FED: Small retailers angry at parliamentary inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-1999
FED: Small retailers angry at parliamentary inquiry

A National Party backbencher says he'll lobby the party over a parliamentary report's
rejection of moves to limit the market share of Australia's three large supermarket chains.

The inquiry was prompted largely by concerns within the National Party over the increasing
dominance of the three large chains - Coles, Woolworths and Franklins.

However the report rejects demands from smaller grocers for restrictions on further
expansions by the big three.

Instead it calls for an independent retail ombudsman and a mandatory code of conduct.

The report has found the three major chains are increasingly dominating the sector, but the
it also says this has benefitted consumers, with prices falling.

However the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia, which represents the
independent grocers, says the report could have signed their death warrant.

Spokesman ALAN MCKENZIE says the market share of the big three is likely to hit 85 per cent
within a year, putting the survival of most operators under threat.

He is being backed by National Party backbencher BOB KATTER, who'll lobby his party room
over the next fortnight, and says members will be bitterly disappointed with the result.

AAP RTV ss/wz/rat

KEYWORD: RETAIL (CANBERRA)

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