Coles faces court over misleading discount allegations | SBS News
The consumer watchdog's barrister said increased costs are irrelevant to whether products are promoted to customers as genuine discounts.
www.sbs.com.auHere’s the latest I can summarize based on recent public reporting:
- In May 2026, Federal Court proceedings between the ACCC and Coles regarding Coles’ Down Down promotions proceeded to a judgment, with media reporting that the court found Coles had misled shoppers about discounts on hundreds of items. This marked a high-profile ruling in Australia on supermarket discount practices.
- Coverage indicated the ACCC sought declarations of misleading conduct and penalties, and the decision has been described as potentially influential for similar cases against other major grocers.
- Coles publicly acknowledged the federal court decision and its implications for pricing practices, while the market reaction to the ruling included broader discussion about discount campaigns in the sector.
Notes and context:
- The ACCC had previously alleged that Coles’ Down Down promotions misled customers by presenting “was” prices that weren’t actually in effect for a reasonable period, which the court found to be misleading in several instances. This outcome has implications for how price promotions are structured and disclosed.
- Ongoing coverage from Australian outlets (ABC, SBS, MarketScreener, 9 News, etc.) across February to May 2026 tracked the progression and aftermath of the case, including statements from Coles and analyses of potential penalties.
Would you like me to pull the latest official ACCC or Coles statements, or provide a concise timeline of the court proceedings with key findings and possible penalties? I can also summarize what this means for shoppers in Buffalo, NY if you’re looking for cross-border parallels.