The New Zealand Commerce Commission has announced (10 December) criminal charges against Woolworths NZ, Pak’nSave Silverdale, and Pak’nSave Mill Street for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
The charges stem from accusations of inaccurate pricing and misleading promotions.
“Shoppers should have confidence that the price they see is the price they pay, and that specials truly are special,” said Commerce Commission Deputy Chair Anne Callinan. She emphasized that supermarkets, as large and well-resourced businesses, must prioritize accurate pricing and promotional transparency.
The charges come amid the Commission’s ongoing scrutiny of the grocery sector following its 2022 market study. “Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and a cornerstone of a competitive market,” Callinan added, highlighting the Commission’s frustration with persistent pricing issues.
Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden announced efforts to implement a mandatory disclosure standard under the Grocery Industry Competition Act. This standard will require supermarkets to report customer complaints related to pricing and promotions regularly. The lack of consistent processes for recording complaints has hampered supermarkets’ ability to identify and resolve compliance issues.
The Commission aims to publish a draft of the disclosure standard early next year. Meanwhile, other investigations into supermarket operators remain active, reinforcing the agency’s focus on accountability in the grocery sector.
These charges serve as a stark reminder to supermarket operators that pricing integrity and consumer trust are non-negotiable in a competitive marketplace.
