Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths are being accused of soaring prices through sneaky in-store signs!
By
VanessaC
- Replies 33
Many are growing increasingly frustrated at the amount of money we have to set aside each week for groceries, and many have found ways to make their frustrations and voices be heard.
Coles and Woolworths recently found themselves at the receiving end of some rather cheeky yet eye-opening in-store pranks.
With rising living costs, creative Aussies have found a unique method to express their disgruntlement at supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths.
These two retail giants, capturing a large chunk of the Australian grocery economy, have posted jaw-dropping profits last fiscal year.
Woolworths made a whopping $1.6 billion, and Coles cashed in with an impressive $1.1 billion. But this lucrative success comes amid a time when some customers are are struggling to put food on their tables.
The aforementioned Aussies tailored lookalike discount tags bearing rather critical messages.
These crafty tags have started appearing in the aisles of Coles and Woolworths around Tasmania and relay messages criticising the supermarkets for amassing large profits while many of their customers face economic hardships.
Among the slogans used were…
'Our right to profit is more important than your right to food. That's capitalism, baby!’
'We've made over $1 billion in profits while you can't even afford bread!'
And '$10 Curtis Stone dinners? Not in this economy!'
Grassroots Action Network Tasmania took responsibility for these special discount tags.
According to them, 'Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are raking in money while so many do it tough, so folks in Nipaluna (the Aboriginal name for Hobart) decided that it's time they tell the truth with their specials.'
The reaction to this prank has been a mix of amusement and solidarity. Residents applauded the effort on social media, with one saying: 'These are great!'
While another added: 'Where can I get some?'
Some even opened up about switching to more affordable options to try and make their budget stretch further.
'Honestly! I never spend less than $100 there for barely anything! ALDI is so much more affordable!' they said.
On the Coles front, their Chief Operating Officer confessed last week that the rising cost of living has resulted in a surge in shoplifting as people struggle to make ends meet.
'We are seeing it in every store and every category, it's a real challenge,' he said on a radio interview.
A cleverly planted special label responded to this by stating, 'If you see someone shoplifting, no you didn't.'
Another label read: 'We understand that times are tough, and that's why we pay our CEO over $20,000 a day.'
Moreover, a spokesperson from Coles stated that while they value customers' feedback, they would prefer it to be given through their dedicated feedback channels.
Woolworths, on the other hand, acknowledges the pressure of the cost of living on Australian families.
'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,' a spokesperson said.
'And we're doing more everyday to help customers spend less with us.'
A similar disgruntled shopper took a bold and creative stand against Australia’s retail giants.
Armed with a stencil and paint, the lone campaigner has targeted the big supermarkets in response to skyrocketing grocery prices.
He used the stencil and paint to alter a Woolworths Metro sign at Bondi Junction, changing the iconic 'we are the fresh food people' slogan to read 'the price gouge people'.
You can read more about the story in this article we wrote.
What do you think about this organisation’s messages? Have you seen similar protests in your area? Let us know in the comments below!
Coles and Woolworths recently found themselves at the receiving end of some rather cheeky yet eye-opening in-store pranks.
With rising living costs, creative Aussies have found a unique method to express their disgruntlement at supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths.
These two retail giants, capturing a large chunk of the Australian grocery economy, have posted jaw-dropping profits last fiscal year.
Woolworths made a whopping $1.6 billion, and Coles cashed in with an impressive $1.1 billion. But this lucrative success comes amid a time when some customers are are struggling to put food on their tables.
The aforementioned Aussies tailored lookalike discount tags bearing rather critical messages.
These crafty tags have started appearing in the aisles of Coles and Woolworths around Tasmania and relay messages criticising the supermarkets for amassing large profits while many of their customers face economic hardships.
Among the slogans used were…
'Our right to profit is more important than your right to food. That's capitalism, baby!’
'We've made over $1 billion in profits while you can't even afford bread!'
And '$10 Curtis Stone dinners? Not in this economy!'
Grassroots Action Network Tasmania took responsibility for these special discount tags.
According to them, 'Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are raking in money while so many do it tough, so folks in Nipaluna (the Aboriginal name for Hobart) decided that it's time they tell the truth with their specials.'
The reaction to this prank has been a mix of amusement and solidarity. Residents applauded the effort on social media, with one saying: 'These are great!'
While another added: 'Where can I get some?'
Some even opened up about switching to more affordable options to try and make their budget stretch further.
'Honestly! I never spend less than $100 there for barely anything! ALDI is so much more affordable!' they said.
On the Coles front, their Chief Operating Officer confessed last week that the rising cost of living has resulted in a surge in shoplifting as people struggle to make ends meet.
'We are seeing it in every store and every category, it's a real challenge,' he said on a radio interview.
A cleverly planted special label responded to this by stating, 'If you see someone shoplifting, no you didn't.'
Another label read: 'We understand that times are tough, and that's why we pay our CEO over $20,000 a day.'
Moreover, a spokesperson from Coles stated that while they value customers' feedback, they would prefer it to be given through their dedicated feedback channels.
Woolworths, on the other hand, acknowledges the pressure of the cost of living on Australian families.
'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,' a spokesperson said.
'And we're doing more everyday to help customers spend less with us.'
A similar disgruntled shopper took a bold and creative stand against Australia’s retail giants.
Armed with a stencil and paint, the lone campaigner has targeted the big supermarkets in response to skyrocketing grocery prices.
He used the stencil and paint to alter a Woolworths Metro sign at Bondi Junction, changing the iconic 'we are the fresh food people' slogan to read 'the price gouge people'.
You can read more about the story in this article we wrote.
Key Takeaways
- A prankster has been replacing price tags in Coles and Woolworths across Tasmania with fake tags featuring subversive messages about the cost of living crisis.
- The messages criticise the supermarket giants for their whopping profits while consumers continue to struggle with increases in living costs.
- Grassroots Action Network Tasmania took responsibility for the prank, and the planted tags have been widely praised on social media.
- Spokespersons from both Coles and Woolworths have responded, acknowledging the cost of living pressures on Australian families and saying that measures are in place to help customers spend less.