Coles and Woolworths to face Senate scrutiny amid claims of profiteering

Greens win support for inquiry into effect of market concentration on food prices and pattern of major chains' pricing strategies

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Australia's big supermarkets will face fresh scrutiny with a Senate inquiry to investigate their market power and pricing decisions, amid concerns they have profiteered during an inflationary period marked by fast-rising food costs.

The Greens have secured cross-party support to set up the inquiry which will examine the effect of market concentration on food prices and the pattern of pricing strategies employed by the major chains, Coles and Woolworths.

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