million in extra funding for the ACCC to continue investigations and enforcements in the supermarket and retail sector.
It has also proposed changes to merger laws and a mandatory food and grocery code of conduct that proposes multimillion-dollar penalties for serious breaches.
