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 on ACCC and Coles:
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There has been significant media coverage in early 2026 about the ACCC taking Coles to federal court over claims the Down Down promotions featured misleading discounts. Multiple outlets reported the case as a major enforcement action with potential penalties if Coles is found to have engaged in misleading pricing.[1][3][4]
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The case centers on whether Coles’ promotional pricing genuinely reflected discounts or simply reflected ordinary price movements tied to inflation and supplier costs. Coles contends the promotions were legitimate discounts and that price increases were due to broader economic factors.[3][1]
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Related coverage notes the potential implications for price advertising practices in Australia’s grocery sector, including reputational risk for Coles and possible broader impacts on discount campaigns at major supermarkets. Quotes from industry commentators in SBS and ABC highlight the case’s significance for consumer protection and business conduct.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent press releases or summarize court filings and potential penalties, and, if you want, compile a brief timeline of key developments with direct quotes. I can also set up quick alerts for ongoing updates from ACCC, Coles, and major Australian news outlets.