Mass Surveillance in our Supermarket Duopoly highlights their abuse of power
New tool launched for supermarket whistleblowers
A new whistleblower tool has been launched to help lift the lid on potential anti-competitive behaviour in the grocery sector.
The Commerce Commission said the online whistleblower tool used advanced data security and privacy.
The Commission said it would allow people to remain anonymous, removing the risk of retaliation if people came forward with information.
It offered a similar system for people to report alleged cartel conduct in the country.
Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden said he was aware of situations where food suppliers were concerned about being disadvantaged if they shared information with the Commission.
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that the Commerce Commission has to promise a mafia level witness protection programme to tempt witnesses out?
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that they can have rat infestations and it’s met with a shrug?
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that Woolworths can record licence plates, video, audio of shoppers and link to Everyday Rewards card?
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that they can continue to price gouge profits?
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that Pack and Save can bring in face recognition software?
Doesn’t it say something about the unbelievable power of the Supermarket Duopoly that the Aussie Woolworths can price gouge and get away with it?
Boss of Woolworths Australia Brad Banducci walks out of ABC interview
The boss of Woolworths Australia has stormed out of an interview with the ABC after he was questioned over alleged price gouging.
South African-born Brad Banducci sat down with ABC reporter Angus Grigg for the interview, which appeared in a Four Corners episode about Australia’s cost of living and food prices on Monday.
Grigg said he asked basic questions about market competition.
“Rod Sims, the former head of the ACCC [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission], says that we have one of the most concentrated supermarkets [industries] in the world, is he lying?” he asked Banducci.
“It’s not true,” Banducci spoke over him.
“This community over here, there will be three Coles stores within 2km of it, at least one Aldi store, a series of independents,” he added.
“It is an incredibly competitive market.”
Grigg cut him off: “I’m sorry, the former head of the competition commission says…”
“Retired, by the way,” Banducci interrupted back.
“I don’t think you would impugn his integrity and his understanding of competition law,” Grigg said.
The world has got “much more competitive”, Banducci replied, to which Grigg said he only retired “18 months ago”.
Caught off guard, Banducci then asked to remove his comments from the interview.
“Well, can we take that out? Is that OK?” he said.
“I mean he is retired, but I shouldn’t have said that, Angus. Are we going to leave it in there?”
Grigg responded the interview was “on the record, you said it. Let’s just move on.”
One of Banducci’s personal staff can be heard in the background suggesting he leave.
“I think I’m done guys,” he says to the ABC team as he stands up.
“I don’t do this for bad intent.”
His staff then ask Grigg: “Can we just talk to Brad for a sec?”
Banducci eventually comes back and the interview resumes.
Grigg said it shows how little scrutiny large supermarket companies have been under.
“There you have the boss of the largest supermarket chain in the country really unwilling to face too many questions,” he told ABC’s News Breakfast on Tuesday.
…we could never get this level of journalism in NZ because most media are dependent on Supermarket advertising the same way they are dependent on Property Speculation advertising.
At what point will we fight back against this Supermarket Duopoly? It is distorting the market and profiting off us at a time 600 000 require food banks each month.
The Left have to see a State backed 3rd supermarket player as a serious solution.
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What an arrogant prick that Mr Banducci is. It is interesting that Pak’n’Save where the poor folks go, is first to trial surveillance cams in Supermarkets–rather than say NewWorld Thorndon. More pressure on the bottom 50%.
Small towns and settlements often have a Pātaka Kai (pantry) these days, a smallish sheltered stand where you can drop off or pick up surplus food, fresh and canned/packaged. Local Facebook pages advise of “just dropped off tomatoes”…etc. a grass roots community measure.
More community gardens and fruit tree plantings are needed around the country–we have to look after ourselves when Govt.s and the supermarket industry make it quite clear they are not going to!
Unfortunately many in need are not into looking after themselves by growing their own food. Often people ar the bottom.of the heap have never been given the knowledge by their parents. Education needs to include some life skills .
“A new whistleblower tool has been launched to help lift the lid on potential anti-competitive behaviour in the grocery sector.”
Of course this would be a useful tool to uncover some of the unscrupulous behaviour of the Supermarket duopoly, but why stop at the grocery sector? Having worked in several connected industries, I know for a fact that price gouging is occurring and that Fonterra is part of that. That will be why they are merging Aus and NZ into Oceania, so they can better disguise price gouging in NZ and dumping in Aus.
In general most NZ exporters are price gouging NZ to subsidise their export markets. Even Air NZ makes nothing on its international business unit, it all comes from domestic.
And now I am seeing NZ Post act with total disregard for the Fair Trading Act and CGA.
Make a tool available to prevent anti competitive behaviour in all industries, but to do that we need to demand the Commerce Commission is fully funded and totally independent.
Could it be that the trial is to be carried out at a branch with a larger theft problem?
The most untrustworthy also happen to be the most untrusting, which is exactly why the thieving supermarkets are treating their loyal customers as the thieves.