Feeling the Christmas pinch? Shoppers call to boycott Woolworths and Coles
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As the festive season approaches, Australians are bracing themselves for its impact on their wallets.
The rising cost of living has been a persistent issue, and this year, it's hitting family budgets harder than ever. In response, some disgruntled shoppers are taking a stand, calling for a boycott of supermarket duopoly Woolworths and Coles over escalating prices.
Brisbane resident Dylan Fragomeni leads the charge, urging shoppers to avoid Woolworths and Coles in the days leading up to Christmas.
These are typically the busiest trading days for these retailers, and Fragomeni believes a boycott could send a powerful message.
'Buy all your Christmas stuff beforehand, preferably from somewhere else. If you've forgotten anything on the 24th, go to a different shop if you can,' she suggested in a now-viral video uploaded online.
Fragomeni's call to action is fuelled by her belief that Woolworths and Coles, who have posted record profits this year, could do more to prevent price rises on essential items from being passed onto customers.
‘What is normally their most profitable day of the year is going to become their worst day of the year,’ she added.
'Businesses are there to make money, I get that, but in a time where the people who keep your business alive are struggling, it seems a bit unethical to make an increased profit from that,' she argued.
Fragomeni encouraged her followers to shop at local FoodWorks, IGA, farmer's markets or ALDI to 'send a message' to the dominant players.
She herself has changed her shopping habits due to rising prices, opting for ALDI or dollar stores instead.
The call for a boycott has received mixed reactions online, with some people mocking the idea, others expressing support, and many simply resigned to the reality of inflation.
‘As a Coles worker, please, I beg of you, please do this, I’m dreading the 24th so much,’ a social media user commented.
‘Easier for people that have choices. Only got Woolworths in this town,’ another remarked.
‘I'm shopping there, no one tells me what to do,’ a third person said.
‘If we get our stuff at Coles and Woolies before the 24th, aren't they technically still making a profit?’ Someone asked.
‘All the people in the comments complaining that it won’t work but also then complaining about the prices. Okay, if you hate it, why not join in with us and try to do something about it,’ Fragomeni stated.
Fragomeni is not alone in her push, it seems.
On social media, some are promoting a boycott of big supermarkets in December. This effort has gained traction with the help of a recent speech given by Victorian MP Ellen Sandell in state parliament.
'The supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths is ripping people off,' the Greens MP argued. 'Groceries this year across the board are up 10 per cent, outpacing inflation. But you know what else is up? The profits of the supermarkets.'
Queensland independent grocer Skippy's Fresh Frootz has also jumped on board, posting a video supporting the boycott and urging Australians to 'shop independent' this Christmas.
You can watch Fragomeni’s video here:
The rising cost of living and the impact of inflation
Inflation has been unevenly felt across the economy, but consumers are particularly sensitive to price rises in essential items like food and fuel. This has resulted in supermarket giants drawing the ire of some Aussies.
Coles posted a $9.2 billion first (financial) quarter sales revenue, an increase of 4.7 per cent on the same period last year. Meanwhile, Woolworths posted $12.96 billion in food retail sales, an increase of 6.1 per cent.
While the cost of some fresh produce has actually come down in recent months, Aussies are overall buying more groceries and scaling back on eating out.
'Aussies are trying to scrimp and save wherever possible, but the money we're not spending on going out or takeaway food usually just funnels back to the supermarkets,' Financial Expert David Koch said last month.
'And when prices go up, they seldom come down as we all get used to paying more for less. The mega-store duopoly doesn't help either as there's less competition to help drive down prices.'
The supermarket giants' response
In light of the boycott demands, Woolworths cited its Low Price program, which covers thousands of products, and emphasised its ongoing effort to reduce prices on 150 key Christmas items.
'We're acutely aware of the pressure that's being placed on Australian families through [the] cost of living increases, whether they are our customers or our team members. And we’re doing more every day to help customers spend less with us,' a spokesperson told a news source.
Similarly, Coles pointed out that it reduced prices on 500 grocery items in August and emphasised that it makes only $2.60 for every $100 spent in its stores.
'At Coles, we believe all Australians should be able to put quality food on the table for their families, and we are always exploring ways to reduce prices on the products we sell,' a Coles spokesperson stated.
Despite these assurances, more than a third of Australians said the rising cost of groceries has had the biggest impact on their household budget and was the biggest financial burden, above mortgage repayments and energy prices, according to a recent Compare the Market survey.
What are your thoughts on this proposed boycott, members? Have you noticed a significant increase in your grocery bills? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
The rising cost of living has been a persistent issue, and this year, it's hitting family budgets harder than ever. In response, some disgruntled shoppers are taking a stand, calling for a boycott of supermarket duopoly Woolworths and Coles over escalating prices.
Brisbane resident Dylan Fragomeni leads the charge, urging shoppers to avoid Woolworths and Coles in the days leading up to Christmas.
These are typically the busiest trading days for these retailers, and Fragomeni believes a boycott could send a powerful message.
Shoppers are calling for a Coles and Woolies boycott. Credit: Tara Clark/Pexels
'Buy all your Christmas stuff beforehand, preferably from somewhere else. If you've forgotten anything on the 24th, go to a different shop if you can,' she suggested in a now-viral video uploaded online.
Fragomeni's call to action is fuelled by her belief that Woolworths and Coles, who have posted record profits this year, could do more to prevent price rises on essential items from being passed onto customers.
‘What is normally their most profitable day of the year is going to become their worst day of the year,’ she added.
'Businesses are there to make money, I get that, but in a time where the people who keep your business alive are struggling, it seems a bit unethical to make an increased profit from that,' she argued.
Fragomeni encouraged her followers to shop at local FoodWorks, IGA, farmer's markets or ALDI to 'send a message' to the dominant players.
She herself has changed her shopping habits due to rising prices, opting for ALDI or dollar stores instead.
The call for a boycott has received mixed reactions online, with some people mocking the idea, others expressing support, and many simply resigned to the reality of inflation.
‘As a Coles worker, please, I beg of you, please do this, I’m dreading the 24th so much,’ a social media user commented.
‘Easier for people that have choices. Only got Woolworths in this town,’ another remarked.
‘I'm shopping there, no one tells me what to do,’ a third person said.
‘If we get our stuff at Coles and Woolies before the 24th, aren't they technically still making a profit?’ Someone asked.
‘All the people in the comments complaining that it won’t work but also then complaining about the prices. Okay, if you hate it, why not join in with us and try to do something about it,’ Fragomeni stated.
Fragomeni is not alone in her push, it seems.
On social media, some are promoting a boycott of big supermarkets in December. This effort has gained traction with the help of a recent speech given by Victorian MP Ellen Sandell in state parliament.
'The supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths is ripping people off,' the Greens MP argued. 'Groceries this year across the board are up 10 per cent, outpacing inflation. But you know what else is up? The profits of the supermarkets.'
Queensland independent grocer Skippy's Fresh Frootz has also jumped on board, posting a video supporting the boycott and urging Australians to 'shop independent' this Christmas.
You can watch Fragomeni’s video here:
The rising cost of living and the impact of inflation
Inflation has been unevenly felt across the economy, but consumers are particularly sensitive to price rises in essential items like food and fuel. This has resulted in supermarket giants drawing the ire of some Aussies.
Coles posted a $9.2 billion first (financial) quarter sales revenue, an increase of 4.7 per cent on the same period last year. Meanwhile, Woolworths posted $12.96 billion in food retail sales, an increase of 6.1 per cent.
While the cost of some fresh produce has actually come down in recent months, Aussies are overall buying more groceries and scaling back on eating out.
'Aussies are trying to scrimp and save wherever possible, but the money we're not spending on going out or takeaway food usually just funnels back to the supermarkets,' Financial Expert David Koch said last month.
'And when prices go up, they seldom come down as we all get used to paying more for less. The mega-store duopoly doesn't help either as there's less competition to help drive down prices.'
The supermarket giants' response
In light of the boycott demands, Woolworths cited its Low Price program, which covers thousands of products, and emphasised its ongoing effort to reduce prices on 150 key Christmas items.
'We're acutely aware of the pressure that's being placed on Australian families through [the] cost of living increases, whether they are our customers or our team members. And we’re doing more every day to help customers spend less with us,' a spokesperson told a news source.
Similarly, Coles pointed out that it reduced prices on 500 grocery items in August and emphasised that it makes only $2.60 for every $100 spent in its stores.
'At Coles, we believe all Australians should be able to put quality food on the table for their families, and we are always exploring ways to reduce prices on the products we sell,' a Coles spokesperson stated.
Despite these assurances, more than a third of Australians said the rising cost of groceries has had the biggest impact on their household budget and was the biggest financial burden, above mortgage repayments and energy prices, according to a recent Compare the Market survey.
What are your thoughts on this proposed boycott, members? Have you noticed a significant increase in your grocery bills? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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