SUPERMARKETS – AUSTRALIA

Metcash plays down threat of Aldi expansion into WA, SA

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 30-Sep-15

Aldi will enter the South Australian and Western Australian markets in 2016, with plans for 120 stores in coming years. IGA stores in the two states typically boast higher profit margins than those on the east coast, and Metcash CEO Ian Morrice believes that IGA stores in SA and WA are in a stronger position to compete with Aldi than IGA stores in Victoria and New South Wales. Morrice has also downplayed the prospect of a price war between Coles and Woolworths.

CORPORATES
METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, IGA, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, FOODLAND AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CELLARBRATION PTY LTD, THE BOTTLE-O, IGA LIQUOR, MITRE 10 LIMITED, TRUE VALUE HARDWARE LIMITED, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Woolworths to spend $65m on fresh look

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 21-Sep-15

Australian-listed Woolworths will respond to customer complaints by spending $A65m on upgrading its supermarkets, including new shopping trolleys, in-store signage and shelving. The head of the group’s supermarkets division, Dave Chambers, says shopper have frequently complained about poor customer service and stock not being available. Woolworths is also undertaking daily customer surveys and using data analytics to improve its stores.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES GROUP LIMITED, IGA, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COSTCO WHOLESALE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THE QUANTIUM GROUP PTY LTD, PROGRESSIVE ENTERPRISES HOLDINGS LIMITED, FOODTOWN SUPERMARKETS LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

IGA prepares for Aldi attack

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 17-Sep-15

Aldi will expand into the Western Australian and South Australian markets in 2016, and it will pose a major threat to Metcash in particular. Nearly 30 per cent of stores that trade under Metcash’s IGA banner are located in these states. Morgan Stanley believes that Aldi’s entry could slash the sales of independent retailers operating under the IGA banner by about $A360m a year, while Metcash itself could face a sharp fall in sales. Its market share in the eastern states is already falling, although a survey by Roy Morgan Research shows that it boasts the highest level of customer loyalty.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, IGA, COLES GROUP LIMITED, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, SIMMO’S ICE CREAMERY

Supermarket loyalty: what’s that?

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Sep-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 77 per cent of Australian grocery buyers visit at least two different supermarkets in an average four weeks. The survey, which was carried out in the year to March 2015, also shows that IGA has the most loyal customers, with 30% of people who mainly shop at IGA only shopping there during any given four-week period. Grocery-buyers who mainly shop at Woolworths/Safeway are the second-most likely (25 per cent) to stick with their number one supermarket, marginally ahead of Coles shoppers (24 per cent). Despite its increasing overall market share, ALDI has a much lower proportion of exclusive shoppers (seven per cent). Meanwhile, seven per cent of grocery buyers said they shopped at all four major supermarkets.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, IGA, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, AUSTRALIAN SAFEWAY STORES PTY LTD, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD

Pressure on Coles, Woolies at both ends

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 14-Aug-15

Aldi’s expansion will increase price competition and cut into the market share of supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles and Metcash’s IGA chain. The supermarkets are also likely to be squeezed at the top end of the market when David Jones revamps its food halls and opens stand-alone upmarket food stores. Moody’s says the twin-pronged attack by Aldi and David Jones will shake up the duopoly structure of Australia’s grocery market.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES GROUP LIMITED, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Pressure on Coles, Woolies at both ends

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 14-Aug-15

Aldi’s expansion will increase price competition and cut into the market share of supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles and Metcash’s IGA chain. The supermarkets are also likely to be squeezed at the top end of the market when David Jones revamps its food halls and opens stand-alone upmarket food stores. Moody’s says the twin-pronged attack by Aldi and David Jones will shake up the duopoly structure of Australia’s grocery market.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES GROUP LIMITED, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Sales growth slows as grocery prices cut

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 5-Aug-15

New data shows that there was 2.9 per cent growth in Australian supermarket and grocery store sales in June 2015. This is the lowest rate of growth since September 2013, which is primarily due to price discounting in the sector. Meanwhile, growth in total food and liquor sales slowed to 2.7 per cent in June. Woolworths is seeking to counter stronger sales growth at Coles by reducing grocery prices, while Metcash has launched a price-matching initiative for independent grocery retailers that operate under its IGA banner.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Sales growth slows as grocery prices cut

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 5-Aug-15

New data shows that there was 2.9 per cent growth in Australian supermarket and grocery store sales in June 2015. This is the lowest rate of growth since September 2013, which is primarily due to price discounting in the sector. Meanwhile, growth in total food and liquor sales slowed to 2.7 per cent in June. Woolworths is seeking to counter stronger sales growth at Coles by reducing grocery prices, while Metcash has launched a price-matching initiative for independent grocery retailers that operate under its IGA banner.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Metcash in alleged stall on SupaBarn deal

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 31-Jul-15

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission will decide in September 2015 whether to approve Coles Group’s deal to buy SupaBarn. The deal would give Coles an additional nine supermarkets in the Australian Capital Territory and Sydney, although it has existing stores in close proximity to each SupaBarn outlet. Metcash has raised concerns with the ACCC about the proposed deal’s effect on competition, but the grocery wholesaler rejects suggestions that it has organised a supplier campaign against the deal.

CORPORATES
COLES GROUP LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SUPABARN SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER GROCERS’ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW

Supermarkets dominate fruit and vegetable trade – even among people shopping at produce markets

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Jul-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 87 per cent of Australian grocery buyers aged 14+ bought fresh fruit and vegetables during an average week in the year to March 2015. Some 72 per cent bought fruit and vegetables at a supermarket in an average seven days, while 11 per cent shopped for fresh produce at a market or stall. The survey also shows that 54 per cent of consumers who bought fruit and vegetables at a market or stall also did so at a supermarket.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW