AGP Executive Report

Supermarkets: Woolworths Group’s first-quarter sales rose 4.7%, with food sales up 6.9% as shoppers kept buying red meat and a Disney collectibles campaign drew customers. But inflation jumped to 4.3%, raising the prospect of another rate rise and pressure on household budgets. Food Pricing: Perfection Fresh admitted cartel conduct over vegetables sold to ALDI, putting grocery pricing practices under scrutiny. Product Safety: Australia is tightening sunscreen testing after products failed SPF claims. Recalls also hit an Aldi milk product and a frozen chocolate dessert sold at major retailers. Retail Rules: Backlash from small businesses prompted a major reversal on reusable coffee cup rules, while Aldi dropped its controversial bag policy after customer complaints. A new survey also suggests many shoppers would cut spending if retailers restricted returns.

Household Costs: Inflation climbed to 4.3% in September, raising expectations of another RBA rate hike next week as housing and transport costs bite. Woolworths sales rose 6.9%, with shoppers seeking discounts. Grocery Watch: Perfection Fresh admitted fixing prices on vegetables supplied to Aldi and will ask the Federal Court to impose a $12 million penalty. Contaminated Aldi milk and chocolate-covered berries were also recalled. Product Safety: The TGA plans tougher sunscreen testing and tighter rules on SPF claims after concerns some products fell short of their labels. Apple says a small number of its new foldable iPhones have screen issues, after buyers reported cracks near the hinge.

Sunscreen Standards: The TGA is planning tougher SPF rules after products failed protection claims, including multiple tests and reforms to testing labs. Food Safety: Aldi has expanded a long-life milk recall into another state, putting shoppers on alert. Supermarket Value: Shoppers are questioning pricing tactics at Coles and Woolworths, while cost pressures keep value in focus. Retail Costs: Amazon has raised Prime’s Australian monthly fee to $12.99 ahead of the holiday shopping season. Brand Watch: Australian fashion label Shona Joy is closing after 26 years, marking another exit from the local retail scene.

Food Safety: Aldi’s Farmdale full-cream long-life milk recall has expanded to two NSW stores, alongside Victoria and South Australia, over possible microbial contamination. Shoppers should not consume affected cartons and can return them for a refund. Sun Protection: The TGA is proposing tougher sunscreen rules after testing found many products missed their advertised SPF. Brands would need to test finished products, provide results to the regulator and retest through shelf life. Supermarket Prices: Shoppers are being urged to track package sizes and prices as shrinkflation hits products from Tim Tams to cereal and yoghurt. Aldi has also scrapped its controversial checkout bag checks after customer feedback. Retail Brands: Australian fashion label Shona Joy is closing after 26 years, while Amazon has raised its monthly Prime price in Australia to $12.99 ahead of Black Friday.

Retail Costs: Amazon Australia has raised its monthly Prime fee to $12.99, adding pressure for subscribers ahead of the holiday shopping season. Grocery Competition: A major Australian vegetable supplier has admitted cartel conduct, while another supplier faces a $12 million fine over a vegetable price-fixing case involving Aldi. Product Concerns: Apple says a small number of its new foldable iPhones have display problems; Australian owners are among those reporting cracks near the hinge, and Apple says affected customers can seek replacements. Plastic Push: Yo-Chi is inviting customers at its stores to send postcards to local MPs calling for tougher action on single-use plastics. Smart Shopping: Black Friday discounts can be less impressive than the headline claims: consumer advice is to check a product’s quality and value, not just the advertised percentage off. Online Reviews: A new report warns that fake reviews can mislead shoppers, distort competition and put consumers at risk.

Retail Competition: Australia’s second-largest vegetable company, Perfection Fresh, admitted cartel conduct involving produce sold to ALDI; a supplier will pay a $12 million fine. Household Costs: Amazon Australia raised monthly Prime fees to $12.99 ahead of Black Friday, while soaring cocoa and sugar prices threaten to push up Halloween treats. Shopping and Payments: Card surcharges are being scrapped, a change expected to open the door for smaller lenders, and a coalition is urging more retailers to accept cash. Product News: Australian hydration brand Kic is rolling out nationally through Priceline, while BuzzBallz is expanding its ready-to-drink range. Fashion: Shona Joy will close its Australian label after 26 years; founder Shona Thatcher said the decision was personal, not financial.

Payments: Card surcharges have been scrapped, removing an extra cost at checkout; lower interchange-fee caps could also put pressure on bank rewards and open room for smaller lenders. Digital shopping: A court order forces Apple to allow rival iPhone app stores and payment options in Australia, with Fortnite returning to iPhones. Food and drink: Wineries and breweries are closing as Australians drink less, while a Queensland butcher plans to shut its shopfront because it cannot find enough skilled staff. Beauty: Coles has joined GenM as brands target the growing menopause beauty market, while Trinny London is building its Australian presence with founder-led events. Product reliability: Early iPhone Duo buyers report cracked inner screens near the hinge, raising questions about Apple’s first foldable phone.

Retail & Wellness: Coles will add more than 200 menopause-certified products across skincare, personal care, vitamins and oral health, with an online support hub planned for early 2027. Digital Shopping: Fortnite has returned to Australia’s App Store after a court ruling against Apple; broader changes allowing alternative app stores and payments are due in March 2027. Household Costs: Australia’s wholesale electricity prices are among the lowest in advanced economies, raising hopes of bill relief, though lower prices complicate the government’s renewables rollout. Brand Recovery: Stax’s new chief executive is preparing a relaunch after the activewear label collapsed with nearly $24 million in liabilities, including $1.7 million in unfulfilled orders. Mobility: Australia’s used EV market is growing, with more than 11,000 battery-electric vehicles listed on Carsales, including around 6,500 used or demo models. Subscriptions: Amazon Prime prices have risen in Australia, with annual membership up 30 per cent.

Product Safety: Big W is facing criticism over 13 online listings for fake Halloween spiderwebs advertised for outdoor use, which wildlife rescuers warn can trap birds and small animals. The listings contrast with Woolworths’ advice to use similar products indoors only. Device Reliability: Early iPhone Duo buyers, including an Australian customer, report cracks along the foldable screen’s hinge after only hours of use. Apple replaced the Australian customer’s phone, but the cause of the reported damage remains unclear. Brand Leadership: Lindt & Sprüngli CEO Adalbert Lechner is leaving, with former CEO Dieter Weisskopf taking over on an interim basis as the company seeks renewed growth. Weisskopf says Australia is among the Asia-Pacific markets where Lindt is gaining share.

Fuel Costs: Brent crude surged to about US$117 a barrel as attacks near the Strait of Hormuz intensified, threatening fresh pressure at Australian petrol pumps despite a recent easing in retail prices. Vehicle Buyers: Tesla has scrapped plans to sell the Cybertruck in Australia and New Zealand and says it will refund deposits collected since 2019. Digital Shopping: Apple must allow rival iPhone app stores in Australia after a landmark court ruling; Fortnite has since returned to the Australian App Store. Subscription Bills: Amazon Prime prices in Australia have risen by up to 30%, adding to household costs ahead of the holiday shopping season. Food Safety: Aldi has pulled Farmdale Full Cream Long Life Milk from shelves over contamination concerns. Green Claims: The ACCC has told businesses to clearly distinguish carbon credits from their own emissions cuts in advertising, warning that misleading claims may breach consumer law.

Product Recall: Aldi has pulled Farmdale Full Cream Long Life Milk from shelves over contamination concerns, putting shoppers on alert. Electric Vehicles: Tesla has cancelled the Cybertruck launch in Australia and New Zealand, nearly seven years after taking deposits, and says it will refund customers. Consumer Tech: Apple’s first foldable iPhone has launched at about $2,000, but limited stock and long delivery delays may frustrate buyers. App Choices: Fortnite is back on Apple’s Australian App Store after a court ruling against Apple and Epic Games, part of a wider push to open iPhones to alternative app stores. Food Prices: Australia’s sheep flock has fallen to a 100-year low, driving up lamb prices for consumers.

Food Safety: Aldi has pulled Farmdale full-cream long-life milk from shelves over contamination concerns. Grocery Bills: Lamb prices are climbing as Australia’s sheep flock hits a century low, with supermarket prices reported 20–35% above typical levels. Digital Rights: Apple must allow alternative app stores on iPhones by March 2027 after a Federal Court ruling, a change affecting millions of Australian users. Fast-Food Expansion: Wendy’s is opening its fourth Australian restaurant in Seaford on October 28, serving a menu that includes burgers made with Australian beef.

Grocery Shopping: A new in-app tool can guide shoppers to exact products across more than 1,000 stores for a leading Australian grocer, without installing hardware. Cost of Living: Higher oil prices threaten to push up transport, food and packaging costs, while Australian families are turning to AI to hunt for supermarket savings. Subscriptions: Amazon Prime prices are rising by up to 30% in Australia, adding pressure on household budgets. Packaging: A major plastics ban is set to affect Coles and Woolworths. Food & Drink: Australian lamb prices are surging as the national flock falls to a 100-year low; McDonald’s Australia has also brought back Diet Coke, four years after it was dropped.

Plastic Rules: NSW passed sweeping restrictions on single-use plastics, including a 2027 ban on handled takeaway bags and a 2030 ban on plastic stickers on fruit and vegetables, putting pressure on retailers such as Coles and Woolworths to switch materials. Tech Launch: Apple says iPhone Duo stock for walk-in buyers will be limited when the foldable phone launches Friday, including in Australia; online orders sold out quickly. Retail Costs: Amazon is raising Prime membership prices in Australia by up to 30%, adding to household cost pressures. Big-Ticket Spending: Nick Scali warned of a sharp first-half profit drop as shoppers delay furniture purchases across Australia and New Zealand. Auto Market: Changan will take over Australian distribution of its Deepal brand from Inchcape, with the handover running through March 2027. Influencer Income: The ATO is reminding creators that gifted products and experiences can count as taxable business income.

Retail Pricing: Coles has become the first Australian supermarket to adopt MTick, as retailers look for new ways to manage shelf pricing. Subscriptions: Amazon has lifted Prime prices in Australia by 30%, adding pressure to household budgets. Food Costs: Rising cocoa and rice prices are sharpening concerns about food inflation, with poor weather threatening further disruption to crops. Health and Beauty: Weight-loss drugs and beauty demand are helping drive growth at Wesfarmers Health. Product Safety: The ACCC is taking Kmart to court over nail glue and button-battery products after reports of injuries.

Subscription Costs: Amazon Prime prices are rising by 30% for Australian members, adding pressure to household budgets. Product Safety: The ACCC has taken Kmart to court over alleged safety breaches involving nail glue and button-battery products, after reports of injuries. Grocery Watch: Weather disruptions are delaying Australia’s mango season, while Western Australian avocado production is forecast to fall 40–50%. Woolworths is again selling its award-winning Australian half-leg ham for $8 a kilo. Supermarket Check: A new ranking compares the best and worst Aldi, Coles and Woolworths stores in Western Australia.